Prosecutor calls Bustamante a 'truly evil individual'

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - A central Missouri teenager behind the brutal killing of her young neighbor, learned her fate Wednesday morning.

Alyssa Bustamante, 18, was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole, along with a consecutive 30-year term for a charge of armed criminal action.

Authorities say Bustamante strangled and stabbed 9-year-old Elizabeth Olten in 2009 because she wanted to know what it was like to kill someone.

Cole County prosecuting attorney Mark Richardson calls Bustamante a "truly evil individual" for the murder. In court, Richardson brought forward journal entries written by Bustamante, describing an "enjoyable" and "amazing" experience of killing someone.

Richardson says he believes justice was served even though Bustamante was originally charged with first degree murder, but pled guilty to the lesser charge of second degree murder.

The defense argued that Bustamante has a history of depression and her use of Prozac makes her violent. Richardson says they brought in an expert to counter that.

"To give us his scientific opinion based on experience and scientific studies, to refute that issue of defense," said Richardson.

Olten's family released a statement, giving thanks for support over the past two years, but they say that no sentence can make up for the crime.