A central Missouri teenager who confessed to strangling, cutting and stabbing a 9-year-old girl because she wanted to know how it felt to kill someone was sentenced Wednesday to life in prison with the possibility of parole.
Alyssa Bustamante, 18, pleaded guilty in January to second-degree murder and armed criminal action in the October 2009 slaying of Elizabeth Olten in St. Martins, a small rural town west of Jefferson City.
The judge also ordered the teen to serve a consecutive 30-year term in the armed criminal action charge.
Bustamante was 15 years old when she confessed to strangling Elizabeth, repeatedly stabbing her in the chest and slicing the girl's throat. She led police to the shallow grave where she had concealed Elizabeth's body under a blanket of leaves in the woods behind their neighborhood.
With her hands shackled to her waist and her feet shackled together, Bustamante rose and faced Elizabeth's mother and siblings before she was sentenced Wednesday.
"I know words," she said, pausing to take a deep breath and struggling to compose herself, "can never be enough and they can never adequately describe how horribly I feel for all of this."
She added: "If I could give my life to get her back I would. I'm sorry."
Elizabeth's mother, Patty Preiss, who on the first day of Bustamante's sentencing hearing called her "an evil monster" and declared that she "hated her" sat silently, staring forward during Bustamante's apology.
The Olten family declined to comment to reporters, as did Bustamante's family.
Bustamante had been charged with first-degree murder and by pleading guilty to the lesser charges she avoided a trial and the possibility of spending her life in an adult prison with no chance of release.
The teenager's defense attorneys had argued for a sentence less than life in prison, saying Bustamante's use of the antidepressant Prozac had made her more prone to violence. They said she had suffered from depression for years and once attempted suicide by overdosing on painkillers.
But prosecutors sought a longer sentence. They noted that Bustamante had dug two graves several days in advance, and that on the evening of the killing had sent her younger sister to lure Elizabeth outside with an invitation to play. Missouri State Highway Patrol Sgt. David Rice testified that the teenager told him "she wanted to know what it felt like" to kill someone. Prosecutors also cited journal entries in which Bustamante described the exhilaration of killing Elizabeth.
"I strangled them and slit their throat and stabbed them now they're dead," Bustamante wrote in her diary, which was read in court by a handwriting expert. "I don't know how to feel atm. It was ahmazing. As soon as you get over the 'ohmygawd I can't do this' feeling, it's pretty enjoyable. I'm kinda nervous and shaky though right now. Kay, I gotta go to church now...lol."
Bustamante then headed off to a youth dance at her church while a massive search began for the missing girl.
I have no faith in human perfectability. I think that human exertion will have no appreciable effect upon humanity. Man is now only more active - not more happy - nor more wise, than he was 6000 years ago.
Edgar Allan Poe
My comment was not about revenge or making an example as much as it is disposal of damaged goods. It wasn't an accident. It wasn't a crime of passion. It wasn't temporary insanity. It was cold and premeditated. She's damaged in the brain, and not in the harmless endearing way like the McDonald's fry girl. She's evil. If she gets out someday it could happen again. Done. Gone. Boom.
What is wrong with people? I just saw a story on Gizmodo about a father killing a couple (the mother holding an infant at the time) because they UNFRIENDED HIS ADULT DAUGHTER ON FACEBOOK.'
I'm beginning to think the Judge Dredd comics have the right idea.
I like to think there is a special place in hell for people like this. I dont think we should delay her arrival.
Now we are all going to support her with our tax dollars. Keep her in prison for ever and probably pay for her to get a degree and anything else she wants. A single bullet would be much more economical.
Arsenalfan. AKA Mark Able
Seller of fine automobiles.
Jaguar, Land Rover, Porsche of Chattanooga
423-424-4000
To continue the theme, recently in Billings a 19YO slaughtered two young ladies, 20 and 22, with a knife. I don't recall seeing motive but I think drugs were involved and he looks like a scrawny little nerd. Incredibly tragic.
All I can say is that its a tragedy across the board. I don't believe in imprisonment. I think there are only three just penalties for crimes; death, exile, and differing degrees of horse whippings. Monetary penalties should be reserved for civil repairations.
