With regard to Alyssa Bustamonte, I feel compassionate for her: what she did was horrible, of course, and she likely intended to kill herself as well. however,she did have a rotten childhood, with negative role models (such as her jailmate father).And it isn't common for psychopathic killers to admit that they committed murder. so I believe that Alyssa Bustamonte has good in her, but she isn't aware of it, nor anyone else. One of the foundation features of a psychopath is a lack of trust in others.
And themselves. they have a pseudo-trust, regarding themselves, and others, but of course it isn't genuine.

Also, I can relate to Alyssa Bustamonte personally. I was a troubled teen myself, with a dysfunctional family. i felt rejected.unwanted. I,of course,didn't follow the path that Alyssa Bustamonte did: I didn't hurt anyone, much less kill them. But I felt all alone in the world.Like nobody cared.

I'm sure that is how Alyssa Bustamonte feels. I'm sure, too that in the back of her mind, she thinks, and has, for years, that if someone would show that they really care,she would deal with her rage, which is understandable,though, of course, not excusable.

Are you people STUPID?

I'm a teen and I watched Cannibal Holocaust, it didn't make me go stab a little girl. Blaming the media is a sick cop out, you should be ashamed. And lots of people have hard lives. My dad was abused as a kid. It didn't make him go stab a little girl. She's sick and should be locked up in a straight jacket until she withers the fuck away.

..about the Prozac.

alyssa was someone you could count on and who would not let you down. she is not the type of person who would betray the people trying to help her this way.
for some reason she was not in touch with reality, not being rational. i really don't think this is something alyssa would do in her right mind.

I actually agree with you. Let's make the streets safe for innocent little kids. But, since Alyssa is a minor, then she cannot be held responsible. Just like if my kid broke into your car, you cannot sue them because they legally cannot be held responsible. In order to justify executing her, you would first have to go down the line with the actual responsible parties. First execute the parents, then execute the doctor who prescribed the controversial psych meds (for 2 years as she seems to have declined in her mental state) and last, execute the incredibly stupid therapist who did not have enough sense to realize that she was deranged, either normally or by the drugs. She has no rights at 15, her room, you tube account and anything personal of hers should have searched by adults on a daily basis. If you only execute Alyssa, the precipitating factors that allowed this to happen will still be out there making another Alyssa.

Alyssa Bustamonte is a very troubled kid, and has been for most of her life. She learned violence from t.v., yes I agree with that,but she also learned violence from other sources. Millions of kids have grown up with violence on our t.v,yet not acted out,including myself. Bothe of my chi,ldren grew up with violece on t.v and yet they aren't violent. My parents grew up in America,yet they, despite seeing violence on t.v., weren't violent themselves.

Somewhere along the road in childhood, a choice formulates with regard to these kids who have acted out. the choice takes years to form, and then erupts,
or doesn't,depending on which fork in the road the child follows. F the kid chooses to take the bad fork in the road, he or she will act out, and likely someone (or multiple persons) will get hurt,or killed.

If the kid takes the good fork in the road, despite having alot of difficulty in their life---perhaps abuse,neglect from caregivers........and decides to use their anger at the world for positive
goals, then that child will not likely ever hurt, or kill anyone. Despite feeling alll alone in the world, angry,believing nobody cares, afraid (terrified wouldnt be too stron a word), these kids atruggle to overcome the negativism in their world,their minds.

Some kids do this with little, if any,support.Some have somme support. Some have alot--someone notices them and steps into help them. When I was a kid (teen) I didn’t have much support. I didn’t have a very supportive family, and few, if any friends. I did OK in school and home, but things could have been better,I sometimes look back, and believe that I could have done better, much better. But even with the difficulties in my life, I chose the good fork in the road. That being when I was 18, after a brush with the law. I wasn’t a mean kid or anything like that,but I was a loner, I didn’t make friends easy.

