Warning: The following report contains descriptions of a crime scene that may be disturbing.
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New police videos show the tense and emotional moments when the father and stepfather of Derek Rosa, the teenager found guilty of killing his mother, were interviewed by authorities.
The videos, which show different perspectives from two of the people closest to Rosa, capture the interviews conducted by police officers as part of the criminal investigation into the death of Irina García, the teen’s mother.
José Antonio Rosa, Derek’s father, is interviewed
The interview with his father was emotional. Rosa, who initially did not know his son’s mother had died, was visibly shaken by García’s death.
He described Derek as a good, loving, and intelligent young man.
But then came the revelation. Detectives confirmed to Rosa that his son was the subject of the investigation.
“No way, Derek loved his mother to death,” he said in English.
They spoke with Frank Ramos, Derek’s stepfather
In the stepfather’s case, the interview content opened the door to what had been happening at home before it ended in a deadly outcome.
Like the father, Ramos said he couldn’t believe what had happened.
“I can’t understand how he did that to his mother. I really can’t. It’s something I just can’t believe,” he said in Spanish.
“The only thing I see is that he’s very obsessed with guns,” he added, but then said he saw it as a normal teenage interest.
Unreleased crime scene photos are revealed
In early May, Telemundo 51 gained access to exclusive, never-before-seen images from inside the Hialeah apartment where Derek Rosa, then 13, killed his mother, Irina García, on Oct. 12, 2023. The release of this graphic material comes after the teen’s court case concluded.
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The contrast inside the home
The photos document a stark contrast inside the apartment. One room shows a typical teenage setting: an eighth-grade school ID, diplomas hanging on the wall, a desk with a laptop, books, and notebooks.
The space was decorated with drawings of characters like Mario Bros, Luigi, and Rick and Morty, and included a gun built out of Lego pieces. However, the floor in that same area had blood and bodily fluid stains.
Documented evidence
The images taken by investigators detail what was found after authorities arrived. The evidence includes a bloodstained knife with a broken tip. In another bed in the home, live rounds were photographed next to a target-shooting paper with multiple holes.
The path through the apartment was also documented. Forensic investigators recorded about 20 footprints marked in blood. The prints, approximately 25 centimeters long, formed a direct path toward the bathroom.
The photos show the bed where Irina García was sleeping at the time of the attack. The images indicate the amount of blood spilled reached the floor and made it to the base of the crib where Rosa’s newborn sister was resting.
Near the scene, authorities documented a backpack containing family documents. It was after these events that the minor called 911 to confess to the crime.
Closure of the court case
This photographic evidence was part of the case the state had prepared against the teenager. However, a jury never got to see the images in court. Derek Rosa avoided trial by pleading guilty to a second-degree murder charge.
The case was formally closed and Rosa, after admitting responsibility, was sentenced to serve 25 years in a state prison.
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