In Hialeah, Florida, on October 12, local authorities responded to a distressing 911 call. The caller was 13-year-old Derek Rosa, who confessed to fatally stabbing his mother, 39-year-old Irina Garcia, in the neck during her sleep.
Upon their arrival, law enforcement officers found the tragic scene – Garcia’s body on the floor beside a crib. In the crib was her two-week-old baby daughter, Rosa’s half-sister, miraculously unscathed by the event.
The community is in shock, as Derek is an honor student at a regional middle school. He’s always been seen in a positive light, often helping his mother with routine chores. Given the absence of any known prior mental health issues or brushes with law enforcement, this heinous act is bewildering.
In the aftermath of the murder, Derek chose to shockingly photograph his deceased mother and distribute the images on social media. This deeply concerning act led to his subsequent three-day medical evaluation.
With an ongoing investigation, Derek now confronts the grim reality of second-degree murder charges. Discussions about the course of his trial – whether as an adult or a minor – are in progress.
