Alyssa Bustamante and the Murder of Elizabeth Olten
The Aftermath
Her internal pain continued in the days following the murder. Once it was determined that Bustamante was to be tried as an adult, she became distraught and was moved to Hawthorn Children's Psychiatric Hospital for evaluation. She had tried to cut herself and expressed suicidal thoughts. Her nails were cut because she'd tried using them to cut herself. Later, she was ordered by the judge to Fulton State Hospital for evaluation.
Here state-appointed lawyer also introduced a motion to move the trial. He cited comments on news articles as well as blogs, Facebook, and Myspace, purporting to come from townspeople, most of whom excoriated Bustamante. In the online world, Alyssa Bustamante was already convicted and hanged.
People wrote things like: "What is a shame is that the Murderer did not die when she tried commit suiside when she tried to in 2007."
And: "From what I've heard this girl has had mental problems for some time and has seen counselors or someone in the past."
And: "Either deport her or send her to the gas chamber. One less sicko wasting our tax dollars."
Meanwhile, Elizabeth Olten got the funeral she deservedthat of a princess. A horse-drawn carriage took her casket to the cemetery, where her friends and family wore her favorite color: pink.