New Defense Strategy Emerges in the Murder Case of Cuban Woman Irina García

The legal defense team for Derek Rosa, the teenager accused of the brutal murder of his mother in Hialeah in October 2023, is taking an unexpected turn in their strategy. Rosa's attorneys are requesting that the court allow them to investigate Frank Ramos, the teenager's stepfather, as a potential alternative suspect in the case.

According to newly released court documents, Rosa's defense is seeking access to Ramos's private social media messages and ballistic tests on a firearm found at the crime scene that belongs to him. Additionally, the defense wants a new statement from Ramos and a co-worker from a towing company following a photograph allegedly showing them exchanging vehicles. The defense claims that the witness denied recognizing the image.

"These messages are exculpatory, suggesting an alternative theory that the perpetrator may not be Derek Rosa," the attorneys stated in a motion filed with the court. They further noted, "Ramos's detailed knowledge of the incident, despite claiming not to have witnessed it, raises the possibility that he was present or at least saw what happened."

Questioning Frank Ramos's Knowledge

During a sworn statement, Frank Ramos was questioned about his Facebook conversations where he reportedly described the events of the night of the murder in detail. He mentioned how the victim, Irina García, reportedly called for help and tried to defend herself from the attacker.

The defense questions how Ramos could have such specific details if, as the prosecution claims, he was in Georgia working as a truck driver at the time of the crime. "Currently, there is no evidence suggesting that the witness was present at the scene, and all available documentary and video evidence shows that he was in Georgia when the crime occurred," the state prosecutor's office responded, opposing the release of Ramos's messages and work records.

In his public defense, Frank Ramos has maintained that he is "another victim in the case" and insists that he does not need to provide explanations, emphasizing that the prosecution controls the process.

Request for Psychological Evaluation and Trial Postponement

Simultaneously, Rosa's lawyers have requested a postponement of the trial, initially scheduled for June. They argue that more evidence needs to be reviewed, witnesses interviewed, and most importantly, more time is needed for an in-depth psychological evaluation of the minor.

"The incident itself is a traumatic event, regardless of the theories presented by each side, especially considering the adolescent brain. This requires a longer and more thorough evaluation than usual," the defense noted in their request for a delay.

So far, Judge Richard Hersch has not ruled on the defense's new approach or the trial's postponement.

A Crime That Shook Hialeah

On October 12, 2023, Derek Rosa, then only 13, called 911 from his home in Hialeah, confessing to stabbing his mother, Irina García, with a kitchen knife. The 39-year-old woman was found dead with approximately 40 stab wounds. The case shocked South Florida, not only due to the crime's brutality but also because of the accused's young age.

Since then, Rosa has been held in the adult jail of the county, Metro West, facing first-degree murder charges. Recently, body camera footage from a Hialeah police officer showed moments following Rosa's arrest: his transport to the station, his entry into a cell, and his initial interrogation. These images have reignited public interest in a case that has kept the community on edge for over a year.