Frank Ramos, stepfather of Derek Rosa, broke his silence for the first time since the murder of Irina García in an interview in which he recounted how he lived through the days and months following his partner's death 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 unit without apparent conflicts.
"We were a calm family. The child was very happy with us", she recalled while referring to the family dynamics before the tragedy.
However, he was emphatic when discussing the crime committed by Derek Rosa: "He did wrong, he shouldn't have done it, and he must pay."
His words represent the first extensive public account he offers regarding one of the most shocking criminal cases that has 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 endured unjustly, 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 boy was very happy with us," he affirmed.
Despite the seriousness of what happened, he assured that he holds no hatred towards Derek Rosa, although he believes he should 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 face the consequences," he expressed.
The statement is particularly significant because for years the case was marked by speculation, theories, and public discussions regarding the family dynamics within the home where the crime took place. Ramos insisted that he never saw signs that would have made him anticipate such a devastating outcome.
The accusations following the tragedy
One of the most sensitive issues addressed by Ramos was what happened immediately after receiving the call from the police.
According to the account, after learning about the murder, he went straight to the home of Isabel, Irina García's mother, where the little Ashley was, who at that time was barely 14 days old.
However, he/she assures that the meeting was marked by tensions.
"They were trying to downplay what I had done. They knew the truth from the beginning and never wanted to, I mean, they never came out to say anything", he stated.
Ramos also accused Irina's family members of attempting to unjustly implicate him amid the turmoil caused by the crime.
"Attempting to implicate someone who has nothing to do with what Derek did is something that is not, not forgivable", 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.
According to what was explained, communication with Ashley's maternal grandmother was virtually nonexistent for a long time.
According to his account, Isabel contacted him again approximately a year after the murder and later, when the girl turned two, she asked for photographs of the child.
Still, Ramos assured that he does not rule out that in the future Ashley may have some form of relationship with her maternal grandmother.
Create solo for Ashley
The most emotional part of the testimony was dedicated to little Ashley, the baby who became motherless when she was only two weeks old.
Ramos recounted the difficulties he faced during the first months after the tragedy.
"I was alone with the girl. I did everything for her. The girl would sleep on my chest, and it was very sad how she searched for her mother's breast," she recalled.
The Cuban described those days as an extremely difficult period, marked by mourning and the responsibility of attending to all the needs of the child without permanent assistance.
According to him, the process became more bearable when other family members managed to arrive from Cuba to support him.
"Until my family arrived from Cuba, and I went to rebuild my life", he commented.
The support of Marbelli and the rebuilding 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 will support you," he recounted.
According to what he explained, this woman's support was essential in facing the most difficult moments following Irina's death.
"I feel very grateful because she is taking care of the little girl as if she were her own", she 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 actively involved in Ashley's life.
"They care a lot for the girl, and the girl loves them back. They are being raised in a family, which is the most important thing," she affirmed.
What happened on the night of the crime?
The case shocked southern Florida on the night of October 12, 2023.
According to the police report, at 11:31 p.m., Derek Rosa, who was 13 years old at the time, called 911 to report that he had just killed his mother, Irina García.
The teenager remained on the phone line until the officers from the Hialeah Police Department arrived at the family apartment.
Following the instructions of the emergency operator, he left the house 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 having attacked her mother while she was sleeping 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 told him 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 his trial for first-degree murder.
As part of the court settlement, 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 his sentence at the Suwannee Correctional Institution, and his estimated release date is 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 learn the whole truth when the time is right.
"She deserves to know who her mommy is and what happened. It's the reality of life, but we are waiting for the right moment.", she stated.
Frank Ramos's words close one of the longest silences surrounding this case.
Almost three years after the murder of Irina García, the man who was left to care for a baby just 14 days old is trying to rebuild his life while confronting a loss that, as he admits, he still finds hard to comprehend.
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