I have no faith in human perfectability. I think that human exertion will have no appreciable effect upon humanity. Man is now only more active - not more happy - nor more wise, than he was 6000 years ago.
Edgar Allan Poe
I used to be for pro-death penalty, now I'm not so sure. Too many documented mistakes made, especially if the supposed criminal is of color. Never the less, I have thought about this some, and have come up with what I call the "Monster Clause". People like the above, and other examples like John Wayne Gacy, Manson, etc... are not beings who we would describe as "human beings". I.E., although they talk like us, look like us and fit in with us to a large degree, they are actually "monsters". Monsters are so horrific and twisted that they defy understanding. Their brain is wired so wrong that they are outside the human pale, therefore undeserving of the chance of living amongst ordinary people who share common virtures like compassion, empathy, remorse, etc. They are, literally, Monsters, who live among us. A group of criteria could be set up, whereby a particularly horrible person would qualify, conditions like; multiple murders,multiple killings of children, particularly gruesome circumstances, etc. If a "criminal person" fits enough criteria, kill them. The tricky part would be making the call, slippery slope and all that. One note on capital punishment, by the way. The Bible does not prohibit killing. The original language of the Jewish "Ten Commandments" translates to, "Thall shalt not MURDER".
Quote: I used to be for pro-death penalty, now I'm not so sure. Too many documented mistakes made, especially if the supposed criminal is of color. Never the less, I have thought about this some, and have come up with what I call the "Monster Clause". People like the above, and other examples like John Wayne Gacy, Manson, etc... are not beings who we would describe as "human beings". I.E., although they talk like us, look like us and fit in with us to a large degree, they are actually "monsters". Monsters are so horrific and twisted that they defy understanding. Their brain is wired so wrong that they are outside the human pale, therefore undeserving of the chance of living amongst ordinary people who share common virtures like compassion, empathy, remorse, etc. They are, literally, Monsters, who live among us. A group of criteria could be set up, whereby a particularly horrible person would qualify, conditions like; multiple murders,multiple killings of children, particularly gruesome circumstances, etc. If a "criminal person" fits enough criteria, kill them. The tricky part would be making the call, slippery slope and all that. One note on capital punishment, by the way. The Bible does not prohibit killing. The original language of the Jewish "Ten Commandments" translates to, "Thall shalt not MURDER".
Both the Bible and the US Constitution clearly allow for capital punishment. Saying that either does not, as some do, is simply not true. As for documented mistakes, I'm pretty sure you have to go back quite some time to find them.
We all like to think of ourselves as rugged individualists. But when push comes to shove most of us are sheep who do what we are told. Worst of all, a lot of us become unpaid agents of whoever is controlling the agenda by enforcing the current dogma on the few rugged individualists who actually exist.
I agree the death penalty is extreme for extreme cases. However imprisonment for long periods of time is cruel and unusual punishment that results in repeat offenders. So I say exile them to an island and let them either form a society or kill each other. What ever happens then is on their own heads.
I have no faith in human perfectability. I think that human exertion will have no appreciable effect upon humanity. Man is now only more active - not more happy - nor more wise, than he was 6000 years ago.
Edgar Allan Poe
One of the original meanings of the word "Outlaw" was that a person was outside the protection of the law. Among other things that meant that they could be killed with impunity, the law would do nothing for them. Imagine the plight of a convicted felon who had killed people, was convicted of the murders, and was set back on the street unarmed and without the protection of the law. They could be shot like a rabid dog.
We all like to think of ourselves as rugged individualists. But when push comes to shove most of us are sheep who do what we are told. Worst of all, a lot of us become unpaid agents of whoever is controlling the agenda by enforcing the current dogma on the few rugged individualists who actually exist.
I wouldn't want that kind of lawlessness now days as croweded as our nation is. Back when there was vast open spaces mostly that worked well. thats why I say put them on an island and forget about them.
I have no faith in human perfectability. I think that human exertion will have no appreciable effect upon humanity. Man is now only more active - not more happy - nor more wise, than he was 6000 years ago.
Edgar Allan Poe
Quote: I wouldn't want that kind of lawlessness now days as croweded as our nation is. Back when there was vast open spaces mostly that worked well. thats why I say put them on an island and forget about them.
Isn't that how we got Australia?
