A Florida teenager, Derek Rosa, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder on Jan. 16 and was sentenced to 25 years in prison plus 20 years of probation. Rosa was 13 when he stabbed his mother, Elina Garcia, 46 times on Oct. 12, 2023, in Hialeah; a newborn in the apartment was unharmed. Court filings say he photographed the scene and later called 911 to confess; his lawyer says he will be placed in a youthful offender program until age 21 before serving the remainder of his term.
Teen Who Stabbed His Mother 46 Times Pleads Guilty, Sentenced To 25 Years
Miami-Dade County
A Florida teenager has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and received a lengthy prison term for killing his mother.
On Jan. 16, 15-year-old Derek Rosa admitted in Miami-Dade Circuit Court to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 25 years in prison followed by 20 years of probation, local media and court records show. Rosa was 13 at the time of the killing on Oct. 12, 2023.
Details Of The Crime
Prosecutors say Rosa stabbed his 39-year-old mother, Elina Garcia, while she slept in their Hialeah apartment. Authorities reported Garcia suffered 46 stab wounds. A newborn who was sleeping nearby was reportedly unharmed.
Aftermath And Evidence
Court filings and a motion obtained by PEOPLE say Rosa photographed his mother's body and took a selfie with his hand covered in blood, then sent those images to a friend along with a photo of a gun. The friend initially believed the images were a joke but later realized they were real.
After the attack, Rosa called 911 and is reported to have confessed to the operator. Prosecutors say his statements to the dispatcher and to detectives were consistent with the facts he later admitted in court.
"With today's guilty plea Derek Rosa admitted what he had previously told a 911 operator and what he had confessed to police detectives, that he murdered his mother," Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle said in a statement. She added that the pain inflicted on Elina Garcia and the knowledge that the killer was her son made the crime especially devastating.
Defense And Sentencing Arrangement
Rosa's defense attorney, Dayliset Rielo, said Rosa expressed remorse in court, telling the judge, "I'm sorry." Rielo told PEOPLE that Rosa will be placed in a youthful offender program until he turns 21, after which he will serve the remainder of his sentence in the Florida Department of Corrections.
Rielo described the plea as a strategic decision and said Rosa is thankful to those who have supported him. At sentencing, family members—including Rosa's stepfather, Frank Ramos—addressed the court, describing the family as close-knit and saying Garcia's death "destroyed our family and changed our lives forever."
Allegations About Interests And Motive
Court documents cited by local media say Rosa had expressed an interest in Jason Voorhees, the fictional killer from the Friday the 13th films, and that he told friends he planned a related Halloween costume. Authorities have not linked a definitive motive beyond the defendant's statements and the evidence in court filings.
The case drew attention for the violence of the attack, the defendant's young age at the time of the crime, and the details in court filings. The facts that led to the plea—statements to 911 and police, the photos alleged in court documents, and the nature of the attack—were highlighted by both prosecutors and defense during proceedings.
Read the original coverage on People for more details.
Help us improve.
