I was wondering if a test was done on the accused to determine if any drugs were found in his system that might have caused him to behave in a manner that was thought to be out of the ordinary for him. If so, what were the results?

Joshua Rosa was an ROTC student at Alonso High School. Did he have hand-to-hand combat training, or other “defensive training” that could have prepared him for the use of the strangle-hold?

This is a perfect Death Penalty case.

How long had Stephen been dead when the body was discovered? Could Rosa have had time to commit the act and maybe return to the scene to cover up the crime?

IM NO LAW MAN BUT THE ONLY REASON THE KIDS SEEN THE FLASHLIGHT COMEING OUT OF WOODS HE HAD THE FLASH LIGHT POINTING DOWN TOO SEE WHERE HE WAS GONE ONCE OUT HE SPOTED THERE CAR THEM POINTED IT TOWARD THEM AND MADE UP STORY ABOUT LOOSEING HIS CAR KEYS THANKS REGARDS BILL

O.K. so joggers in FLORIDA keep gloves in their sweats while jogging. Do they stop and put the gloves on before examining a bloody friends body that they had visited that day?

I don’t know about you but ever since aids has become more common in the United States, It is educated in most emergency classes, as a youth minister has he had classes in CPR? I find it haphazard for anyone who comes upon anyone with blood not to protect themselves to whatever degree they could from contact with blood. This has nothing whatsoever to do with heroics.
Dee at MO.

I keep coming back to why. I wonder why Rosa would be jogging in the woods. If the keys were under Stephen Tomlinson, Tomlinson was found in the woods, Rosa lost his keys while jogging, then it follows that Rosa is saying he was jogging in the woods and Tomlinson just happened to be murdered in that same spot? It just doesn’t fly.

Dear Jean,

Although I have tried to be as attentive as possible to this trial, could you please explain exactly what credentials the defendant had/has to be given the titles Youth Pastor/Minister of his church. At 19 years of age (at the time of the murder) chances are good that he did not complete college or theological seminary (unless he was a prodigy). Who appointed him to this position? Was this a paid position or was he a volunteer?

Therefore, if he has no specific credentials within the ministry, I find the constant verbal and printed reference to his being a Youth Minister or Pastor to be very prejudicial by giving him status and credibility that would be unwarranted.

It seems to me that the position he held within his church community was one of a “big brother” type; and, one which would give him free access to many trusting children.

Sincerely,
Joan L. Huegel

Where is Stephen Tomlinson’s mother?

This is ridiculous that the police didn’t look at the drug dealers in the car. Two of the prosecution witnesses have records. How many others are convicts? The one parent who testified couldn’t even dress for the court showing contempt for the truth. If the victim were killed a few minutes before Rosa came upon the scene, the blood would still be fresh. I can’t imagine trying to revive someone. You would try everything and of course blood and fluids might get on you but perhaps not. I don’t think the evidence by the prosecution is solid and could be easily reinterpeted. Where is an independent reviewer. Florida is notorious for railroading people and its court system is not impartial. (see Gore vs. Bush)

Don’t understand how you call this case circumstantial . How much more evidence do you need ? There’s DNA , keys by the body , witnesses . Come on . There is no way he’s not being found not guilty .

Don’t understand how you call this case circumstantial . How much more evidence do you need ? There’s DNA , keys by the body , witnesses . Come on . There is no way he’s being found not guilty .

This is a cold blooded killer that should never walk the streets again. Ever hear of the dreath penealty.

I believe that Joshua Rosa is innocent! It doesnt make sense to me how the jury cannot realize that from the way the death was explained it had to be more than one person. Also why would Joshua want to kill someone that he was always trying to instruct into good ways! He even brought him to church with him a couple of times!

I think the “keys” are important. I have never had keys fall “up and out” of pockets. I think the alleged murderer went back to woods to see if he left any evidence (to clean up the scene). Hypothetically, the two had “experimented sexually” before but the last time proved fatal.

WHAT A SHAME. IF YOU CANT TRUST A YOUTH PASTOR, THEN WHO CAN YOU TRUST. I HOPE THEY HAVE ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO PROVE THIS CASE. IF NOT, THEY JUST MESSED THIS KIDS REPUTATION UP BADLY….

Isn’t there any DNA evidence?? It seems that with such a fierce struggle the killer would have left some DNA somewhere on the victim. My heart goes out to the boy’s family.

