Frank Ramos, stepfather of Derek Rosa, broke his silence for the first time since the murder of Irina García in an interview where he recounted how he lived the days and months following the death of his partner and what his stance is regarding the convicted teenager.
The statements were collected by local media, amplifying Ramos' testimony to the Hispanic community in South Florida, which has been closely following the case since October 2023.
Ramos described the family as a nucleus with no apparent conflicts.
"We were a quiet family. The boy was very happy with us", he recalled while mentioning the family dynamic before the tragedy.
However, he was emphatic when speaking about the crime committed by Derek Rosa: "He did wrong, he shouldn't have done it, and he has to pay."
Her words represent the first extensive public account she offers on one of the most shocking criminal cases that have occurred in South Florida in recent years.
Almost three years after the murder of Irina García, Ramos decided to share details about the pain he has faced since then, the accusations he claims to have unjustly endured, and the challenge of raising alone the daughter he had with the victim.
"He was an ordinary boy."
In the video, Ramos admitted that he still struggles to understand how the events unfolded.
"He was a normal boy. At home, we were a quiet family. The child was very happy with us," he stated.
Despite the seriousness of what occurred, he assured that he holds no hatred towards Derek Rosa, although he believes that he must face the consequences of his actions.
"I have nothing against Derek. He did something wrong that he shouldn't have done, and he has to pay for it", he stated.
The statement is particularly significant because for years the case has been marked by speculation, theories, and public discussions about the family dynamics within the home where the crime occurred. Ramos insisted that he never observed signs that would have hinted at such a devastating outcome.
The accusations following the tragedy
One of the most sensitive aspects addressed by Ramos was what happened immediately after receiving the call from the police.
According to the account, upon learning of the murder, he went straight to the home of Isabel, Irina García's mother, where the little Ashley, who was only 14 days old at the time, was.
However, he asserts that the meeting was marked by tensions.
"They were trying to minimize what had been done. They knew the truth from the beginning and never wanted to, I mean, they never spoke out about anything," he stated.
Ramos also accused Irina's relatives of trying to unjustly implicate him amid the turmoil caused by the crime.
"Trying to incriminate someone who has nothing to do with what Derek did is something that is not, that is unforgivable", he stated.
Derek's stepfather stated that those accusations caused him deep pain at a time when he was already facing the loss of his wife and the responsibility of caring for a newborn.
As explained, communication with Ashley's maternal grandmother was practically non-existent for a long time.
According to his account, Isabel reached out to him again about a year after the murder and later, when the girl turned two, she requested photographs of the child.
Still, Ramos stated that he does not rule out the possibility of Ashley having some kind of relationship with her maternal grandmother in the future.
Raise solo for Ashley
The most emotional part of the testimony was dedicated to little Ashley, the baby who became motherless just two weeks after being born.
Ramos recounted the difficulties he faced during the initial months following the tragedy.
"I was alone with the little girl. I did everything for her. The little girl slept on my chest, and it was very sad how she searched for her mother's breast", he recalled.
The Cuban described those days as an extremely difficult time, marked by grief and the responsibility of meeting all the needs of the minor without permanent help.
According to what he shared, the process became more manageable when other family members were able to arrive from Cuba to support him.
"Until my family from Cuba arrived, and I went to rebuild my life", he commented.
The support of Marbelli and the reconstruction of her life
During the video, Ramos expressed words of gratitude to a woman identified as Marbelli, whom he called from Cuba shortly after the tragedy.
"I remember his words: Don't worry, drive carefully to Miami, I'm not going to leave you alone. I'm going to support you,” he recalled.
As he explained, this woman's support was crucial in facing the most difficult moments after Irina's death.
"I feel very grateful because you are taking care of the little girl as if she were your own", he added.
Ramos also highlighted the role of his older daughters, who were in Cuba when the murder occurred but later moved to the United States and are now active parts of Ashley's life.
"They care for the girl a lot, and the girl cares for them. They are being raised in a family, which is the most important thing," she stated.
What happened on the night of the crime?
The case shocked South Florida on the night of October 12, 2023.
According to the police report, at 11:31 p.m., Derek Rosa, then 13 years old, called 911 to report that he had just killed his mother, Irina García.
The teenager remained on the phone line until the Hialeah Police Department officers arrived at the family apartment.
Following the instructions of the emergency operator, he left the residence and was detained by the authorities.
Inside the apartment, the agents found Irina García lying on the floor of her room with multiple stab wounds to her neck. The rescuers declared her dead a few minutes later.
During the subsequent interrogations, Rosa admitted to attacking her mother while she was asleep using a kitchen knife with a purple handle.
He also confessed to having taken two firearms belonging to his stepfather with the intention of committing suicide, although he ultimately did not go through with it.
The investigation also revealed that the teenager sent photographs of his mother's body to a friend via social media and communicated over the phone that he had killed her.
The conviction of Derek Rosa
After more than two years of legal proceedings, Derek Rosa pleaded guilty on January 16, 2026, to a charge of second-degree homicide, just four days before the scheduled start of the first-degree murder trial.
As part of the court agreement, he was sentenced to 25 years in prison followed by 20 years of probation.
The sentence also included mandatory psychological treatment and contact restrictions with Frank Ramos and his younger sister Ashley.
He is currently serving time at the Suwannee Correctional Institution, with an estimated release date set for October 5, 2048.
"She deserves to know the truth."
Despite the pain he still carries, Ramos assures that he prioritizes Ashley's well-being.
Aware that one day the girl will ask about her mother and the circumstances of her death, she believes that she will know the whole truth when the right moment comes.
"She deserves to know who her mother is and what happened. It's the reality of life, but we are waiting for the right moment," he affirmed.
Frank Ramos's words bring closure to one of the most prolonged silences surrounding this case.
Almost three years after the murder of Irina García, the man who was left in charge of a baby just 14 days old is attempting to rebuild his life while facing a loss that, as he admits, he still finds difficult to understand.
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