Florida Man Friday | 13-Year-Old Honor Student Murders Mother Then Sends Bloody Pics to Friend | Derek Rosa

On October 12, 2023 in Hialeah, Florida, 13-year-old Derek Rosa (who at the time was an 8th grader at iMater Academy in Hialeah) attacked his mother, 39-year-old Irina Garcia, with a kitchen knife. He stabbed her multiple times; one of which severed an artery in her neck. The horrible scene was recorded by a baby monitor in Irina’s bedroom, showing her holding her newborn daughter moments before the assault. 

After the murder, Derek reportedly called an online friend, took a selfie with his bloodied hand and sent it to a friend, along with two pictures of his dead mother’s body. 

Derek Rosa selfie which was sent to online friend after the murder | Law and CrimeNY Post

Soon after the murder, Derek called 911 to confess,

“I took pictures and told my friends about it,”

he calmly told the dispatcher. He went on to explain that he had sent the photos to an online friend and showed no signs of remorse. The 911 report noted Derek’s politeness, with authorities remarking on how composed he remained throughout the conversation, addressing the dispatcher with “Yes, ma’am” and “No, ma’am.”

911 partial transcript:

Derek to 911 operator: “Miss?”

Dispatcher: “Yes?”

Derek: “I took pictures and I told my friends about it. Was that bad?”

The dispatched then asked Derek to elaborate, to which he responded with, “I don’t know his real name because he’s an online friend who I play with a lot.”

When police got to the house, they found Irina dead on the bedroom floor, with her newborn unharmed in a nearby crib nearby. Derek told them that he’d gotten two guns, that were owned by his stepfather, and he’d planned to take his own life after the murder. But he couldn’t do it. At the time, only Irina, Derek and the newborn baby were home; Derek’s stepfather, who’s a truck driver, was out of state at the time.

At first Derek was arrested on second-degree murder, but this charge was later upgraded to first-degree murder, and he is being tried as an adult. He was initially held at a juvenile facility but later transferred to Metro West Jail, where he remains the youngest inmate among the adults. His defense team has argued for his relocation to a juvenile detention facility, claiming that the adult jail is not suitable for someone his age.

In court, Derek remained emotionless as his father, Jose Rosa, watched from the gallery and blew his son a kiss. Jose has publicly pleaded for leniency, saying,

“I guess what we’re asking for is another opportunity — a second chance — to help him grow and become mature as a grown man to put this behind him.”

Currently, the defense is pushing for Derek’s transfer, with a hearing scheduled to determine whether he should remain in the adult facility. His attorneys have also been granted permission to inspect the crime scene as part of their preparation for trial.

During that inspection, several pieces of evidence surfaced, such as images from the crime scene, video caught on a baby camera, and a Ring video which shows him open the apartment door and saying,

“Why do you always tell me ‘don’t run?’” which happened before the attack.

Other evidence which was collected, and brought to court was the selfie of Derek making a “shaka” hand sign while covered in blood. This is the photo he allegedly sent to a friend online. Then there was the baby monitor footage which showed the entire incident unfolding.

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Derek’s trial was supposed to start early this year, 2024, but so far two discovery status hearings have been cancelled. Prosecutors are ready to go to trial, but defense say they still need more evidence.

Derek’s family supports him, and, in the last cancelled hearing, Derek didn’t appear at court, but his family and more than 50 supporters did, claiming Derek was innocent. 

Police did not immediately suggest a motive. Lt. Eddie Rodriguez of the Hialeah Police Department described Derek as an honor roll student, and said that the murder “left everybody dumbfounded.”

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Question: Do you think Derek Rosa’s actions were the result of mental health issues or cold-blooded malice?

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