Derek Rosa interrogation transcript
Detective 1: How’s it going there? I’m Detective Gonzales, this is Detective Elosegui. I’m just going to go over a couple of things with you first. Just for the record, today’s date is Friday, October 13th, 2023, and the time is currently 2.40 a.m. And this is in regards to case, Joe, 2023? Yeah, the case number is going to be 2023-02953, an incident that happened at 211 West 79th Place, apartment number 201.
Detective 2: For the record, my badge number is 1527. And mine is 958. You go to school, right? What grade are you in?
Menor: Eighth grade.
Detective 2: Eighth grade? Yes. Good student? Yes. A’s and stuff like that?
Derek : A’s and B’s.
Detective : What reading class are you in right now, do you know? What do you take?
Menor: I take language arts.
Detective 2: Language arts? Okay. So you can read with no problems? Yeah.
Detective : Okay. I’m going to read you something first, and then you can read it afterwards, okay?
Menor: Okay.
Detective 3: Before we ask you any questions, you must understand your rights. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in the court. You have the right to talk to a lawyer for advice before we ask you any questions, and to have a lawyer present with you during questioning. If you cannot afford a lawyer, one will be appointed for you before any questioning, if you desire. If you decide to answer these questions now without a lawyer present, you still have the right to stop answering at any time or until you talk to a lawyer. Waiver of rights. I have read the statement of my rights, and I understand what my rights are. I am willing to make a statement and answer questions. I do not want a lawyer at this time. I understand and know what I am doing. No promise or threats have been made to me. No pressure or coercion of any kind has been used against me. Okay?
Menor: Okay.
Detective : If there’s… Okay. This is the form right here, okay?
Menor: Okay.
Detective 3: Now, I want you to follow, actually to read here. Okay? Read this little dot right here. Allowed?
Menor: Yes.
Detective : Before we ask you any questions, you must understand the rights, your rights. Okay. You understand that?
Menor: Yeah.
Detective 3: Okay. Go ahead and initial this little dot for me. It means that you understand that.
Menor: Okay.
Detective 3: Yeah, just your initials. I have initials. I just write my name. Okay. Write your name. Right here.
Menor: Okay.
Detective 3: Okay, read the second line. You have the right to remain silent.
Menor: Okay.
Detective 3: You understand that? Yeah. Okay.
Menor: Yes.
Detective 3: Okay. Write your name again if you understand that. Okay.
Menor: Okay.
Detective 3: Read this line right here. Anything you say can and will be used against you in court. Okay.
Menor: Okay.
Detective 3: You understand that? Go ahead. The same procedure. Just go ahead and put your initials or your signature. Go on to the next line. You have the right to talk to a lawyer for advice before we ask you any questions and to have the lawyer present with you during the questioning. Okay. You understand that? Go ahead and … Okay. Now, right here. If you cannot afford a lawyer, one will be appointed for you before any questioning if you so desire. Okay. You understand that? Yeah. Okay. Signature. Signature. And this right here. If you decide to answer questions now without a lawyer present, you still have the right to stop answering at any time or until you talk to a lawyer. Okay. Go ahead and initial right there. Okay. Now, read this whole paragraph. I have read this statement of my rights and I understand what my rights are. I am willing to make this statement and answer questions. I do not want a lawyer at this time. I understand and know what I’m doing. No promises or threats have been made to me. No pressure or coercion. Coercion. That’s that we’re forcing you to do something. You understand? Whatever you’re doing, you’re doing on your own voluntarily basis, making an educated decision for yourself. Okay? Okay. Keep on. Coercion of any kind has been used against me. Okay.
Menor : Okay.
Detective : Now, we are investigating an incident that happened where you called police. Okay? Before we ask you any questions, we want to make sure that you know this. And if you want a chance to explain yourself, the only way that we would be able to take your statement is if you agree to talk to us without the presence of an attorney. If you do, go ahead and sign right here.
Menor : What’s that, sir?
Detective : An attorney is someone that can represent you in legal matters.
Menor : Okay?
Detective : Do you know what a lawyer is?
Menor : Yeah,
Detective : it’s the same thing.
Detective 2 : Yeah, same thing. By you signing that, you’re wanting to give us a statement without the presence of a lawyer. Do you understand that? Yes.