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains. Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
Both the Bible and the US Constitution clearly allow for capital punishment. Saying that either does not, as some do, is simply not true. As for documented mistakes, I'm pretty sure you have to go back quite some time to find them.
The foundation of American law in a Constitutional democracy is that it is better that 10 guilty people go free than one innocent person serves in prison. This is why there exists the assumption of innocence until guilt is proven. What is a good time line for the innocent to die or even evidence that would suggest doubt towards guilt? Twenty years? Thirty...forty...or how about just seven years ago?
Quote: I used to be for pro-death penalty, now I'm not so sure. Too many documented mistakes made, especially if the supposed criminal is of color. Never the less, I have thought about this some, and have come up with what I call the "Monster Clause". People like the above, and other examples like John Wayne Gacy, Manson, etc... are not beings who we would describe as "human beings". I.E., although they talk like us, look like us and fit in with us to a large degree, they are actually "monsters". Monsters are so horrific and twisted that they defy understanding. Their brain is wired so wrong that they are outside the human pale, therefore undeserving of the chance of living amongst ordinary people who share common virtures like compassion, empathy, remorse, etc. They are, literally, Monsters, who live among us. A group of criteria could be set up, whereby a particularly horrible person would qualify, conditions like; multiple murders,multiple killings of children, particularly gruesome circumstances, etc. If a "criminal person" fits enough criteria, kill them. The tricky part would be making the call, slippery slope and all that. One note on capital punishment, by the way. The Bible does not prohibit killing. The original language of the Jewish "Ten Commandments" translates to, "Thall shalt not MURDER".
Both the Bible and the US Constitution clearly allow for capital punishment. Saying that either does not, as some do, is simply not true. As for documented mistakes, I'm pretty sure you have to go back quite some time to find them.
I'm not anti death penalty but there have been a bunch of people released from death row who were exonerated by DNA, etc., in the past few years. It's very easy to find innocent people that ended up on death row. So many so that Illinois placed a moratorium in the death penalty. Two from my city alone in the past year.
Texas famously executed a man not too long ago that the preponderance of evidence indicated that no murder even occurred. The state chose to believe an inexperienced local investigator over a series of widely respected experts throughout the country.
I have no faith in human perfectability. I think that human exertion will have no appreciable effect upon humanity. Man is now only more active - not more happy - nor more wise, than he was 6000 years ago.
Edgar Allan Poe
Not desiring to politicize this thread....I don't believe your arguement holds water. Outside of the politics and the liberal jugdicial quagmire of capital trials a $20.00 length of rope or $1.25 shell, even a $500.00 lethal injection is way cheaper that sustaining the life of an individual that has no moral compass or character and whom is a menance to society, and takes pleasure in the commission of unspeakable acts against innocents.
So....if Hitler had not committed suicide.....should he have gotten LWOP, how about Saddam Hussien?, or any of the host of murderers and child molesters in our prisons now.
Karl
Independence, MO
'07 America, Cinnamon Girl (aka: Black Beauty) - Sit Down, Shut Up & Hang On
Timothy Evans (the last man to be Hanged in Great Britain)was innocent of his crimes,he was given a pardon but you can't bring back the dead although Ruth Ellis(the last women to be hanged in Great Britain) was very guilty of murder,
anarchy! yea! Thats the only way to solve the problem with the innocent being punished. No punishment at all. Chaos rule, survival of the one who manages not to get shot.
I have no faith in human perfectability. I think that human exertion will have no appreciable effect upon humanity. Man is now only more active - not more happy - nor more wise, than he was 6000 years ago.
Edgar Allan Poe
I read this article the other day, and again just now. What gets me is that there were TWO graves, and she said "them" and "they're". What happened to the other?
So....if Hitler had not committed suicide.....should he have gotten LWOP, how about Saddam Hussien?, or any of the host of murderers and child molesters in our prisons now.
Poor comparison; they are not American citizens and operate under leaders of another sovereign nation during the time of war. You might mock about living in a country that stones someone to death but I have deployed to countries like that and you can have that crap. I prefer the ideals of democracy that America has; that the citizenry of the country hold a value. So what you are saying in that dealing with monsters, America should become like Hussein and Hitler? No thank you sir...we are better than that.
