A mother is devastated and mourning after finding her only child, a 16-year-old cheerleader, “murdered in cold blood” at her Edna, Texas, apartment on Tuesday.
Lizbeth Medina was killed before she could participate in a Christmas parade with her fellow Edna High School cheerleaders, but cops have not as of Thursday afternoon disclosed how she died.
The Edna Police Department said Wednesday that on the evening prior cops were called to the Cottonwood Apartments and found an “unresponsive juvenile” at the scene.
“Upon arrival, Officers believed the juvenile to be deceased,” cops said. “Emergency Medical Services arrived on scene in an attempt to provide medical service.”
The police statement did not identify the victim by name, but Medina’s family members revealed her death. Lizbeth’s mother Jacqueline Medina told local CBS affiliate KHOU she was the one who found her only child “murdered in cold blood” only a year after the mother and daughter moved to Edna.
“It should have been a great day because she was involved in the Christmas parade. She was going to be with the cheer squad,” the devastated mother said, calling Lizbeth “my world, my everything.”
Lizbeth Medina (left) cheerleading (KHOU/screengrab), (right) in a selfie from her Facebook.
“Someone dared to go in and just rip my daughter away from me, it just kills me,” Medina added, pleading for “answers” as to who “would do this to an amazing little girl” and why.
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Medina reportedly discovered her daughter’s death at home after becoming worried when she did not see Lizbeth marching with her cheer teammates at the Christmas parade.
Local authorities said Texas Rangers have been asked to help investigate the suspected capital murder.
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In Texas, capital murder can be charged in several circumstances, but oftentimes the charge is brought when the perpetrator “intentionally commits the murder in the course of committing or attempting to commit” another serious crime, such as “kidnapping, burglary, robbery, aggravated sexual assault, arson, obstruction or retaliation, or terroristic threat[.]”
Police have not yet specified why the believe Medina’s death was a capital offense, but they are asking anyone who knows which “people and/or person” may be responsible for the slaying to call Edna Police Department at 361-782-6522.
The Medina family is also calling for help in bringing Lizbeth justice and Cash App donations to $justiceforlizbeth.
“On behalf of the Medina family I’ve been asked to help raise awareness in the tragic loss of 16 year old Lizbeth Medina who had her life taken from her on December 5th, 2023. Lizbeth was an Edna Texas High School cheerleader who was brutally murdered in her own home,” one post said. “She planned to go to Arlington University in the medical field of nursing when she graduated in 2025. She was a beautiful and talented girl full of life & many dreams. Let’s come together to support a family in need & get Lizbeth the justice she deserves.”
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