Why did I choose the good fork in the road? Because my problems, at home and elsewhere, weren’t caused by anyone but myself,my family (to a degree). I kept that perspective, into adult life

Becky Davidson

I honestly think that this is a sad sad thing to do, but to just push the blame off on TV, Media, and Music? That is wrong.
I don't think it is entirely the Media that is at fault, what about her guardians? When they realized what kinds of things she was capable of when she was hurting herself why didn't they get her more help than a drug? I think that the Media can and does influence people at a young age, but I DO NOT think that it is completly to blame. What about her peers?

I personally went through that gothic stage, mine lasted all 4 years of high school and during said stage I didn't watch much TV, and the music I listened to I still listen to today with no adverse affects, what I was doing though was reading a lot of literature that was so called "Dark." And you know whats worse? It was REQUIRED READING FOR SCHOOL! East of Eden is a horribly sad book involving death and the like. Why don't we think about the things we are teaching out kids in school too if we are going to shove the blame off on Media, TV and Music.

Thank you, for the last comment, I too was put on the medications that Alyssa was put on at the same age and felt so much anger and depression.
I remember telling my counselor I couldn't be on them because every time someone said anything to me I felt like I honestly wanted to hurt them.
I had visions of myself hurting others all of the time on that medication.
do not judge this little girl when you do not know her.
I blame the parents as well.

Yes she made a HUGE mistake, but again she is still merely a child who was influenced in very wrong ways.
If you are going to put the blame on anyone put it upon your precious society.

You may think all of the dirty music and dirty television we put out there does NOT influence these children, Alyssa Bustamante is living proof.

So it's okay to let your children watch what's on television these days you say?
You think what she did was so horrible?
well you're children are watching worse acts right on the television.

Try CSI for example, who is to say that Alyssa didn't get her murderous ideas from a CSI episode?
or a movie, or a lyric.

Pay attention to your kids and what they're listening to and watching.

Don't think your kids would never do this, chances are they're just as liable to do so as Alyssa Bustamante.

Unless you have ever taken an anti-depressant drug, you have absolutely ZERO idea what you are taking about. I have taken these drugs, PRESCRIBED BY DOCTORS, for my depression. At the time, I was just considered clinically depressed. After a year regimen on 50mg of Paxil, I was suicidal and often felt out of control of my anger. This behavior peaked at one point when I felt threatened by everyone around me, and told someone I needed immediate help. Someone called the 911 to help me. When the police arrived I was ballistic, my thoughts firing at 1000 per minute- I threatened to kill them because I felt so threatened by them. I would have hurt them if I had had access to a weapon. I am here to report to you that: IT WAS ONLY DURING THE TIME IO SPENT ON ANTI DEPRESSANTS , AND NEVER BEFORE, OR SINCE THIS INCIDENT HAVE I EVER HAVE A THOUGHT OF SUICIDE OR HAVE I EVER EXPERIENCED A MURDEROUS RAGE. It's the drugs, sweetie. Do your research before you make blanket statements that make YOU sound stupid.

Anyone with the problems this girl has should be in a mental facility at least until she is proven not to be dangerous to herself and others. I blame a very faulty system for this crime. It has been proven to be risky for anyone under 18 to even take the drug she is on, and since she had already had issues of cutting and attempted suicide, why wasn't she being monitored, in some kind of a mental facility, instead of running around around loose where she could do God knows what??? I certainly don't think she should be tried as an adult. She should have a plea of insanity, and be treated to see of her life can be turned around.

While there appears to be some correlation between Prozac and self-inflicted injuries in teens, the drug has also repaired/saved countless millions of lives over the past 20 years.

I was on Prozac for 4 years, off for appx 1.5 years and now am back on again. My own personal experience with the drug has been fantastically positive.

Your mileage may vary.

