Police have launched a murder investigation after a teenage cheerleader was mysteriously found dead in her family apartment.
Lizbeth Medina, 16, was found dead Tuesday in Edna, Texas, a small town outside Houston, by her mother Jacquelin Medina.
'The worst way a mother can find her child. She was murdered in cold blood,” Jacquelin said I LOVE.
The heartbroken mother said her daughter was supposed to participate in a Christmas parade with her cheerleader that day, but never showed up.
Lizbeth attended Edna High School and dreamed of studying nursing at Arlington University
Her mother, Jacquline Medina (left) described her daughter's gruesome discovery as 'The most horrible way a mother could find her child'
The Edna Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety and Texas Ranger Division are actively investigating who is responsible for Lizbeth's death.
According to a news release, officers were dispatched to Cottonwood Apartments on Tuesday around 6:57 p.m.
“Upon arrival, officers believed the boy was deceased,” the release said.
Emergency medical services arrived on the scene and tried to revive Lizbeth, but were unsuccessful.
It is not yet known how exactly Lizbeth was killed, but someone who posted about her death on Facebook said she was “brutally murdered in her own home.”
Information about a suspect in her death has not been released and no arrests have been made as of Thursday morning.
Lizbeth, also named Liz, was a junior at Edna High School and planned to attend Arlington University to study nursing, a loved one revealed on Facebook.
“She was a beautiful and talented girl full of life and many dreams,” they said. '
Her mother posted a video of Liz cheering at a football game at her school, saying, “My darling, you didn't deserve to be taken from me like this… [sic] had great plans for you [sic] future.'
'Such a wonderful girl. I love you mija…'
16-year-old Lizbeth Medina was found dead by her mother in her apartment in Edna, Texas on Tuesday
It is unclear exactly how Lizbeth was killed, but police have now launched a murder investigation into her death
When she first discovered her late daughter in their home, Jaquline told KHOU she “lost it.”
“Someone had the nerve to come in and just rip my daughter away from me, it just kills me.”
“I just want to answer why they would do this to an amazing little girl who would never hurt anyone, wouldn't dare hurt anyone,” her mother said.
The support of the small town community makes Jacqueline feel loved and supported as she grieves her daughter.
A friend who cheered along with Lizbeth posted a heartfelt tribute on Facebook, saying: 'The loss of a friend like you is something that can never be recovered. You have always been an important part of our lives.”
'Words can't describe what I feel. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and the people you left behind. Rest in peace beautiful, we love you so much.”
Jacqueline said she didn't realize how many people her daughter influenced and “how much everyone loved her.”
A friend who cheered along with Lizbeth posted a heartfelt tribute on Facebook about her tragic death
The Edna football team and community plan to honor Lizbeth by wearing purple ribbons and shirts and a vigil will be held for her on Saturday.
During a football game on Thursday evening, the Edna football team and community plan to honor Lizbeth by wearing purple ribbons and shirts.
An image of a purple ribbon has also been circulating on social media, with Lizbeth's loved ones making it their profile pictures, along with the hashtag #JusticeforLiz.
A wake will be held for Lizbeth on Saturday and shirts have been made in her honor and will be sold to raise money for funeral costs.
A capital murder conviction in the state of Texas is defined as a capital crime punishable by life imprisonment, the death penalty, or life imprisonment without parole.