John Jefferson
Background: Supporters of 14-year-old murder suspect Derek Rosa speak to media (WTVJ). Insets: Derek Rosa and his mother Irina Garcia (Family handout/Law&Crime Network).
A teenager in Florida accused of stabbing his mom to death while she slept near his 14-day-old half-sister is getting national support from mothers who say he didn’t do it.
“I completely believe that he is innocent of all charges,” Ariana Reyes, a Chicago mom who has been traveling to Miami-Dade County to support 14-year-old Derek Rosa in court, told local NBC affiliate WTVJ and other news outlets during a press conference this week.
“He is a child, he can easily be manipulated by an adult,” she said. “I believe there was more than one person in that scene, we hear noises in the background of the 911 call, I strongly believe that he’s innocent and was manipulated by someone else around that scene.”
Reyes and the other mothers have been flocking to South Florida to protest and support Rosa as his case moves through the court system, according to reports, despite the evidence against him.
Rosa, who was 13 at the time of the October 2023 slaying, is charged as an adult with first-degree murder for allegedly stabbing Garcia in her sleep 46 times. Still images from surveillance footage that was captured from inside house show his mom, Irina Garcia, 39, in bed holding what appears to be her 14-day-old daughter right before she’s attacked.
One photo shows Garcia at around 10:23 p.m.
In another — time-stamped at 11 p.m. — a male figure can be seen standing over her, arm outstretched.
A surveillance footage screenshot shows Irina Garcia holding what appears to be her infant daughter. Authorities said her son, Derek Rosa, stabbed her to death near the baby. (Image: Office of the Miami-Dade State Attorney)
Prosecutors in Miami-Dade County, Florida, released this screenshot of surveillance footage from the bedroom of murder victim, Irina Garcia. (Image: Office of the Miami-Dade State Attorney)
Other photos released by prosecutors show the alleged murder weapon — described as a kitchen knife — missing the tip and covered in blood and hair.
One pic allegedly shows Rosa making a “hang loose” gesture with his hand, which was purportedly covered in blood.
Authorities say he sent the image to friends.
Prosecutors released this image of murder defendant, Derek Rosa. His hand appears to be red. Prosecutors said he sent the pictures to friends. (Image: Office of the Miami-Dade State Attorney)
At one point, Rosa allegedly grabbed two guns belonging to his stepfather and planned to die by suicide, but in the words of his arrest affidavit, he “could not carry it out.”
Lt. Eddie Rodriguez of the Hialeah Police Department told Law&Crime in October 2023 that Rosa called 911 at 11:30 p.m. that night to report what happened. The teenager allegedly confessed to stabbing his mother to death and was “so polite” during the 911 call, according to Rodriguez.
“Yes, ma’am; no, ma’am,” the cop recalled Rosa saying to the dispatcher.
“I took pictures and I told my friends about it,” Rosa allegedly confessed. “Was that bad?”
Police and body camera footage released by local Fox affiliate WSVN on Monday shows Rosa’s arrest and him sitting in the back seat of a cruiser, not saying a word and appearing to fall asleep at one point. He can be seen on video calmly surrendering to cops with his arms raised and later during questioning.
“Where exactly did you cut her?” an investigator asks in one clip.
“At first I cut her right here,” Rosa responds, pointing to his neck.
“There’s some red stains there [on Rosa’s shirt],” the investigator says. “Is that blood?”
Rosa replies, “I think it is.”
Hialeah Police body cam shows 13-year-old Derek Rosa being taken in for murdering his own mother. After the woman was stabbed 46 times that October 2023 night, the boy dozes off in a police cruiser before being questioned and jailed. @wsvn @jholly #Exclusive story: pic.twitter.com/L1MP1DMII4
— Sheldon Fox-7 News (@fox_sheldon) January 14, 2025
The teen has been described as a straight-A, honor roll student who had previously stayed out of trouble. Rodriguez told Law&Crime that the murder has “left everybody dumbfounded.”
Rosa’s lawyer, Kristen Jackwin, has said he has strong support from his entire family.
“It is important to remember that only two months ago, Derek was a 12-year-old child,” she told Law&Crime last year. “We have full faith in the criminal justice system and due process of law.”
The show of support as crossed state lines as Reyes and other mothers from across the country have come down to the Sunshine State to rally for Rosa’s innocence.
More from Law&Crime: Teen murders his family, calls police and confesses to quadruple homicide before drunkenly greeting arriving cops: Officials
“He’s a child. He did not kill his mother,” said California mom Martha Hernandez, according to WTVJ and WSVN. The outlets spoke to Rosa’s supporters at the Metro Justice building in Miami on Monday. The group reportedly protested with signs and shirts with Rosa’s face on them both inside and outside of the building, chanting “Free Derek!”
“I’m here because I believe in Derek’s innocence,” Hernandez said, per WTVJ. “I’d like to see him free, I’d like to see justice for Irina. This child, Derek Rosa, I know, I believe in his innocence. We want to see Derek Rosa free, he’s a child, he did not kill his mother.”
WSVN reports that Rosa’s trial is expected to start sometime this year. His next hearing is scheduled for Thursday.
Alberto Luperon and Jason Kandel contributed to this report.
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