José Rosa has been present at every court hearing since the legal proceedings against his son began. For two years, he witnessed Derek grow from a 13-year-old to a 15-year-old amidst a case that shook South Florida and concluded with a guilty plea, resulting in a 25-year prison sentence followed by 20 years of probation.
Overcome with emotion, the teenager's father couldn't hold back his tears when asked by Telemundo 51 reporter Gloria Ordaz what he plans to say during future prison visits.
"As a parent, you never anticipate losing a child at such a young age for so long. You want to give them everything, teach them, hug them... and now it's all complicated," he expressed, visibly emotional.
Imagining their reunion, he added, "On that day, I'll hug him, kiss him, and hold his hands."
Tragic Incident and Legal Proceedings
The incident dates back to October 2023, when Derek, then 13, called 911 and confessed to stabbing his mother, Irina García, with a kitchen knife in their Hialeah apartment. Two years later, right before the trial was set to begin, he accepted a plea deal with the prosecution.
Currently, Derek is serving his sentence at Suwannee Correctional Institution, a state prison in Florida.
A Family Struggling for Answers
Beyond the sentence, José Rosa continues to grapple with unanswered questions. "I really don't know all the details or how something like this could happen. There is no explanation; I can't understand how it occurred. Guilty or innocent, something strange happened," he stated, emphasizing his perplexity.
He insists there were no signs that hinted at such a tragedy. "I can't understand how it happened," he reiterated. Regarding Derek's guilty plea, he respects his son's decision.
When asked if Derek loved his mother, he responded without hesitation: "Yes, definitely." He maintains that he never witnessed any severe conflicts between them. "I never saw it. He would complain about things like his mother not wanting him to wear certain clothes or shoes, but nothing about discipline," he noted.
Family Dynamics and Ongoing Pain
During the trial, it emerged that Derek had been diagnosed with autism and attention deficit disorder. The family described the mother-son relationship as "normal," with rules and discipline but no indications of a potential tragedy.
"He has developed quite well, considering the circumstances," his father commented on Derek's progress over the past two years.
Amidst public turmoil, Derek's maternal grandmother, Isabel Acosta, provided her first statements following her grandson's guilty plea.
"There are two different kinds of love," she remarked. "I love her... and I raised him, they are different loves," she continued, summarizing the personal conflict she endures: the pain of losing her daughter and the unwavering support for her convicted grandson.
"I will support him until my last day," she declared. She confesses she has not asked Derek why the crime occurred and, for now, prefers not to.
When questioned about whether justice was served, she avoids a definitive answer, neither affirming nor denying her grandson's innocence.
Isabel also speaks of another absence: the granddaughter she can no longer see. This separation adds another layer of sorrow to a family already fractured by tragedy.
As Derek begins his life inside the penitentiary system, his grandmother and father confront their own journey: reconciling love, loss, and a truth they believe is still incomplete.
Understanding the Impact of Derek Rosa's Case
What led to Derek Rosa's conviction?
Derek Rosa was convicted after confessing to stabbing his mother, Irina García, at their home in Hialeah. He accepted a plea deal just before his trial was set to begin, resulting in a 25-year prison sentence followed by 20 years of probation.
How has the family reacted to the conviction?
Derek's father, José Rosa, and his grandmother, Isabel Acosta, are struggling to comprehend the situation. José respects his son's decision to plead guilty, while Isabel continues to support her grandson despite the tragedy.