Posted at: 12/18/2009 6:44 PM
By: David Springer

Ulrich’s Family Reacts to Verdict

(ABC 6 NEWS) -- The man accused of killing Troy Ulrich in Claremont last year was convicted on all counts Friday. Danny Ortega Junior will spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of parole. The victim’s family says the jury made the right decision.

Shortly after Danny Ortega Junior has been convicted of killing Troy Ulrich and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, Ulrich's family began to file out of the courthouse. But not before Ulrich's sister, Nancy Techau, spoke with the media.

"The last hour we had a lot of butterflies in our stomachs and I guess our prayers came true," says Nancy Techau.

Ortega was convicted of getting into a fight with Ulrich at this apartment complex in Claremont back in February of 2008. He was accused of hitting Ulrich with a bolt cutter and then stabbing him in the chest. Ortega declined to address the court Friday, but Ulrich's family did.

"We lost a brother, we lost a son, an uncle, we lost a good man in our family," says Techau.

And while it was obvious the trial and the verdict has been taxing for Ulrich's family, Techau says it has also given them a new strength.

"Yes, yes. We are closer. We were a family before, but it's brought us closer," says Techau.

As emotional as this case has been for Ulrich's family, it is not yet over. Danny Ortega Senior is also accused of murder in this case and his trial is set to begin at the Dodge County Courthouse in January. Ulrich's family says they will return for that trial as well. Ortega's public defender says he assumes Ortega Junior will appeal.