HIALEAH, FL – The teenage boy who fatally stabbed his mother nearly 50 times in a shocking case that stunned a Miami suburb has pleaded guilty in court, bringing closure to a case that has haunted family, friends, and investigators for months.

Derek Rosa, now 15, admitted Friday to a single count of second-degree murder during a hearing in a Miami-Dade County courtroom. At the time of the attack, Rosa was only 13 years old. As part of a plea agreement, he received a sentence of 25 years in prison, followed by two decades of probation once released.

Authorities say the violent incident took place last October in a family apartment in Hialeah, just north of downtown Miami. Investigators allege that Rosa entered his mother’s bedroom late at night and stabbed 39-year-old Irina Garcia more than 40 times as she lay next to her newborn daughter.

Following the attack, the teenager himself dialed 911 to report the crime, calmly explaining to a dispatcher what had happened. Officers responding to the scene found Garcia’s body beside a crib, where Rosa’s baby half-sister was lying unharmed. The case captured local attention both for its brutality and for the young age of the accused.

Court documents reveal that evidence, including surveillance images and a confession, played a major role during the proceedings. Photographs show Garcia holding her infant in bed shortly before the attack, and minutes later, Rosa was seen over his mother in the darkened room. Prosecutors also presented a video interview in which Rosa detailed the killing and admitted sending photos of the crime scene to a friend he knew primarily through online gaming.

Rosa’s legal team unsuccessfully argued that such evidence should be excluded, claiming that their client was too young to fully understand the implications of his statements to authorities. The presiding judge, however, found that the then-eighth grader comprehended his rights and that his interrogation had not been coercive.

Family members, friends, and neighbors have struggled to reconcile the violent act with their memories of Rosa as a quiet, academically accomplished student who showed no prior indications of mental illness or trouble. According to relatives, there was no documented history of violence within the family, and the young suspect had previously been described as respectful and humble.

Initially charged as an adult with first-degree murder, Rosa was facing a potential life sentence if the case had gone to trial. The plea agreement, reached just days before a scheduled court date, reduced the charge to second-degree murder and determined a fixed prison sentence.

In brief statements during sentencing, the teenager expressed remorse, acknowledging his actions before the court. Meanwhile, family members described the devastating impact of the loss, recounting Garcia’s dedication as a mother and the lasting trauma her death has caused.

Under the terms of the deal, Rosa will receive credit for time already served in custody since his arrest. After completing his prison term, he will be monitored under probation for an additional 20 years.

While the conviction concludes the legal proceedings, those close to the case say the emotional aftermath is likely to persist for the shattered family and community.