Detective : Is that your wish? Yes, my wish. Okay. Can you sign your last name too? Yeah.
Menor: Okay.
Detective : If at any time while we’re talking to you, you have any questions or something, or don’t understand something, please let us know. Okay? Okay. You want to write your name right up here? Okay.
Menor: Okay.
Detective 3: Okay, I’m going to write the case number here. 2013 to 2023. Okay, 028953 HPD. The date? 10-13-2023 and the time is 246. Derek, can you state your full name for the record? I’m going to write it too.
Menor : Huh? I’m going to write it too.
Detective : Yeah, everything, your full name. Derek Steven Rosen. What’s your date of birth?
Menor : August 26, 2010.
Detective : What’s your address?
Menor : don’t know my address. Okay.
Detective : What’s your telephone number? You don’t know it either? No.
Menor: No.
Detective : Okay. What type of phone do you have?
Menor : An iPhone.
Detective : An iPhone? What color is it?
Menor : It’s blue.
Menor: Yeah.
Detective 3: It’s blue? Yeah. Okay. How long have you lived in that apartment there?
Menor : Since I was 11, so two years.
Detective: Two years.
Menor : Two years?
Detective : Okay. Who lives there with you? My mom.
Menor: Now my sister. My mom and I had a daughter a week ago. And my stepdad.
Detective 3: What’s your sister’s name? Okay. And your stepfather, do you know his name? Yes. What’s his name? Frank Ramos.
Menor: Frank Ramos.
Detective 3: Frank Ramos. Okay. Derek, let’s start with this morning. You slept in your house last night, right?
Menor: Yeah.
Detective 3: Do you go back and forth between staying with your mom and your dad or no? Or do you usually just live with your mom?
Menor: Every… That’s really hard to explain. One weekend I’m with my mom and the other weekend I’m with my dad. I’m not with my dad a whole week. Only weekends. Only weekends. But not all weekends.
Detective 3: Where does your dad live?
Menor: I don’t know.
Detective : You don’t know? But is it in Miami down here somewhere?
Menor : It’s in Broward.
Detective : In Broward? Yeah. Okay. But last night you slept at your mom’s house?
Menor :Yes.
Detective 3: Okay. You got up this morning and…
Menor : Went to my bus. My school bus.
Detective : You went to your school bus?
Menor : Yes.
Detective : What school do you go to?
Menor :Highmanor Middle High.
Detective : Highmanor Middle High?
Menor : Yeah.
Detective : Okay, that’s over there on 20th Street, right?
Menor : Yes.
Detective : And what grade are you in?
Menor : Eighth grade.
Detective : Eighth grade? Honor classes?
Menor: No.
Detective 3: So, tell me about your day at school. Regular day at school?
Menor : I didn’t do too much work.
Detective : You didn’t do too much work?.
Menor: No.
Detective 3: Regular release time and stuff like that?
Menor : Yes.
Detective : How did you get there? On bus?
Menor :Yeah.
Detective : Okay. You got back?.
Menor: On bus.
Detective 3: On bus?
Menor : Yes.
Detective : Okay. And then you were home the whole day? Or did you leave?
Menor : I stayed home after school.
Detective : You stayed home after school?
Menor :Yeah.
Detective : Okay. Um… Did, uh… Let’s get into what happened tonight. Were you, uh… Did you communicate with people over the phone? Were you talking? Tell me what happened tonight.
Menor :Tonight?
Detective : Yeah.
Menor :Well, at around, like… Like, ten? I went to bed.
Detective 3: Okay.
Menor : My mom did too.
Detective : Is that your regular time?
Menor :Like, nine.
Detective : Nine?
Menor : Yeah.
Detective : Okay. You guys, uh, explain to me about the apartment. You have your own room?
Menor :Yes.
Detective : And your mom?
Menor : Yeah, she has her own room.
Detective : She has her own room. And your sister?
Menor : She stays in the same room as my mom.
Detective : Stays in the same room as your mom? And tell me what happened tonight. Who was all there?
Menor : Me, my mom, and my sister.
Menor: Okay.
Detective 3: So you went to sleep around ten?
Menor : Yeah.
Detective : Okay. And then what?
Menor : I woke up..,,muted.