I have been following this case very closely and know some of Alyssa's friends who are very hurt by all of this. I found this blog: http://bedsidedetective.blogspot.com/ which has a good coverage of the case and also a lot of links on Alyssa Bustamante for anyone who wants to know more.

http://bedsidedetective.blogspot.com/

WOW I HEARD OF "HAVING IT ROUGH" BUT SHE OVER DID IT..
IN OCT. I CUT MY WRIST AND SWALLOWED 30 TYLONOL P.M'S...I MEAN I ALWAYS LOOKED AT PEOPLE WHO CUT THEM SELVES AS PEOPLE WHO DESERVED TO BE IN DA LOONEY BIN TILL I STARTED TO DO IT MYSELF(HYPOCRIT I KNOW) BUT I NEVER WANTED TO KILL MY LITTLE BROTHERS...
THATS JUST WAYYYY OUTTA LINE.....YOU KEEP YOUR DARKNESS TO YOURSELF NEVER ALLOWING PEOPLE TO SEE THE HURTING PERSON U REALLY ARE BUT BUSTAMANTE WENT FROM DARK TO JUST PLAIN EVIL...I MEAN WHO KILLS LITTLE KIDS ANYMORE??? THATS LIKE KILLINGG BUNNIES OR JESUS!!! THATS JUST LOWW MAN!!! LIKE COMMON SHE LOOKS CRAZYY...WHO DOES THE "WHY SO SERIOUS" MIXED SUCICIDAL CHICK ALL IN ONE....THE JOKER WOULD BE VERRRRRY DISAPOINTED IN YOU BUSTAMANTE!!!! I SAY OFF WITH HERR HEADDD

I can relate to Alyssa because of my own experience with Prozac. Ever since I quit the drugs, I have never cut myself or had urges to kill others. On Prozac I became focused on ruminating thougths of suicide and homicide. I can't say my case is the norm but that's my experience.

she should only be locked up til she's 21. first of all she's 15, second of all she has mental health issues, if they feep her in prison for life she's going to kill herself. she killed a child by her own will she should serve up those 6 years and send her to court to be evaluated, then realsed to a mental instituion for a year then send her out to the real world on 2 years of probabtion.

This girl...killed a 9 year old child without provocation. (I don't know what kind of murderous provocation a 9 year old could give in the first place)

There is no option but life in prison, and if the justice system worked well then she would be executed on the day of her 18th birthday.
99% of the people who will respond to the latter will say that I am heartless or whatever, but will also know that if their 9 year old daughter was laying in a casket somewhere in the ground because of some medicated crazy ass teen that they would choose no other option but execution.
She's crazy, and even if the pills had something to do with it, she still has to pay. If you're drunk and you kill your family, you still go to prison for life, or in some states, die.

Warning:
Anti-Depressants and Anti-Psychotics are mind-altering drugs and are more times than not, prescribed for uses they are not approved for by the FDA, and can have serious behavioral side effects. (ie, drugs such as Lexapro which are approved by the FDA for Major Depressive Disorder are routinely prescribed for mild to moderate depression.) In most circumstances, you will be held fully accountable for any criminal acts you commit while taking these drugs, to include, drunk or impaired driving, injurious behavior towards yourself or others, theft, murder, etc. Millions of people are currently incarcerated or deceased due to incidents while taking or withdrawing from these drugs. Your doctor, the FDA, and the makers of these drugs are not held accountable to patients, only to government agencies whom can fine them, no matter how gross their mis-conduct is. You should consult with an attorney after reading the possible side effects BEFORE starting any new prescriptions because these drugs are also highly addictive and once taken, cannot be discontinued in any time short of months. (The poster of this warning does not claim to be an attorney or know the law .)

My experience with the LDS church is not a good one. Lies and fantasies, made up facts, no support from the church leaders for abused children. Where were the people who were supposed to know she was having a mental break. Now look at her, she's ruined.

"I do believe that I could feel safe living next door to her"

I would never be willing to put the lives of my loved ones on the line over a "maybe".

Surely my answer is no? That seems extremely presumptuous considering the opinion I stated on the case. I do believe that I could feel safe living next door to her, if I were to know that she had passed through a thorough and effective treatment program and was being closely monitored by the state. On a personal note, I have lived next door to dangerous people and have never had anyone attempt to harm me or any of my family members, so I don't see how Bustamante would be any different. And especially if she were treated at her young age, there is actually a chance for full recovery, which cannot so easily be said for some of the people with whom I've shared a neighborhood.

