Supporters turned out in droves for a Florida honors student who confessed to killing his mother when he appeared in court Thursday for a default status hearing.
Derek Rosa, 13, has reportedly admitted to stabbing his mother, Irina Garcia, 39, more than 40 times and slitting her neck on Oct. 12 during a 911 call.
During the hearing, a judge ordered that an unredacted version of that tape be turned over to the defense and that the Metro West Detention Center, the adult prison where he is being held, provide biweekly updates on his school and recreation, reported NBC6.
Dozens of supporters appeared in court for Rosa, including his grandmother and father.
On Thursday, a group of mothers and grandmothers came to court, wearing t-shirts, with the words “he's not an adult, he's a boy,” “justice for Derek” and “we are all Derek.”
Derek Rosa, 13, who allegedly admitted to stabbing his mother to death, appeared in court Thursday
Footage shows Rosa leaving his house with his hands up after his arrest on October 12
Gladimar Lizcano, a supporter, said: 'For us it is very important that he goes to class. Goes to therapy. He goes to the patio. It is very important for a child of 13 years old. That's all that matters. And we are here to fight for his rights.”
Supporters in court did not comment on whether they thought Rosa was innocent, only that they wanted him to be treated like a child.
Rosa is being tried as an adult and has pleaded not guilty to these charges. His lawyers want him placed in a juvenile detention center while he awaits trial.
There is a Change.Org petition called 'Save Derek Rosa' which claims he is innocent and states: 'I plead for justice for this beautiful young man, who only looks innocent because he is innocent, please help him, God bless this young man And justice for Derek.”
Footage shows Rosa walking out of his house with his hands up as officers throw him to the ground and arrest him.
At an earlier hearing in December, prosecutors played a recording of Rosa speaking to a detective immediately after the stabbing, in which he said, “I woke up, grabbed one of the kitchen knives and went to her room… I killed her.” '
After hearing the disturbing tape, Miami Dade Circuit Judge Richard Hersch ordered that the teen be held in an adult prison, the Miami-Dade Metro West Detention Center, until his trial, now scheduled for February 26 .
Rosa is accused of killing his mother, Irina Garcia, 39 (pictured) on October 12 before sending photos of her body to a friend on social media
Supporters have turned out in droves for Rosa and his family, saying he is a “good boy” and that “no one could imagine this would ever happen.” He is shown with his mother and stepfather
During a separate hearing, prosecutors shared harrowing babycam footage showing Rosa standing over his sleeping mother in her bed moments before he allegedly stabbed her 46 times.
The 13-year-old was seen in eerie black and white footage looming over his mother with a time stamp at 11 p.m. Rosa called 911 to report the murder around 11:30 p.m.
Another terrifying photo released by investigators shows Garcia in her bed, cradling her 14-day-old baby, at 10:23 PM the same evening. Investigators believe she was fast asleep when the attack began.
Officers detailed how they found a gruesome scene when they arrived at the home, with Garcia lying on the floor with dozens of knife wounds, including a severed artery in her neck.
Next to the deceased mother lay her two-week-old baby, still in her crib.
Rosa is also accused of sending a smiling selfie to a friend immediately after the murder, showing him sticking out his tongue while some blood appeared to be smeared on his hands.
Police said that after taking the photos, Rosa asked a dispatcher if the move was “bad.”
Rosa, with his hands covered in blood, makes a 'hang loose' surfer gesture of friendship. The photo is believed to be the one he sent to his friend before calling 911
Crime scene photos show Rosa standing over his mother's bed at 11pm before he allegedly fatally stabbed her. His newborn sister's cradle is next to her bed
The knife is seen at the crime scene in Hialeah, Florida. Rosa has been charged as an adult for the murder and his imprisonment at the Metro West Detention Center
He also claimed that after the stabbing he found two guns belonging to his stepfather, and that he intended to commit suicide, but did not carry out that plan.
His family have expressed their shock at the alleged murder, saying Rosa was a “good boy” and that “no one could imagine this would ever happen.”
His attorneys have not argued that mental health issues contributed to their client's mindset at the time of the killing.
The blood-covered, pink-handled knife that prosecutors say was used in the frenzied attack was also shown to the court.
He was initially held at the Miami-Dade Juvenile Detention Center for two weeks after his Oct. 12 arrest until his charge was upgraded to first-degree murder by a grand jury and he was transferred to Metro West.