Detective : You killed her?…….
Menor : Yes.
Detective : Alright. Um… What type of… What type of knife was it? Do you know?
Menor : It was a big-sized kitchen knife.
Detective : That big?
Menor : Yeah.
Detective : What color was the handle?
Menor : Purple
Detective : Purple?
Menor : Yes.
Detective : Uh, your mom was sleeping?
Menor : Yeah, she was sleeping.
Detective : Okay. Um… Explain to me… Well, we’ll get into that… A little later. What did you do, uh… After you killed her?
Menor : My stepdad has… I mean, he owns two guns. He has a Glock 19…
Detective : Okay.
Menor : And then, uh… I don’t know what it’s called. Another one.
Detective : Okay. What color are they?
Menor : The Glock 19 is black, and then the other one… Has a silver slide, and then, like, a dark bluish handle.
Detective : Okay. Um… So… What did you do with the guns?
Menor : He always has his Glock 19 with him. At all times.
Detective : Okay.
Menor: And since he’s a truck driver, he was at home. He was far away. Okay.
Menor: So I went into the closet. I found his notebook, because he goes shooting at gun ranges.
Detective : Okay.
Menor: I grabbed the gun. I put the magazine in the gun.
Detective : Okay.
Menor: I pulled back the slide, but I didn’t want to shoot myself.
Detective : Okay.
Menor : I intended to shoot myself before, but I couldn’t.
Detective 3: Okay. Um… And then, what did you do?
Menor : I decided to call my friends to tell them what happened, and then I said goodbye to my friends.
Detective : You called them before you decided to try to shoot yourself or afterwards?
Menor: After.
Detective : Okay. How many friends did you call?
Menor : Only one.
Detective : What’s his name?
Menor : I don’t know his real name, He’s an online friend.
Detective : He’s an online friend.
Menor : Yes.
Detective : When you say online friend, what do you mean, from video games?
Menor : Yes, (….)
Detective : Okay.
Detective : How long have you known him?
Menor : Since like I was 10..3 years.
Detective : 3 years..Have you ever met him?
No. I’ve seen his face.
You’ve seen his face?
Yeah.
So how did you communicate with him?
My cell phone.
Through your cell phone, so you have his number?
Yes.
And you don’t have him stored under a certain name or you have him stored under a game or tag?
I have him… I made up a name for him.
You made up a name for him? Yeah. What name did you make up for him?
Sweden.
Sweden?
S-W-E-E-D-E-N.
Okay.
How often do you talk to Sweden?
Every weekend.
Every weekend?
Yeah.
Okay.
So you called Sweden. And what did you tell Sweden?
Tell him what I did.
What exactly did you tell Sweden when you say what I did? Did you tell him how? Or no? How you killed her or no? Okay.
Menor : MUTED …
Did you send him any pictures?
Yes.
How many pictures did you send him?
I sent him two of my mom and one of me.
Okay.
Did you… What did he tell you?
He said he couldn’t believe it.
Okay.
Does Sweden live down here in Florida?
Yeah, real far.
Real far?
Yeah. In America though.
In America?
Yeah.
Okay. So then you hung up the phone?
To say goodbye.
Okay…And then what did you do?
I was going to. I showed myself. But I just didn’t. I didn’t want to do that. And I called 9-1-1.
Okay. And what did you tell 9-1-1?
Menor : Muted
Okay. And they kept you on the phone?
Yes. Until the cops came.
Until the cops came. Do you remember what else you told the 9-1-1 operator?
My address, my name, what I was wearing. Okay.
Yeah.
And my age. And my date of birth.
Were you wearing the same clothes you’re wearing now?
Yeah.
There are some red stains there. Is that blood?
I think it is.
Okay.
I have a little bit of blood on my hands.
On your hands too? Yes.
Okay.
Did you ever make your way to your sister?
Killing her? … Touching her? ..No.
No?
I left her alone. She was sleeping and she didn’t wake up so I didn’t touch her.
Okay. Alright. Let’s get back to your mom. Okay. You said she was sleeping?
Yes.
Okay. Where exactly did you cut her?
Menor : Muted
Okay. And you purposely went for the artery? When you cut her?
Menor : Muted
Okay.
Was there a lot of blood after?
