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Rosemont Community Tense After Girl's Death, No Arrests

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) - Two days after a 13-year-old girl was found murdered at Rosemont Community Park, and with no arrests, neighbors are fearful a killer is lurking in their community.

Pink bows appeared Thursday around the park, and the group who tied the ribbons on trees and posts say the ribbons are a reminder to keep Jessica Funk-Haslam's unsolved murder at the forefront of everyone's minds.

The 13-year-old was found inside the dugout of the baseball field, hit in the head, suffocated and stabbed in the neck, according to the coroner's report on her death.

"I don't know who could kill a little girl," Chrissy Pond, who grew up in the neighborhood and was helping with the ribbons. "I know this can happen anywhere but not in Rosemont, a family community," she said.

Thursday night, the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department hosted a community meeting at Atonement Lutheran Church, where residents packed into the pews looking for answers. They didn't get many."

Homicide unit Sgt. Jim Barnes offered little details and instead asking for help - leading some to believe investigators may not be close to an arrest.

"We have received several tips," Barnes told the crowd. "Unfortunately, we're going to need a lot more help."

Jessica's mother, Tara Funk-Haslam, attended the meeting and had a chaplain address the crowd on her behalf.

"She wanted me to express from her heart just how much she appreciates each and everyone of you," the chaplain told the crowd.

A Rosemont Community Association board member says he expects investigators will hear a concern from the community that's been expressed for awhile.

"Something needs to be done," he said.

Pond agreed. "Are you going to step up law enforcement?" she wondered. "There's been a problem at this park for years and no one's done anything about it."

In fact, the Rosemont Community Association met with the sheriff's office about wanting more patrols at the park, known as a hangout for kids late at night.

"I don't really see any police going around late at night," said Amanda Velazzo, who lives across from the park.

"And it's going to take a little girl, a 13-year-old little girl's death, to do something about it," Pond said.

"That's what sad."

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