"But locking up Bustamante when there's a good chance that she could be treated to become a functional member of society"

HA! If this girl was put back in society, would you feel safe living next door to her with your children or your grandchildren? Surely your answer is no, meaning you don't believe what you said anymore than I do.

As you type words criticizing a person for being "stupid" and "an embarrassment to our educational system's lack of ability to institute rational thought", I think you might want to take a look at how you're handling a conflict of reasonable opinions and realize that this kind of namecalling and childishness solves absolutely no problems.

I can see both sides here, and I will admit that the links of SSRI's and teen suicide are not conclusive, but I believe that it is society's duty to attempt to rehabilitate Alyssa Bustamante. I am not going to argue whether or not she committed the murder. But I will say that there ARE links between SSRI's (including Prozac specifically) and teen suicide. Bustamante had already attempted suicide in the past unsuccessfully in the past, and was shown to have a tendency towards violence. Who's to say that this violence could not have been turned outward upon administration of the drug? Combine the Prozac use with a rather turbulent family life, a history of violent behavior, and the depression in and of itself, and I believe one can see that warning signs were missed and that possibly, if she had been monitored more effectively based on her past and on her use of somewhat controversial medication, this could have been prevented. But beyond that, using the justice system as a means to avenge and crucify, rather than to seek true justice and possibly even treat those with a true chance at rehabilitation, is an absolute travesty that cannot be allowed to pass in our society. I understand that a great deal of evidence points towards Bustamante, and I will not excuse the murder even regarding all of the risk factors. The fact still remains that a 9 year old girl died senselessly, and I will not sat that there is anything that can excuse her death. But locking up Bustamante when there's a good chance that she could be treated to become a functional member of society is something that we cannot tolerate, no matter how heinous the crime of which she is accused may be.

Prozac or other SSRIs aren't 'making' people murder. They tend to be prescribed to individuals who have higher than normal rates of mental illness, depression, anger, etc. Your stupid commentary is like linking hospitals to deaths. It's only through a few wacky organizations and cults like Scientology that a lot of misinformation has been put out there. But enjoy your ignorance, people like you tend to not believe in evolution, think vaccinations cause autism and a host of other silly and easily disproven notions. You're an embarrassment to our educational system's lack of ability to institute rational thought or respect for the scientific method.

i can't believe she did this ive known her scince sixth grade im going to miss her even after what shes done i still love her.

Of all the things mentioned about her circumstances, the thing that really stood out to me was the fact that she was on Prozac. Why? Because Eric Harris-one of the Columbine shooters-was on Luvox-a similar antidepressant. Kip Kinkle-another school shooter-was taking Ritalin and Prozac. And I've heard other stories about teens on psychiatric meds becoming unexpedectly violent(watched a whole documentary on it...wish I could find the link again). I know there's a variety of complex factors that lead to something horrific like this. I'm guessing her negligent, disturbed parents had something to do with it(maybe even a genetic component there?) But that alone doesn't explain it, because of all the kids from troubled backgrounds who make it through adolescence without killing anyone, and considering that some of the school shooters seemed to come from "good" stable families...I don't think we should ignore the common thread of teens on psychiatric meds(certain antidepressants are known to sometimes cause manic reactions, which can play out as sudden bursts of irrational violence, as well of feelings of numbness/disconnect). It may just be the catalyst that pushes them over the edge...
Oh, I did find a link which lists a horrifying number of tragic incidents where psychiatric meds were a factor..http://www.ssristories.com/index.php

