A chilling tragedy unfolded in a Florida apartment on October 12, 2023, when 13-year-old Derek Rosa allegedly murdered his mother, Irina Garcia, in a brutal attack captured by a surveillance camera. The seemingly ordinary family was shattered in an instant, raising urgent questions about morality, justice, and the mind of a child capable of such horror.
Derek, a teenage honor student with no documented mental health issues, had been plotting the murder, conducting disturbing internet searches about killing methods just hours before the attack. As Irina breastfed her newborn daughter, Derek crept into her bedroom, armed with a 12-inch kitchen knife. In a shocking act of violence, he reportedly stabbed her 46 times, all while his infant sister slept nearby, blissfully unaware of the nightmare unfolding.
The horror was compounded when Derek, after the gruesome act, contacted a friend online to boast about his actions, sharing a photo of himself covered in his mother’s blood. When he called 911, his calm demeanor belied the chaos he had just unleashed. “I killed my mom,” he told the operator, revealing the chilling details of the night.
Law enforcement quickly arrived, and Derek was taken into custody. Charged with first-degree murder, he was initially held in a juvenile center but later transferred due to concerns for his mental health. Reports suggest he may be on the autism spectrum and has ADHD, raising further questions about his understanding of his actions.
As the case unfolds, the community grapples with the unthinkable: a child committing such an atrocity. Derek’s trial is set to begin in February 2024, but delays have left many unanswered questions. The Rosa and Garcia families are left in despair, mourning not only the loss of Irina but also the son they once knew.
This tragic event serves as a stark reminder of the complexities of childhood, mental health, and the justice system. As the world watches, the haunting question remains: why did Derek choose this path, and what does it mean for the future of a child now facing the consequences of his actions?