HIALEAH, FL – In a case that stunned even seasoned investigators, an eighth-grade honor roll student from Hialeah has confessed to fatally stabbing his mother more than 40 times, a crime committed when he was just 13.
Derek Rosa, now 15, stood before a Miami-Dade County judge on Friday, admitting guilt to a second-degree murder charge. The plea marks the end of a protracted legal journey that began the night of October 12, 2023, when authorities say Rosa unleashed a violent attack in the family’s apartment, just north of Miami International Airport.
The plea deal, accepted by 11th Circuit Judge Richard Hersch, spares Rosa from a first-degree murder trial and carries a 25-year prison term, followed by two decades of probation. Rosa, appearing subdued in court, uttered, “I’m sorry,” accepting responsibility for the death of his 39-year-old mother, Irina Garcia.
The night of the crime remains etched in official records. Around 11:30 p.m., authorities responded to Rosa’s own 911 call, in which the young teenager calmly confessed and requested help. At the scene, officers found Garcia dead in her bed, with her newborn daughter—just two weeks old—lying in a crib nearby.
Friends and family depicted Rosa as a model student, describing him as respectful, humble, and academically gifted. Police confirmed there had been no prior reports of violence or mental health concerns within the household. The apparent lack of warning signs made the crime all the more baffling for those who knew the family.
After his arrest, prosecutors pursued adult charges against Rosa, a choice that drew ire from his father and raised questions about juvenile justice in serious felonies. His father, in an emotional court appearance, emphasized that no one in the family ever saw Derek as anything other than a child.
The investigation exposed further unsettling details in the weeks that followed. Authorities released the audio of Rosa’s 911 call, which revealed a chilling calmness. At one point, Rosa acknowledged sending photos of his deceased mother to an online gaming friend and expressed concern over whether that action was wrong. When pressed, he admitted he knew the recipient only virtually.
Evidence presented to the court included surveillance images from within the apartment—one showing Garcia cradling her infant just an hour before her death, another capturing Rosa’s silhouette in the doorway after the lights had been turned off. Other digital images, reportedly taken just after the attack, depicted Rosa posing for a selfie, his hand smeared with blood.
Prosecutors also introduced video footage of Rosa’s confession, asserting he was composed and clear-minded while waiving his Miranda rights. Defense attorneys argued that Rosa’s age and lack of understanding should have rendered the confession inadmissible, but Judge Hersch ruled otherwise, stating that the defendant demonstrated sufficient intelligence and composure during questioning.
As the trial date loomed, the mounting and graphic evidence prompted a dramatic change in strategy. Rosa, after consulting with his defense team, accepted the plea deal.
During the hearing, Garcia’s husband spoke through tears, remembering her as a devoted parent and lamenting the shattering impact her loss has had on the family unit.
Rosa is credited for time already served in pretrial detention. Upon completing his prison sentence, he will remain under strict supervision for 20 years. While the court proceedings have concluded, the sorrow inflicted by the act continues to reverberate through the lives of family, friends, and an entire community left searching for answers.