Defendant's Mom On Murder Verdict: 'They Were Not Pursuing Justice; They Were Pursuing A Conviction'

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — A man accused of stabbing and strangling a 13-year-old girl was found guilty on all counts, and his mother says justice was not served on Monday.

Ryan Roberts' sister broke down and collapsed in the court hallway after he was found guilty on all counts in the murder of Jessica Funk-Haslam.

Tammy Roberts insists her son was a sacrificial lamb to make a community feel safer.

"It's the dirtiest trial I have ever heard of, it's a complete travesty. They have a willful and negligent malicious neglect of their duty to pursue justice," she said.

Deputies arrested Roberts after matching DNA on cigarette butts that also had the middle schooler's DNA on them at the scene of the crime.

While jurors were comfortable with the verdict, one who spoke out afterward admitted they would have felt better knowing a motive. There was no sexual assault or murder.

"We all wish we had one, or had a motive, but, when it came down to it, that wasn't the evidence we were given to decide upon," said Nancy Daley.

Claims from Roberts' defense that named another man as the true killer in court paperwork didn't ring true, she said.

Tara Haslam, Jessica's mother, gave a short statement.

"I am so thankful for all the law enforcement that stuck by me and stuck through this case," she said.

But Tammy Roberts says the case is nowhere near over.

"It's wrong; it's a travesty, and this is not the end, she said.