Accused Edna murderer nabbed in Schulenburg

Texas Rangers and Edna Police arrested a man Saturday night near Schulenburg who stands accused of murdering a 16-year-old girl from Edna.

“With countless hours put into this investigation, we were able to locate an undocumented male subject, Rafael Govea Romero, in the City of Schulenburg,” said Edna Police Chief Rick Boone said in a news release.

Romero faces a capital murder charge for the death of Lizbeth Medina, a student and cheerleader at Edna High School. Medina’s mother found her dead last Tuesday, Dec. 5, in a bathtub inside their apartment, located at Highways 59 and 111.

Schulenburg Police Chief Troy Brenek said investigators from Edna and the Rangers contacted him around 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 9. Brenek said Schulenburg Police assisted the Rangers and the Edna officers in locating Romero at a mobile home park on FM 2672 just outside the Schulenburg City Limits.

“I believe he was living there,” Brenek said.

Officers took Romero into custody around 11:30 p.m. and transported him to the Jackson County Jail.

“Although Romero is apprehended, we recognize Lizbeth’s family and friends are grieving and will still need support from the community,” Boone said.

Investigators have not disclosed the cause of Medina’s death, a possible motive, or information about the relationship between the two.

Brenek said he knew Romero from a previous case. Schulenburg Police arrested Romero on Oct. 6, 2022, Brenek said, for a home burglary that took place in early September of that same year.

Andy Behlin is a staff writer with The Fayette County Record. His story appears here as part of a story share agreement with the local newspapers.