What are the charges against Derek Rosa? Officials release first mugshot of Florida teen accused of fatally stabbing his mother
Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.
HIALEAH, FLORIDA: As per officials, Derek Rosa, 13, who has been charged with first-degree murder for allegedly stabbing his sleeping mother multiple times while his 14-day-old baby sister lay in a crib next to her, will be tried as an adult.
Recently, his first mugshot was released by Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation, where he’s being held. Derek's eyes looked strikingly emotionless in the picture as he stared toward the camera.
The Florida teen apparently murdered his mother, Irena Garcia, 39, in her bedroom around 11.30 pm on Thursday, October 12, and went on to make a 911 call, admitting to the act.
When responding officers arrived on the scene, Garcia was lying dead with multiple stab wounds to her neck with her newborn daughter who lay nearby her, unharmed.
Police believe the boy had waited until his mother had fallen asleep and then stabbed her multiple times, killing her in her slumber.
As of now, Rosa is yet to appear at his first hearing in court.
What will happen to Derek Rosa now?
Derek Rosa's father and grandmother appeared on behalf of the juvenile in court on Friday, October 27, as the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office officials confirmed that a grand jury has formally charged the teen.
Emotional pleas made in support of the young boy were heard in court, with his father making the argument that the horrifying incident that had happened a week ago was out of character.
"It's very unfortunate that this tragedy occurred," said Jose Rosa, Derek’s father, continuing, "But this child is very humble, very peaceful and no one could imagine that this would ever happen," as per Daily Mail.
Derek has been ordered to be held without bond and, in time, be transferred to the Metro West Detention Center. He will remain there until the judge reviews the defense's request to return him to juvenile custody.
Notably, Derek, an eighth-grader, has maintained a straight-A honor roll status at iMater Charter Middle/High School in Hialeah, Florida.
Authorities have confirmed that his baby sister is now with their grandmother, while Derek is set to face a judge in an arraignment hearing next week.
How did people react to the bone-chilling incident of Derek Rosa killing his mother?
What is particularly disturbing about this gruesome killing is that Derek Rosa was described as a very polite and apologetic young man during his interactions with the emergency dispatcher and responding officers.
Lt Eddie Rodriguez, a spokesperson for the Hialeah Police Department, told WPLG-TV that Derek had called 911 just minutes after 11.30 pm to report that he had "just murdered his mother."
A few days before the first hearing on the case, a copy of the dispatch call was released by pertinent authorities.
In the transcript, the dispatcher can be heard asking, "Why did you kill your mom?" with no response being recorded from Derek’s side.
The 13-year-old had allegedly even told the dispatcher that he'd taken pictures of his dead mother and sent them to his friends.
He is apparently heard saying, "I took pictures and I told my friends about it. Is that bad?"
Later, Derek told the dispatcher he didn’t know his friend’s real name "because he’s an online friend who I play with a lot." He mentioned that the photos were still on his phone, and stated, "I told him I was sorry and goodbye."
Police are yet to confirm the existence of said pictures or messages to Derek's friends. It has been claimed he also said that he was "very sad" and wanted to "shoot himself with a gun."
Lt Rodriguez shared it was "not what you'd think or expect walking into that home or seeing that crime scene."
Footage from the crime scene revealed the boy walking out of the apartment as he was taken into police custody.
A neighbor, Lazaro Rodriguez, said, "I was shocked, just shocked by the news. He was always with his mom, calm, he would help her carry packages or shopping bags. I never saw anything abnormal with him. I don't know what could've happened."
Rodriguez shared with Local 10 News last week that the young boy had no history of mental health struggles and that the police had not been to the family's apartment before that fateful day, noting, "Neighbors don't know of any problems inside the home. So this has detectives and us dumbfounded."
Derek lived in the apartment with his mother, newborn sister, and stepfather, who works as a truck driver.
The teen was alone in the apartment with his baby sister and their mother, Irene Garcia, on the evening of October 12, and his stepfather was reportedly away in Georgia due to work.