Since the defendant knew the victim, why did he not state Stephen’s name when he ran from the woods, instead of saying “a kid has been hurt”? Also, didn’t the defendant deny knowing Stephen? I believe that Rosa is guilty,

Was there a path to walk or jog? And if there was, how far was the body from the path. Seems to me he would have to go through the woods to find the boy. Do people jog through the woods?

Are you kidding me? This kid was strangled to dealth and this guys says he “found him” “lifeless” in the park. Come on, common sense people, lets use it!

I have been watching this trial for awhile, and am wondering what this youth ministers motive would be? Maybe I am far off on this, but is it possible that he sexually assaulted the young boy and was scared of the boy telling?

I just have a very hard time getting past the fact that Rosa’s keys were under the body of Stephen. And if the blood of Stephen was dried when his body was found, how did so much of his blood soak through the gloves of Rosa??

It appears this victim was possibly sexually assaulted by the way his clothes are disarrayed. However, we have not heard of any proof this is the case. If the defendant did commit the murder, has his sexual background been checked? Have any members of the community complained about inappropriate behavior? I just don’t think there is enough to convict this young man. The park was a meeting place for many people, for casual AND illegal meetings. Perhaps Stephen stumbled upon something that forced the murder(s) to commit this crime. If Joshua just came upon him, he may have been so traumatized, he didn’t recognize Stephen (blood on the face, etc.) which led him to say he did not know him. Why would he murder this child? No one has been able to supply ANY motive that would point towards Joshua. I truly feel he is innocent….just in the wrong place, at the wrong time….and young and not sure how to respond…..How many adults would have known what to do???????? I say…NOT GUILTY.

I just have a very hard time getting past the fact that Rosa’s keys were under the body of Stephen. And if the blood of Stephen was dried when his body was found, how did so much of his blood soak through the gloves of Rosa??

this is so sad to hear about any murder is horrible but then to hear how he died is even more horrific…..may he rest in Peace with the Lord

If this is just a circumstantial case, maybe we should review the list of exhonerated people that have been released lately because of new evidence in their “circumstantial convictions.” In each of those cases the prosecutor was sure they had their man. If I were on this jury, I would want some “Real” evidence before I could convict.

How many so called “leaders” of our children, boy scout leaders, coaches, teachers, ministers, priests, neighbors, even parents, of children, have been “caught” abusing, mistreating, molesting and murdering children, how many? And these are only the high profile cases that we hear about. How many others aren’t in the limelight ? His religious background doesn’t guarantee anyone to be trustworthy with our children.

rosa wanted to go get his dad. which I think ment get rid of gloves and nail clippers

So far… very inconclusive. But Tomlinson’s family are showing their true colors. I’m afraid they will cease the opportunity to make MONEY. Where were they when the kid was alone in a park which has a bad reputation? What responsibility, if any do Tomlinson’s parents take? This type of individuals, let the church (or the teachers/school) raise their children and as soon as something go bad, first they blame God and then the church. I’m just not getting a good feeling about the victim’s family.

His oldest brother was in the courtroom and witnessed these graphic pictures. He hung his head also. They were horrible and I pray that Rosa gets convicted for this horrible act of violence.

This young man DID-NOT commit this murder! The police should be out there looking for the person or person’s that did do it. I feel very sorry for the victims family, but this seems like a lynch mob to me.

When I read this it makes me feel so sad that a family has to go through the torment of his death and the torment of the trail.
This man deserves the death penalty ,period.

Jean, Jean, Jean…The defendant’s keys were found UNDER the body; he said he didn’t “know the boy”, the boy’s DNA was on the nail clippers found in the defendant’s pocket (what murderer plans to clip a victim’s nails to prevent finding DNA), he wouldn’t touch the body once witnesses were around but he was so concerned when alone with him that he got blood all over his pants, etc…I won’t go on.

There’s no mystery here, Jean; Stephen Tomlinson was murdered by Joshua Rosa. Life in prison, please.

What kind of karate move could assist with strangulation? Would their not be hand prints on Stephens neck, embedded by the pressure of the strangulation? If so, can these prints be measured against Mr. Rosas hands? ( I noticed that Mr. Rosas hands are very large and his fingers are very long).

Yo, AZ

Mr. Rosa looks smarmy - a sexual deviant, using the church to hide his preference for young boys - could have been another BTK! Church members are just people - good, bad and ugly.

I think there is too much room for REASONABLE DOUBT to convict Mr. Rosa of murder!!! I have heard the prosecution’s case and it has not proven anything other than Rosa was there, which he admitted. He went for help frantic. Why would he do that if he murdered Stephen? Too many holes are in the prosecutions theory. NOT GUILTY!
Brandi J., South carolina

What is the motive? Why would he kill him? There has to be some kind of motive for this to happen?

