Florida prosecutors said on Wednesday that the knife a 13-year-old boy used to kill his mother in October was only recently sent to a lab for testing.
Derek Rosa is accused of fatally stabbing his mother as she slept near her newborn daughter in their Hialeah home. During Wednesday’s court hearing, Rosa’s attorneys pressed prosecutors about why they have not received bodycam footage and results from various items taken from the scene — including the murder weapon, knife fragments that had splintered off, and clothes Rosa was wearing during the slaying, according to WPLG.
Prosecutors explained that physical evidence was sent to the lab this week. They also claimed the Secret Service recently returned Rosa’s phone, though an Xbox and three tablets remained with police.
READ: ‘Justice for Derek’: Supporters Gather for 13-Year-Old Who Stabbed Mom 46 Times
When asked why the other devices weren’t given to the Secret Service, prosecutors said one of the tablets belonged to the school district, and the Xbox also didn’t belong to Rosa.
Rosa allegedly stabbed his mother more than 40 times as she slept near her newborn daughter, who was unharmed. The teen allegedly told investigators how he woke up, got a kitchen knife, and repeatedly stabbed his mother.
After killing his mother, Rosa allegedly sent a friend two photos of his mother and a selfie which apparently showed blood on his hands.
The teen allegedly told a 911 dispatcher that he sent pictures of his dead mother to someone he met online. He went on to tell the dispatcher that there was blood all over the floor.
“I took pictures and I told my friend about it,” he allegedly said in the 911 call. “Was that bad?”
A motive remains undisclosed. Rosa — who is charged as an adult — is due back in court on April 19.
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[Feature Photo: Derek Rosa/Miami-Dade Prosecutor’s Office]
