Teenager's Chilling Note Surfaces Following 25-Year Sentence for Mother's Brutal Murder
A teenager who brutally murdered his mother when he was just thirteen years old has written a haunting note that has emerged following his recent sentencing. Derek Rosa, now fifteen years old, was sentenced to twenty-five years in prison plus twenty years of probation after pleading guilty to second-degree murder in the Miami–Dade Circuit Court.
Gruesome Details of the October 2023 Killing
The horrific crime occurred in October 2023 when Rosa stabbed his thirty-nine-year-old mother, Irina Garcia, more than forty times with a kitchen knife as she slept beside her newborn child. Originally charged with first-degree murder and pleading not guilty, Rosa later requested to change his plea, accepting the reduced charge that led to his substantial prison term.
Judge Richard Hersch handed down the sentence, which includes decades of supervision following incarceration. Before learning his fate, Rosa offered a brief apology to the court, stating simply: 'I'm sorry.'
The Emergence of a Signed Note from the Killer
A handwritten note dated January nineteenth and signed with Rosa's full name, Derek Steven Rosa, has since surfaced. The document reads: 'Thank you to everyone that helped my case.' Defense attorney Dayliset Rielo shared this note on Instagram, indicating that future statements would be released in coordination with Rosa and his family when they deem appropriate.
Rielo explained that the plea agreement represented a strategic legal decision, emphasising her belief that children do not belong within the adult prison system. According to the defence team's plans, Rosa will initially be housed in a youth offender facility until he reaches twenty-one years of age, after which he will be transferred to the Florida Department of Corrections to complete his sentence.
Disturbing Evidence and Confession Details
During court proceedings, prosecutors presented chilling evidence, including interrogation footage where Rosa admitted to police that he attacked his mother with a purple-handled kitchen knife. In the video, Rosa described waking up, grabbing a knife, and going to her room, stating plainly: 'I killed her.' While this footage played in court, the teenager covered his ears and stared at his lap.
Rosa allegedly provided gruesome details to detectives, recalling attempts to target one of his mother's arteries and describing how 'a lot of blood' sprayed from her neck. The defence argued that Rosa had not knowingly waived his right to remain silent before discussing the killing, but Judge Hersch ruled that his confession could be used and presented to a jury.
Digital Trail and Aftermath of the Murder
Prosecutors revealed that Rosa conducted several disturbing internet searches on the day of the murder, including queries about 'where is the best place to stab someone' and 'can a knife cut through the bone.' After the killing, Rosa shared details with an online friend, sending photographs of the corpse that were initially mistaken for a joke.
A selfie taken shortly after the murder showed Rosa making a hang loose sign with a blood-spattered hand. He was arrested after calling 911 to his family's Hialeah apartment, where detectives discovered a bloody kitchen knife with a distinctive purple handle.
Emotional Courtroom Statements and Family Impact
During the sentencing hearing, Rosa's stepfather, Frank Ramos, addressed the court, describing Garcia as a 'loving mother' and telling Rosa: 'For me, you were like a son.' Ramos spoke of how the murder had destroyed their family and changed their lives forever, urging Rosa to 'assume the responsibility and the consequences of your actions in accordance to the law.'
Miami–Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle acknowledged that while the criminal case had concluded, the tragedy of Rosa's actions remained undiminished. She noted poignantly: 'When he stole his mother's life, he also stole so much of his own future.'
The case continues to raise profound questions about juvenile justice, mental health considerations, and the lasting impact of violent crime on families and communities.
