The Tragic Case of Elizabeth Olten: Alyssa Bustamante's Murderous Act

In the small town of St. Martins, Missouri, tragedy struck on October 21, 2009, when 9-year-old Elizabeth Olten fell victim to the heinous actions of her 15-year-old neighbor, Alyssa Bustamante. The innocent young girl was lured into the woods under false pretenses by Bustamante, who then proceeded to strangle and stab her to death. This brutal act was carried out simply due to Bustamante's homicidal ideation and a disturbing curiosity to experience the sensation of killing someone.

Elizabeth Olten lived only four houses down from Alyssa Bustamante, which made the events even more chilling. On that fateful day, Bustamante convinced her younger sister to bring Olten to the nearby forest to hang out. Upon Olten's arrival, Bustamante launched her vicious attack, strangling her, slitting her throat, and inflicting eight stab wounds to her chest. After committing the murder, Bustamante callously buried Olten's body in a pre-dug grave in the woods behind her house, concealing it with leaves.

Alyssa Bustamante | Elizabeth Olten by Daily Mail

The perpetrator, Alyssa Bustamante, had a troubled upbringing. She and her three younger siblings were placed under the legal custody of her grandparents, Gary and Karen Brooke, in 2002, as her mother battled addiction issues and her father was incarcerated. Signs of psychological distress began to surface around 2007 when Bustamante was hospitalized following a suicide attempt. Her social media presence revealed troubling behavior, with references to self-harm and simulated violence.

I just fucking killed someone. I strangled them and slit their throat and stabbed them now they're dead. I don't know how to feel atm. It was ahmazing [sic]. 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.

Following the murder, Bustamante shockingly documented her crime in her journal, expressing a twisted sense of exhilaration. Despite her chilling confession, she nonchalantly attended a church dance later that day, demonstrating a stark contrast between her outward demeanor and the gruesome reality of her actions.

Bustamante's trial commenced on November 17, 2009, where she initially pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder and armed criminal action. However, in January 2012, she accepted a plea deal, admitting to second-degree murder and armed criminal action. She was subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment with the possibility of conditional release for the murder, along with an additional consecutive sentence of 30 years for the armed criminal action.

Despite attempts to appeal her sentence, Bustamante's appeal was denied in March 2014. Throughout the legal proceedings, it became evident that Bustamante struggled with mental health issues, with several professionals diagnosing her with major depressive disorder and borderline personality disorder.

Alyssa Bustamante by True Crime Daily

The aftermath of this horrific crime extended beyond the courtroom, as Elizabeth Olten's mother, Patricia Preiss, pursued legal action against Bustamante. A settlement was reached, requiring Bustamante to disclose any financial compensation from media coverage to Preiss.

The case of Elizabeth Olten serves as a grim reminder of the devastating consequences of untreated mental illness and the chilling capacity for violence lurking within some individuals. It is a tragedy that has left a scar on the community of St. Martins and serves as a call to action for greater awareness and support for mental health issues, particularly among young individuals.