It is very rare for a teenage girl to commit murder like this. I completely understand that she had mental issues, however, she committed an adult act when she (allegedly) strangled, stabbed and cut the throat of a 9-year-old little girl. I do not believe in the death penalty. I do believe in life without parole. This is a very disturbed young woman who might likely do this again if not incarcerated. It is sad that she is 15 and that her life will more than likely be spent behind bars. Age 15 is an age of accountability and it is looking like she premeditated this act. I am not a big fan of law enforcement or the U.S. legal system. However, this crime cannot go unpunished. There are no winners in this case. Elizabeth Olten's parents have lost a child. Alyssa Bustamante's grandparents and siblings have lost a granddaughter and sister. Alyssa will have to live with what she has done and that is not going to be easy. Prison is a terrible place and she will probably have to be segregated because prisoners hate those who have committed a crime against a child. Alyssa can make it through this. She can change and she can be a different person. She can get the help she needs. Unfortunately, the consequences for her actions are grave. I wish both families all the best. They have a very long road ahead of them. My heart is broken for both families. There are two sets of victims here. It's hard to remember that. Put yourself in the shoes of the grandparents. What is this was your daughter, friend, sister, wife...you wouldn't be so quick to want her dead. You would hurt for her consequences but you know they would be necessary. Death would actually be a very easy way out for Alyssa. Life in prison is not an easy way out. We also need to remember to keep perspective. The media reports what they want, how they want and when they want. It doesn't mean they have their facts straight and it is not fair to convict Alyssa publicly. She is still innocent until proven guilty. Unfortunately, it doesn't look good....This is a tough one, it really is.

Im going to miss her /:
One of my good friends.

My comment was for Tyler of Texas.

John, she is going to get a fair trial, and if she is convicted of the crime, she DOES deserve life in prison without parole. She has taken the life away of a 9 year old kid. Why would this girl deserve to be free after what she did to a nine year old? Yes she is innocent until proven guilty, but you know just as well as I do that she committed the crime but we have to wait for court to prove it. The United States prison system fails at rehabilitating anyone and life without parole is just what this girl needs to see what she did was wrong.

In response to the last comment: Missouri Law states you must be over age 16 to be eligible for the death penalty. Bustamante faces up to life in prison if convicted.
KRCG News Team

While I admit what she did was absolutely appalling, she should not be tossed aside like trash by the state. If she is tried as an adult she could face life in prison or even the death penalty and It's my belief that if the state is going to execute anybody it should give them a fair chance to rehabilitate themselves. To throw someone's life away at 15 is absurd and just as sad as the crime Alyssa has been accused of. What she did was obviously the work of someone who needs help and she should have a chance to receive that help and try and rehabilitate herself. This is the very principal of our justice system and it appears we have forgotten this basic principal of our justice system.

ok just because she has parents with problems and lives with her grandparents is no excuse for anything. im 19 years old my mother was in prison for drugs and my father ran off and got married 3 more times havent seen him since i was 13 my grandparents adopted me and i dont want to kill any one i work full time and attend school to be a pharmacy tech there is something mentally wrong with that child an you cant blame her circumstances.

It says in the article that she was cutting and attempted suicide prior to being put on meds. As for the meds almost all anti-depressants and such have the black box stating that they should not be given to children under 18. As for Susan Smith and Andrea Yates, they were suffering from post partum psychosis, so it's a slightly different case than just saying they were put on meds and that's what made them do it. Not to mention Andrea Yates had 5 kids with no help and had problems well before she had children, making her even more susceptible to do the things she did. As for Alyssa Bustamante, while she had great support from her grandparents, I don't think that speaking to her parents helped her at all, if anything it probably hindered any sense of normalcy the child could have had. And I completely agree that we should be focused on Elizabeth and not on the person who did such a horrible thing, especially since we have heard so little about Elizabeth.

Lets put this Alyssa tragedy aside for a moment. I'm a 50 year old women. When I was in J.H and H.S. We weren't put on Prozac or Prozac want-a-bez. If we were hard to handle we got my ass beat. And if we were depressed our Mom's noticed and somehow made it right. Oh ya, we didn't kill each other either.
I'm sorry, I can't blame the kid entirely. Something is happening to kids. Some say it's medicated, some say it's video game, or the music, others say it's because we kicked God out. Maybe it's all of these in which instead of coming up with new solutions maybe we should try to get back to some old ways.

Are you serious ! this "MONSTER" of a human needs to be put to rest for good. This is not normal and there is no EXCUSES for this behavior. I am a parent of four and I could not imagine this happening to one of my kids. She is a threat to herself and everyone arround her. This was pre-meditated and she should be given the death penalty. She does not deserve to ever get to live a normal life after commiting such a crime. I hope she gets a judge that agrees. Hopefully a judge that has grand kids and can relate. This is a horrific tradegdy and my heart goes out to the family of the victim. I hope you recieve the justice you deserve

Thats what i'm saying the Grandparents did all they could it seems & they are hurting too. I hope people won't blame them or Alyssa's siblings for what SHE did.

