A Texas man who killed a teen cheerleader in 2023 will spend the rest of his life behind bars.

According to FOX 26 Houston, a judge sentenced Rafael Govea Romero to two life sentences after he pleaded guilty to the murder of 16-year-old Lizbeth Iniguez Medina.

He also pleaded guilty to burglary of a habitation and aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon. He reportedly received an additional 20 years for the burglary charge.

The sentences reportedly happened after the defendant took a plea deal.

As CrimeOnline previously reported, Lizbeth’s mother, Jacqueline Medina, began looking for her after she missed a cheerleading performance in the community’s annual Christmas parade.

The teen was found dead in her pajamas, in the bathtub of their home, at the Cottonwood Apartments in Edna, on December 6, 2023.

The Travis County Medical Examiners Office later determined she had been stabbed to death.

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Following the sentencing, Jacqueline Medina released the following statement.

“I don’t think he deserves any of my words — I won’t give him the power that would give him. But if I had one thing to say to him, I would tell him: you didn’t win. About my daughter — for anyone who didn’t know her: Lizabeth was so kind-hearted. She was goofy and funny — she was a light when she walked into a room.

“She was compassionate toward others, and she had so many dreams that were all hers. She wanted to be a princess, she wanted to feed people, and she was already working toward her goals: at 16 she was getting certifications and doing side jobs to get where she wanted.

“She was ambitious and she loved everybody.

“She will always be my little girl — even though she was 16 when she was taken from me, she will always be my little girl. That’s Lizzo — my Lizzo. I will continue fighting for her because that’s what she deserves.

“I will continue seeking justice and helping others get justice too. Hearing him say ‘guilty’ in court was a very emotional moment. We’ve been waiting for those words for almost two years, and finally hearing them — it was a lot to take in.

[Feature Photo: Lizbeth Medina/Facebook]