I have no faith in human perfectability. I think that human exertion will have no appreciable effect upon humanity. Man is now only more active - not more happy - nor more wise, than he was 6000 years ago.
Edgar Allan Poe
That's only true because the anti-death penalty activists do everything they can to keep murderers alive as long as possible. Even when there is no doubt of the killers guilt they will stretch it out as long as possible just so they can say "It is cheaper to put them away on a life sentence without parole than having the death penalty."
We all like to think of ourselves as rugged individualists. But when push comes to shove most of us are sheep who do what we are told. Worst of all, a lot of us become unpaid agents of whoever is controlling the agenda by enforcing the current dogma on the few rugged individualists who actually exist.
Both the Bible and the US Constitution clearly allow for capital punishment. Saying that either does not, as some do, is simply not true. As for documented mistakes, I'm pretty sure you have to go back quite some time to find them.
The foundation of American law in a Constitutional democracy is that it is better that 10 guilty people go free than one innocent person serves in prison. This is why there exists the assumption of innocence until guilt is proven. What is a good time line for the innocent to die or even evidence that would suggest doubt towards guilt? Twenty years? Thirty...forty...or how about just seven years ago?
That is why we keep putting stone killers back on the street to kill again if all the i's are not dotted and the t's crossed. No human endeavor is without flaws. Should there be a higher standard for the death penalty? Certainly! But, expecting perfection in anything we do is unreasonable. That includes the death penalty. The standard is "Beyond a reasonable doubt" not "Absolute Certainty beyond even the most outrageous claim of a nutcase activist." Funny how we can accept the death of young soldiers, traffic deaths due to stupidity, medical errors and "choice," but the execution of very bad people who ruthlessly murder others in cold blood can only be allowed if there is 100% certainty beyond even the most fanciful doubt.
We all like to think of ourselves as rugged individualists. But when push comes to shove most of us are sheep who do what we are told. Worst of all, a lot of us become unpaid agents of whoever is controlling the agenda by enforcing the current dogma on the few rugged individualists who actually exist.
That's only true because the anti-death penalty activists do everything they can to keep murderers alive as long as possible. Even when there is no doubt of the killers guilt they will stretch it out as long as possible just so they can say "It is cheaper to put them away on a life sentence without parole than having the death penalty."
The activists don't determine the legal course of an individual. The system is designed that way so that any and all possibility of doubt towards the person is eliminated. Documentation already shows that despite our best efforts, we still have executed people that considerable doubt towards their guilt has been shown. We do that because it is a major game changer. A state that executes an individual regardless of guilt or innocence changes from a state that executes its citizenry to a state that murders its citizenry. Say what you will but the legal channels are going to stay in place and it is not the activists that have made it that way...it's the parameters of our democratic legal system.
That is why we keep putting stone killers back on the street to kill again if all the i's are not dotted and the t's crossed. No human endeavor is without flaws. Should there be a higher standard for the death penalty? Certainly! But, expecting perfection in anything we do is unreasonable. That includes the death penalty. The standard is "Beyond a reasonable doubt" not "Absolute Certainty beyond even the most outrageous claim of a nutcase activist." Funny how we can accept the death of young soldiers, traffic deaths due to stupidity, medical errors and "choice," but the execution of very bad people who ruthlessly murder others in cold blood can only be allowed if there is 100% certainty beyond even the most fanciful doubt.
That is where we differ I guess; I DO expect the state to get it right regardless of the challenges when you start talking about killing its own citizenry. And I don't make light of the armed forces paying the ultimate sacrifice in our nation's wars as I wear the uniform and have had my boots in the shiite box more than once. I do not argue that the penal system is without it's problems; life without parole should be just that. But giving the state a certain allowance to say that if it meets a certain percent of who is guilty and who is not when we talk executions is something I will never subscribed to. Giving the state that much power is entirely too much. They want to execute one of its citizens then they have an obligation to ensure that the person is guilty. Is that going to cost money? Damn right it is. It might change the scenario that it becomes cheaper to keep them locked up forever. But the deciding factor in this once again is that a state that executes its citizens regardless of guilt changes to murder.
