A teenager in Florida is facing accusations of stabbing his mother to death while she slept next to his 14-day-old half-sister.
Despite the evidence against him, Derek Rosa, 14, is receiving support from mothers who believe he is innocent... Continue reading here ▶
Ariana Reyes, a mother from Chicago, has been traveling to Miami-Dade County to support Rosa in court. “I completely believe that he is innocent,” she told WTVJ and other news outlets in a press conference.
She believes Rosa was manipulated by someone else, mentioning sounds heard on a 911 call that make her think there was more than one person involved in the incident.
Rosa, who was 13 years old at the time of the October 2023 stabbing, is charged with first-degree murder for allegedly killing his 39-year-old mother, Irina Garcia, while she was in bed holding her baby. Surveillance footage from inside the house shows Garcia in bed around 10:23 p.m. and later, at 11:00 p.m., a figure standing over her.
The prosecution also released images of a kitchen knife, described as the murder weapon, which was found covered in blood and hair. One image allegedly shows Rosa making a “hang loose” gesture with his blood-covered hand, which he reportedly sent to friends.
According to police, Rosa called 911 at 11:30 p.m. the night of the murder. He reportedly confessed to stabbing his mother but was “polite” during the call, asking if telling his friends about it was “bad.”
Body camera footage released by local media shows Rosa calmly surrendering to police, appearing to fall asleep in the back of a police cruiser, and later being questioned. When asked where he cut his mother, he pointed to his neck and admitted that there was blood on his shirt.
Rosa has been described as a straight-A student who had never been in trouble before. His attorney, Kristen Jackwin, emphasized that Rosa was just a child, and his family continues to support him.
Mothers from around the country have shown their support for Rosa. “He’s a child. He did not kill his mother,” said Martha Hernandez, a mother from California, who joined the protests in Florida. Supporters have gathered with signs and shirts featuring Rosa’s face, chanting “Free Derek!”
Rosa’s trial is expected to begin later this year, and his next hearing is scheduled for Thursday.
