An illegal alien has been arrested in connection with the murder of a 16-year-old girl in Texas, according to authorities.
An “undocumented” man was arrested for the slaying of a Texas high school cheerleader, police said Sunday.
16-year-old Lizbeth Medina was found dead in her bathtub last week after missing an event with her squad.
Rafael Govea Romero was arrested on Saturday in the small city of Schulenburg, Texas.
Romero was charged with the murder of the teenager in Edna, about 75 miles away, cops said in a statement.
Edna Police Chief Rick Boone said his department and the Texas Rangers caught the “undocumented male subject” after spending “countless hours” on the case.
However, officials did not reveal the circumstances of the killing or say if Romero and Medina knew each other.
Jacqueline Medina found her daughter, whom she described as “loving, kind, and big-hearted,” in their apartment on Tuesday.
The teen’s family and friends grew concerned after Lizbeth missed a Christmas parade with her cheer squad in Edna, Texas.
“There was no laced drugs, there was nothing like that,” Jacqueline said.
“My daughter was found in a way that no mother should ever find their child.
“I lost it. She was my world, my everything.
“Everywhere, everything I do was for her.”
“Words can’t explain what I felt at that moment finding my daughter in the matter that she was,” she added.
“All I can say is that I hope with all my heart that there is justice for my daughter.”
The circumstances of Lizbeth’s death remain unclear.
Currently, no autopsy report has been made public.
The Edna Police Department has described Romero as “the person responsible for the death of [Lizbeth] Medina.”
“Edna Police Department and Texas Rangers immediately traveled to Schulenburg where Romero was placed under arrest for Capital Murder and transported to Jackson County Jail,” the department’s release said.
“Although Romero is apprehended, we recognize Lizbeth’s family and friends are grieving and still need support from the community.
“The citizens of Edna can now sleep in peace!”
A fundraiser for Lizbeth, created by her aunt Ana Medina, says the teen “is loved and will be missed by the family.”
“She was born and raised in Grand Island, NE, and had only been living in Edna, Texas, for a year,” Ana posted.
“She was the only child to her mother Jaqueline Medina; she also leaves behind two loving grandparents Refugio Medina and Yesenia Medina (Yeyo and Yeya), whom she loved and considered them as parents.”
“As a family, we are asking the community for help to not only get Justice for my sweet Lizbeth but for any support that you can offer to my family at this time anything is appreciated,” the post added.
“We would also like to thank everyone in the Edna community that has been supporting us in this difficult time.”
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