The grandmother of a Florida teenager who brutally killed his mother is standing by him, describing the 15-year-old as her “angel” despite the shocking crime that led to his conviction and prison sentence.

In a recent interview with Telemundo 51, Isabel Acosta defended her grandson, Derek Rosa, who was sentenced in January to 25 years in prison for the 2023 stabbing death of his mother, 39-year-old Irina Garcia. Acosta acknowledged that others may criticize her for continuing to support him but said her love for her grandson remains unwavering.

“Let them criticize me,” she said in Spanish during the Feb. 18 interview. “You have to feel what I feel. He’s my life.” She described Rosa as being like another son to her and referred to him as her “forever angel.”

Rosa was sentenced on Jan. 16 in Miami-Dade County after pleading guilty to second-degree murder with a weapon. He had initially entered a not guilty plea to first-degree murder but later accepted a plea agreement. In addition to the 25-year prison term, he will serve 20 years of probation following his release.

The killing occurred on Oct. 12, 2023, in the family’s Hialeah, Florida home. According to court records and an arrest affidavit, Rosa stabbed his mother more than 46 times while she slept. Garcia’s newborn daughter, who was in a crib beside her mother at the time, was not harmed.

After the attack, Rosa called 911 and reportedly confessed to killing his mother. Authorities say he also sent photographs of her body to a friend through social media. Prosecutors later revealed in a 2025 court filing that Rosa took a selfie showing his blood-covered hand and shared it with a friend, who allegedly told police that Rosa appeared to be joking and laughing about the situation.

During questioning by detectives, Rosa admitted to cutting his mother’s neck and acknowledged he targeted an area where significant bleeding would occur. He also told investigators that he briefly considered taking his own life after the killing but ultimately decided against it.

Rosa did not provide a clear motive for the attack. However, prosecutors cited digital evidence suggesting he had searched online for information about stabbing techniques, including where to stab someone and whether a knife could cut through bone. They argued that the teen exhibited a disturbing fascination with violence, referencing his alleged interest in horror themes and plans to dress as fictional serial killer Jason Voorhees for Halloween shortly after the crime.

The defense rejected those claims, calling the Halloween connection exaggerated and characterizing Rosa as a respectful and kind teenager with no prior history of violence. Family members echoed that portrayal during sentencing, emphasizing that the tragedy had devastated them.

Garcia’s husband and Rosa’s stepfather, Frank Ramos, addressed the court at the January hearing, describing Garcia as a loving mother and expressing the deep emotional toll her death had taken on the family.

Despite the horrific nature of the crime, Rosa’s grandmother continues to publicly support him, underscoring the complex and painful dynamics that often surround cases of family violence.