There is no doubt that Rosas is the killer. It seems that he was obsessed with this child and probably took him to the park on false pretenses and the child fought, and it escalated to this tragedy. Rosas took martial arts so that makes him very agile and more experience in fighthing. He is no “minister” or “pastor”. Those are denominations that require higher education. He was just a guy who “liked” kids (like Michael Jackson) and people thought he had good intentions. He looks cold and detached. He is 100% guilty.

That poor little boy, I hope they fry the guy who did this to him! No one deserves to die like that, especially kids.

I don’t think Josh is guilty. He is a young man of God who had a purpose in life and he has too much ahead of him just to let it go down the drain. He has potential and a calling from the Lord, I know Josh is innocent so let him FREE!!!

There are a lot of unanswered questions about three of the items found on Rosa. That would be the flash light, keys and the gloves. There are plausible reasons for all of these items. I think they should be “looked into” in greater detail. Also, is it “coincidental” that Rosa was dressed all in black which would provide for him more of a “cover” in the woods.

Has any effort or consideration been made to look for clues or suspect another person RATHER than Rosa?

R

Dr. Wright is an excellent witness. Rarely have I seen an expert witness that is so calm, competent and confident. He reminds me of my old family doctor when I was a kid. Very calming…If I were a juror, he’d certainly weigh heavily in deliberations.

The defendant’s experience in the martial arts was an important key as to the stragulation and also the defendant’s DNA under the victim’s fingernails was the nail in the coffin for Rosa!!

After watching the professionalism of the prosecution’s witnesses, the expert doctor on the stand, as we speak, for the defense looks like an idiot in comparison. How much is he getting paid to tesitfy?

I can’t stand the way in which Rosa’s defense lawyer, Brian Gonzales, who twists and turns, manipulates evidence to cause in the minds of people sitting in the jury who don’t have that kind of experience in law, to faulter in their attempt to see the evidence in clarity only.
Like no blood found on the right hand of Steven Tomlinson. If his right arm was being held he wouldn’t have any blood or DNA under his nails on his right hand.
Rosa not having any DNA of Tomlinson’s on his hands, because Rosa was wearing gloves which did have Tomlinson blood DNA.

The defendant was the last person to see the victim at 5:30pm and is the person with him when he was found dead. Why was the defendant in the woods with a flashlight? He must have been looking for the victim, just like the neighbor said he was doing. But, the defense attorney states it’s a lie. Well, the evidence show’s he was telling the truth.

The defense attorney is an advocate, but he would have us not believe what the facts infer, but would have us believe it was a conspiracy by the neighbors, police. crime lab, and the DA. That everyone else can’t infer conclusions from the facts that were there. amd asl the jury to now infer facts not in evidence. ie lack of blood on other witnesses, other defendants not looked for, etc.
‘
Red Herrings to mislead the jury rather than facts in evidence. By the way, BTK was president of his church……had a job….and the whole state was shocked……ergo…..this kid is guilty and I wanted to hear it from his mouth.

omg this is horrible a YOUTH MINISTER… im watching the trial right now bcuz its live but they still cant seem to figure out a motive and according to the trial the belt was still in tact so…ya im 13 and i have so much sympathy for the parents, family, and friends … i cant begin to imagine what they’re going through

I think Rosa had some type of sexual intend with the victim, but was rejected and felt threaten that the victim would reveal this side of him to the public, family, friends and church member that felt he had to keep Stephen quiet, i dont think he wanted to kill him but felt he had no other choice

Joshua Rosa is not guilty I don’t think the police did their job in this case to many lose ends what about the borther of murdered boy getting beat up so badly they had to send him away who where those boys the dna was not proven

Shirley Fl

I DO NOT FEEL IN MY HEART THAT THIS YOUNG MAN IS
GUILTY. THE SENTENCE WAS FAR TOO TOUGH.

I believe there were plenty of reasonable doubts in this trial.There were plenty of evidences that point to guilt ,but I still believe that reasonable doubts were lost or over looked in this trial.

n.o la.

JOSHUA Rosa is innocent and GOD knows that too.

lydia
fl

joshua rosa is definetly innocent..it says he was a youth minister and a well eduated kid..he wouldnt waste his life over a little boy when he has a great life ahead of him..i honestly this its very sad that hes facing life in prison..he deserves to be out for free and enjoy his life…And the dna and detectives have to do their job correctly and find the real mystery of the case and let joshua freee..

christine
Mi