Menor : Muted
Okay. Did you tell her anything before you stabbed her? Did you say anything?
Menor : Muted
But she didn’t wake up when you… She was asleep when you stabbed her?
Menor : Muted
What curse words did you say?
Menor : Muted
Okay
And then she woke up? Yes.
Yes.
Did you say anything else to her? Did she say anything to you or no?
No. She just screamed.
She just screamed? Yes.
Yes.
Okay. Why did you stab your mom?
Can I go to the bathroom before I answer that?
Yes. Of course.
Of course. Give me one second. Do you want to think of something? I’ll have patrol take him.
Yeah.
Yes. Have patrol take him. Make sure there are five-five on the body cam. Where’s patrol at? Where’s patrol at? Down at the end of the hallway. Down at the end of the hallway? Yeah, I don’t have my body cam. Can you see where the body cam is? Here, I’ll go ahead and take him.
Yeah.
Okay. I’ll go ahead and take him. Here, come with me.
Yeah.
Detective : Um… Joe? He’s here somewhere. I don’t know where he is. Wait a minute, look.
Yeah.
Right at this room right here. Okay. Oh, excuse me.
Yeah.
One thing, you said he was your online friend, right? What type of console do you have? Do you play or is it on the computer?
I play a couple consoles. There’s an Xbox in the living room, I have a Switch in my room, I have a LVR headset in my room too.
Okay.
And what type of games do you play?
Mostly fighting or shooting games.
Like what?
Fortnite, Call of Duty?
Fortnite, Call of Duty.
Yeah.
Okay. What’s your game or type?
What is it called?
Stocktree
Stocktree?
One nine nine zero.
Why’d you pick that name? Can you spell that for me?
Yes. S-T-O-C-K, no space, capital T.
Detective : No space? No space, capital T. Okay. R-E-E, one nine nine. Another nine?
Yeah.
Detective : Okay.
Zero. Okay, so that’s it, Stocktree 1990, right?
Detective : Yeah.
Okay.
Detective : I’m going to also take you back a little. You, did you call anybody else other than your friend?
No, I called my friend.
Detective : Okay. Did you post anything on social media?
No, I don’t think so.
Detective : Oh. No.Ok, Do you have social media?
I have Discord. Discord? Yeah. That’s like a video game thing, right?
Detective : What’s Discord? It’s like WhatsApp.
WhatsApp?
Something like that. Okay.
That’s Discord, D-I-S-C-O-R-D?
Yes
Detective : Okay, and what’s your username on that?
It’s H-I-M.
Capital H-I-M?
Yeah.
Okay.
Underscore.
Underscore?
Yeah.
Okay.
Okay, do you have Instagram?
No. No? No.
Do you have WhatsApp?
Yeah.
Okay. And you don’t have Facebook, right?
I have Facebook.
Okay, Facebook?
I don’t use it though.
I just need it for my headset.
Okay, what’s your screen name on Facebook?
I guess it’s my name.
Your name? Derek Rosen.
All straight?
Yeah.
And with a space in between.
No space?
Space.
Derek D-E-R-I-K?
No, D-E-R-E-K.
Oh, I’m sorry. Derek Space Rosa?
Yes.
Okay, but no, nothing in between, just a space?
Yeah, no space.
Okay.
How old are you, Derek?
Thirteen.
And what grade is that?
I forgot. Eighth grade.
Eighth grade? Yes.
Okay. Did, uh, when the police got there, did you tell, did you say anything to the police?
I asked about my sister.
You asked about your sister?
They said who was in there.
I said my sister. Okay.
Did you say anything else?
I don’t think so.
Okay. Um, so you were about to tell me the why. Why did you, uh, kill your mother? Do you know?
Do I have to say it now? Yeah, get it off your chest, absolutely. Okay, at this point, you want a lawyer? We, we can’t, no, listen, listen. Just so you understand, okay, you have mentioned or asked us should you wait for a lawyer. We’re not here to advise you on whether to talk to a lawyer or not. That decision is yours, okay?
But if you are requesting a lawyer at this point, we can’t interview you any further. Sam, we have to stop the interview. Okay. Do you want us to stop the interview? Yes. Okay. Okay, then this interview will end right now. It is 3.05 a.m. Okay. Thank you.