That is simply not the point. Executing people without overwhelming evidence of their guilt is not a position taken by anyone I know. If a government is doing that there needs to be a change in both policy and personnel. That said, once that theshold is met there is no legitimate reason to drag out the process through endless appeals that have nothing to do with guilt or innocence. The vast majority of death row inmates die of old age, usually after several decades of delays by lawyers who know their client is guilty of the crime that landed them there.
We all like to think of ourselves as rugged individualists. But when push comes to shove most of us are sheep who do what we are told. Worst of all, a lot of us become unpaid agents of whoever is controlling the agenda by enforcing the current dogma on the few rugged individualists who actually exist.
But that is the point and has been demonstrated so; here is the link once again. The biggest travesty came with the use of DNA evidence but there are several cases in addition to that.
So....if Hitler had not committed suicide.....should he have gotten LWOP, how about Saddam Hussien?, or any of the host of murderers and child molesters in our prisons now.
Poor comparison; they are not American citizens and operate under leaders of another sovereign nation during the time of war. You might mock about living in a country that stones someone to death but I have deployed to countries like that and you can have that crap. I prefer the ideals of democracy that America has; that the citizenry of the country hold a value. So what you are saying in that dealing with monsters, America should become like Hussein and Hitler? No thank you sir...we are better than that.
@Trumpeteer: I think you may have mis-interpreted my point which is....Those in favor of abolishing capital punishment in the U.S. more than likely WOULD/DO favor LWOP for ALL criminal elements (regardless of nationality or position) that are H#LL bent to rape, murder, molest innocents, and a host of other capital offenses even though those "monsters" have been legally found guilty of by a jury of citizens. When it would undoubtably be much cheaper to put an end to their existance, because they don't deserve to exist even in captivity. LOWP does not rehabilitate individuals without a conscience or moral compass (e.g. Charles Manson). So why waste the $$$'s and benefit the society at large by eliminating those elements that seek only the violent destruction of it's citizens.
Last edited by Buffal0; 02/12/201211:00 AM.
Karl
Independence, MO
'07 America, Cinnamon Girl (aka: Black Beauty) - Sit Down, Shut Up & Hang On
One thing is for certain a dead man can not be a repeat offender. Most hard core criminals get outta the pokey and do something just as evil again, not the dead ones.
You can't hug your children with nuclear arms.
I have no faith in human perfectability. I think that human exertion will have no appreciable effect upon humanity. Man is now only more active - not more happy - nor more wise, than he was 6000 years ago.
Edgar Allan Poe
An additional case, in last weeks paper. A 19 year old teen and his 18 year old girlfriend, who live in two towns 20 miles from here, drove their car to Wisconsin, where they ran out of gas. They solicited the help of a 75 year old man, who took them to town, pumped gas in a can for them, and brought them back to their car. The boy then grabbed a tire iron from the trunk, choked the ole man while yelling for his girlfriend to grab his keys. The old fella fought them off, and they jumped into their car and drove off, to be causht a short time after. Both are on probation for recent crimes in the area, including meth manufacturing, assault and theft. I've got a feeling, call it a hunch, that my area will be hearing more from these p.o.s after the criminal justice system slaps their hands for this latest crime. It seems that we have a regular rash in this area for these kinds of crimes, this being the second boy/girl team in the last few months. I am reluctantly against the death penalty in general, however, the "frontier justice system" in me calls out for criminals like this!
If they had been exiled they wouldn't have been able to do that.
I have no faith in human perfectability. I think that human exertion will have no appreciable effect upon humanity. Man is now only more active - not more happy - nor more wise, than he was 6000 years ago.
Edgar Allan Poe
Quote: If they had been exiled they wouldn't have been able to do that.
No, but they could have tried it on their fellow exiles. A few problems with the exile idea. How do you keep the exiles buddies from picking them up and bringing them back? Do you provide and law and order for the exiles, or are they free to prey on each other in any matter they wish?
Which brings us back to capital punishment. If we are too squeamish to execute the worst of criminals, does throwing them into the penal system and allowing their fellow criminals to do the job really absolve us of responsibility for their deaths?
We all like to think of ourselves as rugged individualists. But when push comes to shove most of us are sheep who do what we are told. Worst of all, a lot of us become unpaid agents of whoever is controlling the agenda by enforcing the current dogma on the few rugged individualists who actually exist.
