Guide Note

Joshua Rosa is a former Florida youth minister who was on trial for the 2005 murder of 13-year old Stephen Tomlinson. In 2006, police arrested Rosa, claiming that Tomlinson's blood had been found on Rosa. On the first day of the trial, July 15, 2008, Stephen Tomlinson's brother interrupted the proceedings and shouted at Rosa before being removed from the courtroom.¹ On July 21, 2008, Rosa was found guilty of first degree murder for the strangulation death of Tomlinson. He was sentenced to life in prison.²

Fast Facts

1. Born: 1986
2. Residence: Hillsborough County, Florida
3. Rosa was a youth minister at Zion Pentecostal Church
4. Victim: Stephen Tomlinson
5. Tomlinson's body was found in Logan Gate Park¹
6. Cause of Tomlinson's death: Strangulation¹

Stephen Tomlinson was found dead in Hillsborough County, Florida, in December 2005. Rosa and Tomlinson often played video games together. Rosa reportedly told detectives that he found the body while looking for his keys, which he claimed he had lost jogging. In 2005, detectives reported that they had discovered Rosa's keys beneath Tomlinson's dead body.¹

On July 21, 2008, Rosa was found guilty of first degree murder in the strangulation death of Stephen Tomlinson. After receiving the sentence of life in prison, Rosa was visibly upset as family members cried.³