KChiefs1
11-18-2009, 10:13 AM
http://www.connectmidmissouri.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=378814
http://www.connectmidmissouri.com/uploadedImages/krcg/alyssa%20bustamante%20myspace.jpg?w=226&h=170&aspect=nostretch
COLE COUNTY, MO. -- Juvenile court authorities decided to charge a 15-year-old murder suspect as an adult at a certification hearing Wednesday morning.
Alyssa Bustamante, of St. Martins, Mo., is charged with first degree murder of 9-year-old Elizabeth Olten.
Olten’s body was found Friday, Oct. 23 in the woods behind her home in the rural mid-Missouri town. Olten went missing walking home from a friend’s home on Wednesday, Oct. 21. That evening started a three day search with over a hundred volunteers, K-9 units and a helicopter.
Olten was visiting Bustamante’s home when her family reported her missing. Bustamante lived down the street from the Olten family.
Police found the body after written evidence led police to Bustamante. Bustamante, after talking to the police, took them where the body was concealed in the woods.
There were two graves dug on the Friday, Oct. 16, the week before Olten’s death.
At the hearing a highway patrol officers said that during that investigation Bustamante said she “wanted to know what it felt like.”
Cole County Prosecutor Mark Richardson said that fact that Cole County Sheriff Greg White wants first degree murder charges shows that White believes Olten’s murder was premeditated.
Family court Judge Jon Beetem decided that Bustamante will stand trial as an adult. However, Bustamante could still become eligible for treatment through the Missouri’s Division of Youth Services.
"You'd have to have a certification and you'd have to have a finding of guilt," said Legal Counsel Samantha Green, "and conviction in the adult courts for dual jurisdiction."
The judge heard recommendations from juvenile court authorities and weighed the specifics of the crime against Missouri’s ten criteria to charge a juvenile as an adult -
Seriousness of offense and consideration of public safety if suspect should be transferred to general jurisdiction
Whether the offense involved vicious force and violence
Whether the offense was against a person or property, with greater weight given to offenses against a person, especially if personal injury resulted.
Was the offense was part of a repetitive pattern of offenses, where the child may be beyond rehabilitation under the juvenile code.
The record and history of the child in juvenile system and other courts will be considered
The sophistication and maturity of the child as determined by considering home, other environmental and emotional conditions and pattern of living.
Age of the child
Consider the programs available to the juvenile system.
Whether or not the child will benefit from treatment or rehabilitation programs available to the court.
Racial disparity and certification.
Bustamante has been in juvenile court custody since she was arrested on Oct. 23.
Bustamante has a history of mental illness. She attempted suicide in 2007. Since then, Bustamante has been under treatment.
Bustamante attended Jefferson City High School. School friends said that she was nice and they do not understand what would have caused her to commit this crime.
An adult arraignment is scheduled for today at 1 p.m.
http://www.connectmidmissouri.com/uploadedImages/krcg/alyssa%20bustamante%20myspace.jpg?w=226&h=170&aspect=nostretch
COLE COUNTY, MO. -- Juvenile court authorities decided to charge a 15-year-old murder suspect as an adult at a certification hearing Wednesday morning.
Alyssa Bustamante, of St. Martins, Mo., is charged with first degree murder of 9-year-old Elizabeth Olten.
Olten’s body was found Friday, Oct. 23 in the woods behind her home in the rural mid-Missouri town. Olten went missing walking home from a friend’s home on Wednesday, Oct. 21. That evening started a three day search with over a hundred volunteers, K-9 units and a helicopter.
Olten was visiting Bustamante’s home when her family reported her missing. Bustamante lived down the street from the Olten family.
Police found the body after written evidence led police to Bustamante. Bustamante, after talking to the police, took them where the body was concealed in the woods.
There were two graves dug on the Friday, Oct. 16, the week before Olten’s death.
At the hearing a highway patrol officers said that during that investigation Bustamante said she “wanted to know what it felt like.”
Cole County Prosecutor Mark Richardson said that fact that Cole County Sheriff Greg White wants first degree murder charges shows that White believes Olten’s murder was premeditated.
Family court Judge Jon Beetem decided that Bustamante will stand trial as an adult. However, Bustamante could still become eligible for treatment through the Missouri’s Division of Youth Services.
"You'd have to have a certification and you'd have to have a finding of guilt," said Legal Counsel Samantha Green, "and conviction in the adult courts for dual jurisdiction."
The judge heard recommendations from juvenile court authorities and weighed the specifics of the crime against Missouri’s ten criteria to charge a juvenile as an adult -
Seriousness of offense and consideration of public safety if suspect should be transferred to general jurisdiction
Whether the offense involved vicious force and violence
Whether the offense was against a person or property, with greater weight given to offenses against a person, especially if personal injury resulted.
Was the offense was part of a repetitive pattern of offenses, where the child may be beyond rehabilitation under the juvenile code.
The record and history of the child in juvenile system and other courts will be considered
The sophistication and maturity of the child as determined by considering home, other environmental and emotional conditions and pattern of living.
Age of the child
Consider the programs available to the juvenile system.
Whether or not the child will benefit from treatment or rehabilitation programs available to the court.
Racial disparity and certification.
Bustamante has been in juvenile court custody since she was arrested on Oct. 23.
Bustamante has a history of mental illness. She attempted suicide in 2007. Since then, Bustamante has been under treatment.
Bustamante attended Jefferson City High School. School friends said that she was nice and they do not understand what would have caused her to commit this crime.
An adult arraignment is scheduled for today at 1 p.m.