The brutal 2009 murder of 9-year-old Elizabeth Olten by her 15-year-old neighbor Alyssa Bustamante has continued to haunt a Missouri community. The shocking case led to changes in state laws regarding underage criminals convicted of murder.
Bustamante was sentenced to life in prison in 2012 after pleading guilty to second-degree murder. However, due to a 2014 U.S. Supreme Court ruling, she was eligible for parole. The court ruled that no juvenile could be sentenced to life in prison without the chance at parole – even for murder.
However, state lawmakers in Missouri passed a bill in 2021 that said that ruling does not apply to juveniles who committed first-degree murder. In 2024, Governor Mike Parson signed legislation expanding on that law to include juveniles convicted of second-degree murder.
The changes in state laws were prompted by the Olten family's advocacy for stricter punishment for juvenile murderers. The family had been pushing for legislation that would prevent juvenile murderers from being eligible for parole.
The case has also raised questions about the motivations of juvenile murderers. Bustamante's diary entries, which were discovered during the investigation, revealed that she had a fascination with death and had been planning the murder for some time.
The case has had a lasting impact on the community, and the changes in state laws are a testament to the Olten family's tireless efforts to ensure that justice is served.
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