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New video shows Derek Rosa, 13, confessing to killing mother in Hialeah

‘Yeah, she was sleeping,’ teen says in interrogation video

MIAMI – Newly-obtained police interrogation video shows the moment 13-year-old Derek Rosa confessed to fatally stabbing his mother at their Hialeah apartment in October.

Rosa is accused of fatally stabbing 39-year-old Irina Garcia as she slept next to his 14-day-old half-sister on Oct. 12 at the Amelia Oaks apartment complex, located at 211 W. 79th Place.

Police said Rosa stabbed his mother 46 times. He’s since been charged as an adult with first-degree murder.

In the video, a calm Rosa is seen nodding after a Hialeah Police Department detective asks him, “You killed her?”

He then asks the teen what type of knife he used.

“It was a big-sized kitchen knife,” Rosa said, describing the handle as “purple.”

“Your mom was sleeping?” the detective asks.

“Yeah, she was sleeping,” Rosa replies.

The video also shows the teenager showing detectives his bloody hands and pointing to his neck when asked where he stabbed his mother.

“And then she woke up?” the detective asks.

“Yes,” Rosa replies.

“Did you say anything else?” police ask.

“No, she just screamed,” Rosa said.

What Rosa never tells detectives in the video is why he killed Garcia. When asked that question by police, he asked to go to the bathroom and, upon coming back, asked for an attorney.

A tentative trial date in the case is set for February.


About the Author
Bridgette Matter headshot

Bridgette Matter joined the Local 10 News team as a reporter in July 2021. Before moving to South Florida, she began her career in South Bend, Indiana and spent six years in Jacksonville as a reporter and weekend anchor.

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