Elizabeth Ann Romero, a 44-year-old Hispanic woman from Gatesville, TX, was reported missing on April 8, 2022. Her family lost contact with her, prompting the Gatesville Police Department to register her as a missing person. Elizabeth was a resident of Waco, TX, but was known to frequent Gatesville. Her family later received information that she might be at an address near Gatesville.
Coryell County Sheriff's Office deputies conducted a welfare check at that residence following a request from the Waco Police Department, which was investigating Elizabeth's disappearance as a missing person.
On May 10, 2022, authorities received a tip that Elizabeth had been murdered at the address on Moccasin Bend Road in Gatesville. The tip specified that Jessica Colleen Robinson, the daughter of Betsy Ayers Robinson, had killed Elizabeth and that another woman, Erin Bailey Finchum, was involved in the murder. The tip also mentioned that Elizabeth's body was loaded into a blue pickup truck and dumped off a bridge. The pickup truck belonged to Betsy Robinson and was frequently driven by her daughter, Jessica.
The investigation revealed that Jessica Robinson shot Elizabeth Romero twice on May 20, 2022, accusing her of stealing money in a lumber theft. Betsy Robinson admitted that her daughter shot and killed Elizabeth as she sat on a couch in their home. After the shooting, Betsy wrapped two revolvers in adult urine pads and placed them in a trash bag. She then had Cody Gene Ayers, Jessica's cousin, remove the couch where Elizabeth was shot. Betsy believed that Cody used a reciprocating saw to cut up the couch and take part of it to a burn pit.
On May 19, 2022, Jessica Robinson was arrested on a theft charge related to the lumber theft. She was later charged with capital murder for Elizabeth's death. Betsy Robinson was charged with murder and tampering with evidence. Cody Gene Ayers was charged with tampering with evidence but has since bonded out. Erin Bailey Finchum was also interviewed by investigators and was present when Jessica shot Elizabeth. The cases involving the other suspects are still pending.
On January 10, 2024, Jessica Colleen Robinson pled guilty to the murder of Elizabeth Ann Romero and was sentenced to 47 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Elizabeth's family was present in the courtroom for the plea, sentencing, and allocations. The investigation into Elizabeth's death continues, with multiple people mentioned in affidavits being interviewed. However, it remains unknown whether any new charges will be brought forward.
