The family of a teenager accused of murdering his mother in Hialeah burst out in tears Friday when they saw him appear in court virtually. NBC6’s Jamie Guirola reports
The family of a teenager accused of murdering his mother in Hialeah burst out in tears Friday when they saw him appear in court virtually.
Derek Rosa, 14, is accused of stabbing his 39-year-old mother, Irina Garcia, over 40 times back on Oct. 12.
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The teen’s attorneys want him to be transferred from jail to juvenile detention but for the second time on Friday, a judge denied the request.
Defense attorneys claim Rosa – whose records show lives with autism and ADHD – is not getting the education he needs in the adult facility. They believe the juvenile detention center will do a better job with schooling.
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The teen is mostly in solitary confinement at the jail.
Records obtained by NBC6 showed that in March, he was only out of his cell for about 119 hours, and only five of those hours were for educational purposes.
Rosa appeared virtually and said nothing during the hearing.
But his family, who claims he’s innocent, was there in full force and started crying when he appeared on the monitor.
A possible trial could begin in December.
After killing his mother, Rosa called an online friend and sent the friend three photos, including two of his mother and a selfie, authorities said.
The selfie, previously released by prosecutors, shows Rosa posing with what appears to be blood on his hands.
Two other photos captured from a nearby baby monitor in the apartment show Garcia holding her newborn daughter, and then Rosa later standing over her the night of the killing. Another photo showed a pink-handled kitchen knife with blood on it.
When officers arrived at the apartment, they found Garcia dead in her bedroom next to a crib with her newborn, who was unharmed.
Hours later, Rosa called police to report he'd stabbed his mother to death.
More footage showed Rosa on the phone with a 911 dispatcher giving the number of the apartment.
Another video shows him opening the door as police lights flash in the distance and officers approach the apartment.
