One of the criminal defense attorneys in the trial of a Hialeah teen accused of fatally stabbing his mother has withdrawn from the murder case, sources tell NBC6.
The reasons for the withdrawal in Derek Rosa’s case have not been publicly disclosed.
On Friday, sources close to the case told NBC6 that Jose Baez, a criminal defense attorney known for representing high-profile defendants such as Casey Anthony, will no longer be the attorney handling the teen’s trial.
Rosa, who was 13 at the time of the killing, was indicted for first-degree murder after allegedly stabbing his mother, Irina Garcia, 46 times while she slept in her bedroom on the night of Oct. 12, 2023.
The trial, which is slated to begin Jan. 26, will now go on with Dayliset Rielo and Michelle Media, two attorneys who work alongside the Baez law firm. It’s unclear why Baez himself withdrew from the case.
On his social media, Baez stated his firm would remain as counsel of record for Rosa. In the post, Baez added, “No one is abandoning Derek! ”
Baez mentioned the complexities of the murder case in the social media post, adding the “judge is making demands on the defense team that are quite frankly impossible to comply with.”
Baez wrote that he’s spent over “seven figures of my firm’s resources” towards Rosa’s defense, highlighting his commitment to “saving this boy’s life.”
Rielo also issued a social media statement on Friday stating she is committed to Rosa’s representation. In the post, she wrote, “I will continue to fearlessly, ethically, and empathetically represent Derek.”
Rielo also shared screenshots of text messages that supposedly come from Rosa’s father, Jose, and grandmother, Isabel Acosta, thanking her for the services.
“Thank you for everything you have done,” Jose purportedly wrote to Rielo. NBC6 has not confirmed the authenticity of the father’s text messages.
While defense attorneys call the case against Rosa an “injustice,” prosecutors are hoping a judge will allow evidence into trial that would supposedly prove the alleged killer was obsessed with gore.
Recent records show the teenager was possibly driven by a fascination with violence, the horror movie “Friday the 13th,” and disturbing online videos.
Prosecutors stated the materials they hope to get admitted as evidence into trial supposedly reveal Rosa’s mindset and possible motive in the hours and days leading up to the murder.
The new court filing states Rosa was allegedly asking his friends for scary Halloween costume ideas. Rosa allegedly stated, “I’m doing Jason,” from the horror movie “Friday the 13th,” which features Jason Voorhees, a fictional character who typically uses a machete to kill his victims.
Prosecutors allege Rosa wanted to be Jason and that his mother’s killing happened an hour before midnight on Friday the 13th.
The filing further alleges Rosa shared a graphic suicide video multiple times, showing the death of a U.S. Army reservist named Ronnie McNutt, with friends and his girlfriend both before and on the day of the murder. Witnesses said Rosa laughed at the footage and described it as “funny.”
Prosecutors claim this pattern shows Rosa’s “morbid fascination with blood, death, and gore,” and that he took pleasure in shocking others with violent imagery.
Rosa has pleaded not guilty.
His defense attorneys have suggested that Rosa’s stepfather, Frank Ramos, could be an alternative suspect, though prosecutors said Wednesday that there is ample evidence showing Ramos was in Georgia at the time of the killing.
Assistant State Attorney Jonathan D. Borst told the court Wednesday that the evidence “connects a possible motive for the killing itself.”
A hearing on the pending motions is scheduled for later this month.
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