EDNA, Texas — KHOU 11 News' Jason Miles first met Jackie Medina two days after she found her daughter, Lizbeth, dead in a bathtub.
"A mother should never go through what I went through," said Medina in December of 2023.
A year later, she said the vivacious cheerleader's sheer presence is among the things she misses the most.
"Her smile, her laugh, everything," said Medina in a new interview.
Police said 16-year-old Lizbeth was fatally stabbed in the family's home at the Cottonwood Apartments in Edna.
24-year-old Rafael Romero, who exhibited "stalking-like behavior" before the crime according to court documents, was later arrested in Schulenberg.
He was supposed to go on trial for capital murder this week back in Edna, but it was postponed until at least February.
"I was badly distraught, heartbroken," said Medina about the delay.
She has mixed emotions about attending the trial though it's something she feels obligated to do.
"Dreading details that, you know, mothers don't want to hear," said Medina. "But expecting answers that I've been waiting for."
She believes stricter laws might have prevented Romero, an illegal immigrant from Mexico, from ever crossing paths with her daughter.
"I just feel very disappointed in the system," said Medina.
She said she just hopes the system eventually delivers the justice her daughter deserves and wants no less than the death penalty for her accused killer.
"If it would've been me years back I would say just leave him in jail," said Medina. "But when it happens to you, being a mother and this happens to your daughter, you want the max, you want the worst. Because he had not mercy on my daughter, so why should I have mercy on him?"
We're told reasons for the trial delay include motions filed by Romero's defense team and the time needed to review discovery materials.
KHOU 11 News reached out to Romero's attorney but hasn't heard back.