EDNA, Texas — The brutal murder of 16-year-old cheerleader Elizabeth Medina shocked the small Texas town of Edna in December 2023. Nearly two years later, justice was finally served after her killer, Raphael Goa Romero, pleaded guilty and received multiple life sentences.
Elizabeth, a junior varsity cheerleader at Edna High School, was reported missing on December 5, 2023, after she failed to appear in the town’s annual Christmas parade. Concerned, her mother, Jacqueline Medina, returned home and made a horrifying discovery: Elizabeth’s body was lying in a bathtub with multiple stab wounds.
Investigators quickly determined the death was a homicide. Evidence suggested the killer had attempted to wash away traces of the crime by placing Elizabeth in the tub and running the shower. Surveillance footage later showed a man fleeing the apartment complex around the estimated time of the murder.
The breakthrough came days later when Elizabeth’s friends and boyfriend unexpectedly received replies to text messages sent to her phone. Authorities tracked the phone signal to a home in Schulenberg, Texas, where they encountered 23-year-old Raphael Goa Romero.
During a search of Romero’s residence, investigators recovered Elizabeth’s phone, wallet, and other stolen property. They also discovered journals detailing his obsession with stealing women’s underwear and evidence linking him to a previous burglary at Elizabeth’s apartment weeks before her death.
Under questioning, Romero admitted he had returned to the apartment on the day of the murder. He claimed he became angry after Elizabeth rejected his request for her phone number. Although he repeatedly stated he could not remember the attack itself, investigators concluded he stabbed the teenager to death before attempting to conceal evidence.
In September 2025, Romero pleaded guilty to murder, aggravated robbery, and burglary. He was sentenced to two life terms plus an additional 20 years in prison, bringing closure to a case that devastated an entire community.
