Alyssa Bustamante Sentenced to Life for ‘Amazing’ Murder of 9-Year-Old

When Alyssa Bustamante was 15-years-old, she cut, stabbed, and strangled 9-year-old Elizabeth Olten because she wanted to know what it felt like to kill someone. Bustamante, now 18, was just sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole.

At the time of the killing, Bustamante wrote in her journal that the feeling of murder was “amazing.” The journal was read in court yesterday:

“I just f—— 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. 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.”

During her sentencing today, Bustamante was singing a different tune. Bustamante rose and addressed her victim’s mother, Patty Preiss, and said:

“I know words. can never be enough and they can never adequately describe how horribly I feel for all of this. If I could give my life to get her back I would. I’m sorry.”

The Associated Press reports that Bustamante pleaded guilty in January to second-degree murder. She also pleaded guilty to armed criminal action in the October 2009.

The defense argued for a more lenient sentence saying that Bustamante was taking Prozac at the time and was more prone to violence. Prosecutors argued that Bustamante deserved a stiff sentence because the crime was premeditated. Prosecutors said that Bustamante dug two graves prior to murdering Elizabeth Olton.

Here’s a video about the case from the Associated Press.