Hialeah teen pleads guilty to stabbing his mother to death. He’s sentenced
The Hialeah teen who confessed to stabbing his mother to death in 2023 spontaneously pleaded guilty Friday afternoon.
Derek Rosa, 15, will spend 25 years behind bars followed by 20 years’ probation as a result of the deal. Rosa pleaded guilty to second-degree murder days before he was set to head to trial in the brutal ambush of his mother.
On Oct. 12, 2023, then-13-year-old Rosa murdered his mother, Irina Garcia, 39, by stabbing her 46 times with a kitchen knife as she slept, while his 2-week-old sister was nearby in her crib, police and prosecutors say. While Rosa confessed to the slaying, his case has received national attention due to a vocal community of supporters who believe he is innocent.
Rosa, in brown jail attire, sat quietly next to his defense attorney Dayliset Rielo, only giving brief answers to questions asked by Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Richard Hersch. Rosa’s family was present in the courtroom.
The teen will get credit for the more than two years he has spent in a Miami-Dade jail.
Before Hersch sentenced Rosa, he asked Rosa if he wanted to say something. Rosa paused for a moment and then said, “I’m sorry.”
In a statement, Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle said Garcia suffered from the 46 stab wounds — but also from realizing that her son was her killer.
“The conclusion of this criminal case does not diminish the tragedy of Derek’s actions,” Fernandez Rundle said. “When he stole his mother’s life, he also stole so much of his own future.”
‘Destroyed our family’
Addressing Rosa, stepfather Frank Ramos started to break down at the courtroom lectern.
“For me, you were like a son. We were a very close-knit family,” Ramos said in Spanish. “Your mom was a loving mother... Her death destroyed our family and changed our lives forever.”
After the tragedy, Ramos said he was left alone to take care of Rosa’s sister, who was only 14 days old. Ramos said he has not only grieved Garcia’s loss — but suffered being stalked and falsely accused of Garcia’s murder.
“I strongly believe you should assume the responsibility and the consequences of your actions in accordance to the law,” Ramos said as he faced Rosa.
Rosa was stoic and emotionless as he heard Ramos’ testimony. During his probation period, Rosa can’t have contact with his stepfather or his sister, prosecutor Jonathan Borst said.
Garcia’s father Francisco Garcia Acosta, who lives in Camaguey, Cuba, wrote a letter that Borst read. In it, Garcia Acosta remembered his daughter — who moved from Cuba to the U.S. in 2006 — as a loving woman and caring mother.
“When she had her son Derek, she was never separated from him aside from when she was working,” Garcia Acosta said in the letter. “She raised him well and was always attentive to him, his studies and his grades.“
Garcia Acosta said he has suffered two heart attacks because his daughter did not deserve to die, adding that he hopes there is justice for her.
“Derek was loved by the whole family,” he said in the letter. “For Irina, her son was everything. They loved each other.”
Chilling confession
At a hearing last week, the judge ruled that Rosa’s confession could be played for a jury during the trial. Prosecutors during the proceeding played 911 calls and snippets of Rosa’s interview with police.
READ MORE: Jury can hear confession of Hialeah teen accused of stabbing his mother, judge says
In the videos, the teen recounted with significant detail the events leading up to — and following — the killing. Rosa told detectives he called an online friend to tell him he had stabbed his mother, also sending the friend pictures of his mother’s body.
In the video, Rosa said he first “cut her” in the neck and stabbed where “a lot of blood sprays out.” Rosa covered his ears when the confession was played in court.
He had “no emotion for someone who butchered his mother,” Detective Joseph Elosegui said.
READ MORE: Possible motive of Hialeah teen accused of stabbing mother? Fascination with gore
This story was originally published January 16, 2026 at 1:39 PM.
