Doorbell footage reveals student’s chilling conversation with 911 operator as he confessed to killing mom
Kit Roberts
Featured Image Credit: NBC 6 South Florida
Doorbell footage has revealed the chilling conversation a 13-year-old boy had with a 911 operator as he confessed to killing his own mother.
Derek Rosa, 13, was arrested on October 12, 2023 after allegedly confessing to the killing of his mom Irina Garcia, 39, in their family home.
Rosa, from Florida, has since pleaded not guilty to a charge of first-degree murder.
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However, footage played at a pre-trial hearing appears to show Rosa speaking to a detective from Hialeah Police Department.
When asked if he killed his mother, he can be seen to nod.
He can also be heard to say: "I woke up, I grabbed one of the kitchen knives and I went to her room... I killed her."
Babycam footage played at a separate court hearing shows Rosa in his mother's bedroom, with his infant sister in her cot right next to them.
Details from the case show that Rosa has been accused of stabbing his mother more than 40 times and slashing her neck.
At first, Rosa was detained in the juvenile detention centre in Miami-Dade for two weeks.
He was then transferred to Metro West after the charge was altered to that of first-degree murder, meaning that he will be tried as an adult.
Rosa's defence attorneys have sought to postpone the trial to await evidence from the state's attorneys office, and a status hearing has been scheduled for April 17.
A recording of Rosa's conversation with a 911 operator shows him saying: "She's dead miss... there's blood all over the floor... I took pictures and told my friends about it, was that bad?"
The operator asked him the reason for his alleged actions, but his response has not been made public.
He can heard saying: "There's officers. I see officers. Do I leave? Do I leave my house?"
The operator responds: "No - do not leave, do not leave. Stay right where you are in your apartment."
If convicted, Rosa could be sentenced to life in prison. While the State of Florida does allow the death penalty for first degree murder, the US Supreme Court has previously ruled that it is unconstitutional for it to be used on juveniles.
Rosa's family have expressed their shock, calling the 13-year-old a 'good kid', and adding that 'no one could imagine this would ever happen'.
A statement released by Rosa's attorney Dayliset Rielo to NBC Miami said: "Today would have been Irina’s 40th birthday, my prayers are continuously with the family and I hope wherever Irina is in heaven she continues to give them strength and protection."