Derek Rosa's grandmother speaks about the Cuban teenager accused of murdering his mother in Hialeah

Isabel Acosta, mother of Irina García and grandmother of the Cuban teenager Derek Rosa, broke her silence for the first time before the cameras, nearly two years after the crime that shook the Cuban-American community of Hialeah.

In an exclusive interview with Telemundo 51, the grandmother shared heartfelt statements about the pain she has endured since the murder of her daughter and the legal situation of her grandson, accused of having stabbed her in his apartment on October 12, 2023, while a 14-day-old baby —his half-brother— slept in a nearby crib.

During an initial interrogation with the police, Isabel Acosta described Derek as "an angel" and has been supporting him from the very beginning.

Now, in front of the cameras, he expressed how the pain remains unchanged: “I feel the same as I did at the beginning. This is never going to go away, at least that's how I feel. Only God has given me the strength to carry on until now, only God and my grandson.”

Accompanied by José Rosa, Derek's biological father, the grandmother reminisced about the closeness between mother and son and the moments shared during the teenager's childhood, while emphasizing that she has been the target of social judgment as she navigates profound grief.

Derek Rosa, who was 13 years old at the time, was arrested after calling 911 and confessing to the crime.

Since then, he has been held in an adult jail while the Florida justice system decides his legal future.

My grandson is the best child in the world, said Isabel Acosta, the child's maternal grandmother, clearly affected, in statements to the local press following a brief hearing in 2023.

"This is not Derek. He is a good kid, affectionate, loving... No one knows Derek like we do, and this is not Derek. He is not an adult at all; he is still a child who plays," stated another family member to the gathered press at the scene.

"Let's go, let's go. I don't want any more cameras," concluded the child's grandmother as she hurried away from the scene, clearly upset.

Just a few days ago, in a legal move that sparked reactions in public opinion, the defense of Derek Rosa, requested the exclusion of one of the most compelling pieces of evidence in the case: his own confession to the police.

The motion has been characterized by some as a legitimate attempt to ensure due process, while for others it represents a hindrance to uncovering the truth.

During a hearing held last Friday at the Miami-Dade criminal court, the defense attorneys argued that the confession was obtained without Derek, who was only 13 years old at the time of the crime, fully understanding his constitutional rights.

They assert that "he did not understand what it meant to speak to the detectives without the presence of a lawyer," which constitutes a serious violation of his procedural rights.

According to documents submitted to the court, the defense argues that an incorrect warning was given to the minor when explaining his rights, which is why they are requesting a formal hearing to discuss the legality of that interrogation.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Derek Rosa Case and the Murder of Irina García