The family of a murdered Lafayette woman issued a statement today calling for those responsible to be held responsible but also stating their love and support for the 15-year-old girl implicated in the killing for Linda Damm, 52.

Damm's only child, Tess, 15, is being held in connection with the slaying of her mother and will not be able to attend her mother's funeral today.

Linda Damm's older sister, Helen, 54, sister, Leeann, 42, and brother, John, 46, who didn't want their last names used, issued a statement today acknowledging that Linda had a drinking problem — as did their mother.

Linda was born in Spokane, Wash., but grew up in Colorado. Her mother died in 2005 but her adoptive father, Leo, still lives in Minnesota, they wrote.

"We want everyone to know that Linda made every effort to dedicate her life to raising her only child, Tess," her siblings wrote. " We are sad to say that alcohol also played a significant role in Linda's life. She was a functioning alcoholic for many years, however the last few years Linda found her addiction more and more difficult to deal with."

They say they supported and encouraged her recent efforts to get help, but Linda was not able to conquer her addiction that resulted in a downward spiral in her abilities to properly care for herself and Tess.

"Our wish is that the truths be learned and each person prosecuted according to the role that they played in ending the life of our sister," they wrote.

"We would also hope that each person will be able to receive the psychiatric rehabilitation that they might need. At the same time, we want Tess to know that we love her.

Tess' boyfriend, Bryan Grove, 17, is suspected of stabbing the woman to death and his friend Jared Guy, 18, also has been implicated in helping bury her. A 16-year-old boy also has been arrested in the investigation but has not yet been charged.

Damm's survivors said they were able to see and hold Tess on Wednesday following a court hearing and they ask for prayers for her and the other three being held in the case.

The family is holding a private service for Damm this afternoon.

In lieu of flowers, one of Linda's close friends is in the process of setting up a fund to help the family deal with the financial obligations brought to the family by the crime, they wrote.