I totally agree that Prozac & other antidepressant's should NOT be given to these troubled children/teens but family's feel pressured to allow it by mental health professional's who are to quick to give pills to solve people's problems & parents/grandparents are made to feel guilty like they're standing in the way of the teen getting better if they don't go along with it. Whats even more troubling is that general MD's are prescribing these psychotropic drugs to children & teens in rural area's where mental health professional's are few & far between & i'm wondering if thats the case here.

Elizabeth was the "normal" one. We want to know more about Alyssa because her need to kill arose from something- a set of circumstances, a predisposition, chemical influences. Wouldn't it be great if we could learn from this tragedy, so Elizabeth will have not died completely in vain?

Alyssa's had a rough life, one parental role model already in the jail, the other with a history of drug problems. This could easily lead to circumstantial chronic depression. I agree with Poly Graph, there is epidemic of psychotic behavior in this country and it is due to psychiatrists treating circumstantial depression with emotion-robbing drugs like Prozac. They have helped some, but they are NOT for everyone. This kid should not have been on them, obviously. But there is only minimal support in this society for programs that could have possibly alleviated some of Alyssa's circumstances. Sunday school isn't enough when you are filled with emotional numbness and pathological self-loathing.

Angie in Memphis, loving grandparents can only do so much. Considering all she had been through, I doubt if they could relate to her all that well.

If anyone would just look at all the women and children who have killed 'out of their character' it always leads to this, they are all on psychotropic drugs that causes them to have these thoughts, look at susan smith, (on psycho meds), andrea yates (on five different psycho meds), the columbine high boys (one which was on at least one psycho med) and thousands of others, I started looking into this factor years ago when I was a psych student and many people would say 'oh they were nuts before the meds', but show me the same number or women and children who kill without being on meds? the numbers are staggering! because there are hundreds more of these killers who ARE MEDICATED with drugs that are supposed to help them but causes them to do these things and have those thoughts!!! look it up for yourself people, drugs can kill, even the ones doctors prescribe!!! Betcha before this 15 year old child was placed on prozac at the tender age 13 she was not this way, probably minorly depressed but NOT suicidal and NOT a killer!!!

This girl may have had a troubled past with those parent's of her's but she DOES have loving grandparent's who take care of her & her sibling's very well it appears so she's had it better than ALOT of children do. Unless informed otherwise i'm going to believe her Grandparent's are good people who only wanted the best for her and feel compassion for these Grandparent's. Sounds like they did all they could do & had her seeing Dr's & trying medication as recommeded & i'm sure they're still in shock & heartsick over what Alyssa has done to beautiful 9 yr old Elizabeth...a child they knew very well i'm sure.

Aylssa is a danger to everyone and should spend the rest of her natural life in prison with no parole for the heinous, callous premeditated murder of this child half her age.

I agree with Tara whole heartedly. I want to know more about who Elizabeth was. The things she did and loved as a kid. I feel like the media is focusing more on the killer than the victim. We all must not forget who the victim here was.There is no new imformation about Alyssa that I didnt read already on the internet days before her hearing. There needs to be more focus on Elizabeth and what everyone can do to help her family. What can we do as a community to be there for them? I dont think near enough is being done. We all pulled together for Margaret Romph when she was in that horrible car accident. Why cant we do the same for Elizabeth??

This area is rife with abused and trouble children and adults. None of this justifies any manner of venting upon a person physically, to any degree.

I hope that the media will keep in mind who the victim is. I would like to know who Elizabeth was. What made her laugh? Her favorite ice cream? What she wanted to be when she grew up? I would like to know all the special things about that precious angel that made her who she was. What silly things did she argue with he brother about? I could go on and on with questions about her. The only things I want from Alyssa is answers so that society can learn what went wrong with her and how we can prevent future tragedies like this.