A 13-year-old Florida boy, known for his academic excellence, has been taken into custody for allegedly murdering his mother while she slept beside her newborn baby, according to local authorities. The boy, Derek Rosa, has been charged as a minor in the death of his 39-year-old mother, Irina Garcia. Despite his age, Hialeah police have publicly identified Rosa due to the severity of the charges, which include a felony count of second-degree murder.
The tragic event began to unfold late Thursday night when Rosa dialed 911, confessing to the operator that he had killed his mother, according to Lt. Eddie Rodriguez, a spokesperson for the Hialeah Police Department. Responding officers arrived at the family’s West 79th Street apartment to find Garcia deceased in her bedroom, mere inches from her two-week-old daughter’s crib. The infant was unharmed, police reported.
Authorities believe that Rosa waited for his mother to fall asleep before repeatedly stabbing her in the neck. Rosa, described as a polite and apologetic individual, was not the typical suspect one would expect in such a gruesome crime scene, according to Lt. Rodriguez. Rosa, an eighth-grade honor student at iMater Charter Middle/High School, was reportedly calm and cooperative during his interactions with the emergency dispatcher and responding officers.
On the night of the incident, Rosa, his newborn half-sister, and their mother were the only occupants of the apartment. The teenager’s stepfather, a truck driver, was away in Georgia at the time. Rosa had no known history of mental health issues and was reportedly on good terms with his stepfather. There were no previous police records related to the family’s residence.
Neighbors expressed shock at the incident, describing Rosa as a calm individual who was often seen helping his mother with chores. A photograph circulated by local media outlets showed a seemingly happy family, with Rosa and his stepfather, both dressed in matching light-pink polo shirts and khakis, lovingly cradling Garcia’s baby bump during a maternity photoshoot.
The motive behind the shocking crime remains unclear. According to Lt. Rodriguez, Rosa did not provide any information as to why he committed the act. Following his surrender, Rosa was transported to a juvenile detention center and later to a hospital after he allegedly threatened self-harm. His initial court appearance took place on Friday.