Introduction to the Case
Intense new video shows the arrest of a Hialeah teen who confessed to brutally stabbing his mother to death inside their apartment back in 2023.
The footage obtained by NBC6 on Tuesday shows a then 13-year-old Derek Rosa coming out of the apartment with his hands up back on Oct. 12, 2023, as officers approached with guns drawn.
The Arrest Scene
"Come here, hands up, get on the ground, get on the ground!" officers yell at the teen in the body camera footage. Officers immediately take the teen to the ground and handcuff him. Rosa was arrested on a first-degree murder charge in the killing of his mother, Irina Garcia, who police said was stabbed over 40 times.
Details of the Crime
Derek Rosa is accused of killing his mother, Irina Garcia, on Oct. 12, 2023. Police said officers responded to the apartment after the teen called 911 to confess he’d stabbed his 39-year-old mother to death with a kitchen knife. After taking Rosa into custody, officers found Garcia dead in her bedroom next to a crib with her newborn, who was unharmed.
Interaction with Police
The footage obtained on Tuesday shows a tense exchange between officers and Rosa after he was put in handcuffs. "There’s a knife in my room," Rosa says. "The knife is in the room," an officer shouts. "There’s supposed to be another kid," another officer is heard saying. "There’s a baby," Rosa responds. "How’s the baby. Did you do anything to the f—ing baby?" the first officer asks. "No, I did nothing to the baby," Rosa responds.
Current Status of the Case
Derek Rosa is facing a murder charge in the Oct. 12 killing of his mother. He’s being charged as an adult and is currently being held at the Metro West Detention Center. Another video shows an officer carrying the baby wrapped in a blanket just feet away from Rosa as police were putting him in a cruiser.
Investigation and Interviews
In another video from later that night, detectives are seen interviewing Rosa’s grandmother. "I’ve never seen him with any mental problems or anything like that, he’s a normal kid, intelligent," she said in Spanish. "I don’t know what happened…all I know is I don’t have a daughter anymore." In still another video, Rosa is seen in custody in a white jumpsuit as he’s placed in the back of a Hialeah Police vehicle and first driven to jail, then driven to a hospital to be Baker Acted.
Trial and Defense
Rosa later told detectives he stabbed his mother while she slept, according to an arrest report. He took photos of his mother’s body and sent them to a friend on social media, and told the same friend over the phone that he killed her, the report said. Rosa, who at the time was an 8th grader at iMater Academy in Hialeah, is being charged as an adult and is being held without bond while he awaits trial. A trial date hasn’t been set but the judge overseeing the case is pushing for it to start in June. Rosa, who turns 15 in August, has maintained his innocence in court. At a hearing last month, attorneys discussed the possibility of bringing up his mental health as part of his defense.
Conclusion
The case of Derek Rosa is a tragic and disturbing one, highlighting the complexity of juvenile crime and the need for comprehensive mental health support. As the trial approaches, the community awaits justice for Irina Garcia and her family, while also considering the circumstances that led a 13-year-old to commit such a heinous crime.
FAQs
- Q: What is Derek Rosa’s current status?
A: Derek Rosa is being held at the Metro West Detention Center without bond as he awaits trial. - Q: How old was Derek Rosa at the time of the crime?
A: Derek Rosa was 13 years old when he confessed to stabbing his mother to death. - Q: Is Derek Rosa being charged as an adult?
A: Yes, despite being a juvenile at the time of the crime, Derek Rosa is being charged as an adult. - Q: What is the current stance of Derek Rosa’s defense?
A: Derek Rosa has maintained his innocence in court, and his attorneys are considering bringing up his mental health as part of his defense. - Q: When is the trial expected to start?
A: The judge is pushing for trial to start in June, though no official date has been set.
