whew..glad your not my granny...she needed mental health help but

agree she should be tried as an adult. her mother must be a flake

But I bet Grandmother of 8 doesn't have any little wanna gbangers like the 15 year old, huh grandma. Bet you'd take them out behind the shed and give them a good whoopin' like they did back in the day before parents where to afraid to discipline their kids.

Send her to jail...like someone else said, "what goes around, comes around."

AMEN!

AMEN! What makes people think that the person they kill doens' thave the right to go on living, but they should sit on their ass in prison while the parents of the little 9 year old and us have to pay taxes to put food in her mouth and pay for medical for her etc, etc. What is wrong with this world???

The decision to try a child as an adult should be based on the crime, intent, maturity, and mental health of the child, and not based on the state's ability to house the child, on which the article states the decision was based.

Personall, I think too many kids are tried as adults. While 15-year-olds certainly know right from wrong, studies have proven time and again that teenagers don't process information like adults, and therefore don't always fully consider the consequences of their actions (of course she knew the 9-year-old would be dead, but did she realize the devastation it would bring to the girl's family? did it occur to her that this extremely bad choice would mean she'll never go to college, never get married or have children, or the devastation it would reap on her own family? - probably not). Pubescent hormones create a biological change in how the brain processes information, and is the reason that 18 is considered an adult. Kids that can be rehabilitated into productive members of society should be provided that opportunity, even if it's only for the financial advantage of not housing them in prison for 60 years (and with extra security, according to the article).

That is a bunch of ultra-liberal garbage. What about the family of the murdered child? That is a smack in their face.

Hello Nikkinala,

I agree with your logic.  The bottom line is she is only 15 years old and should be treated as such, and given a chance to redeem herself.

Someone who admits thar they killed another person (a NINE year old child at that) just because they wanted to see what it felt like to kill another person isnt really capable of being rehabilitated.

By definition, this girl is a sociopath... sociopaths have no sense of what is morally right and wrong, and it is not something that can be taught to them. While jail may not be the best decision, its better then putting her in juvinal detention and letting her get out when shes 21. Then theres always a mental health facility, which is the best option (though I do not see her ever getting released)

I don't care if she is ill. And if she was MENTALLY ILL, why weren't her parents making sure she was taking medications? Why does everyone think it's ok to WAIT until someone murders someone and THEN we want to do something to help them. Maybe the parents are partly responsible for this by not making sure she had the proper care?? I mean, we can throw parents in jail for not making their kids go to school, but we can't for making sure their kids are properly treated for mental disorders which lead to murder??? I'm sure this isn't the first devious thing this "thing" has done. I have a feeling her parents/guardians aren't THAT surprised.

Agreed! What are the parents of the Killer held for. Didn't their inability to teach their child BASIC moral principles help lead to this crime. They should be held accountable as well. The parents of the 9-year-old should sue the pants off the other parents in a civil suit!

Someone got it right in an earlier post. The girl is a sociopath. She is incapable of learning good morals and is completely disconnected from caring or being remorseful. Her mind does work like most. She has no real feelings and therefore cannot connect with human emotions. She did what she did because she WANTED to. That child was just a means to satifsy her end. Bustamante is not sorry, it's not her parents fault and she will kill again if she goes free. A mental hospital will not help her. Jail is the best place for her. Sociopaths CANNOT be rehabilitated.

How do you "redeem" yourself after you purposefully kill a child?! just to see what it feels like?! She committed a crime that had the ultimate, permanent consequence: she took a life. There is no redemption for that.

Children that know right from wrong rarely kill for the fun of it. This one IS a sociopath. No amount of mental health therapy will help her, and drugs only work if she takes them. She needs to be locked away forever. It's cheaper than the death penalty, and a lot harsher. No amount of rehabilitation can cure someone so disturbed and depraved. Ask any Psychiatrist. If she were out in the world, and stopped taking her meds, she'd be back to killing. Facts are facts.

Now how about some sympathy for the parents of the girl she killed, just to see how it felt. They lost a child whom they can never get back. The killer's parents will be able to see her in jail, but the murdered girl's parents will only be able to visit a grave. Treat all such young people that murder as adults. If they are old enough to take a life, they are old enough to be convicted and spend life in prison!

Personall, I think too many kids are tried as adults. While 15-year-olds certainly know right from wrong, studies have proven time and again that teenagers don't process information like adults, and therefore don't always fully consider the consequences of their actions (of course she knew the 9-year-old would be dead, but did she realize the devastation it would bring to the girl's family? did it occur to her that this extremely bad choice would mean she'll never go to college, never get married or have children, or the devastation it would reap on her own family? - probably not). Pubescent hormones create a biological change in how the brain processes information, and is the reason that 18 is considered an adult.

Nikkinala:

Of course she didn't think her choice would cost her anything--she thought her plan would get her away scot free, with no consequences for her actions. Fifteen-year-olds, especially girls, are pretty well connected to the emotional side of life, which may explain why we so often see them embroiled in these cases over crimes of passion. She was completely capable of seeing the devastation this would cause; she just flat didn't care. My instinct here would be to say "Sociopath." Knows what she's doing, knows that it hurts, knows that it's wrong, feels no remorse except perhaps at the possibility she screwed up her own life.

I'm a 21-year-old woman. Biologically, my pre-frontal cortex--the area of the brain responsible for making reasoned cause-and-effect decisions--will not be fully developed until I am 25 or so. So if I were to go kill a nine-year-old child, I would be completely blame-free, right? I'm young! I have potential!

I'm sorry, but irresponsibility does not mean you don't have to take responsibility. That little girl she killed doesn't get to have any future at all. Forget her family's pain, the child's life is done. That doesn't heal.

If discovering that by taking a child's future away leads to the loss of her own is a surprise to this young murderess, I hope it's a suitably unpleasant one.

"....don't always fully consider the consequences of their actions (of course she knew the 9-year-old would be dead, but did she realize the devastation it would bring to the girl's family? did it occur to her that this extremely bad choice would mean she'll never go to college, never get married or have children, or the devastation it would reap on her own family?"

Come on now....the majority of ADULTS that commit these kinds of offenses don't even take these consequences into consideration. Sociopaths don't have the capability to make such determinations. Seriously...if people took the time to consider the consequences they'd probably not commit the crimes. They can't put 2 and 2 together.

Oh sure! Let's let the 15 year old little murderer redeem herself, but what about poor little 9 year old Elizabeth. I guess what happened to her is inconsequential.

She should be tried as an adult, and executed for the crime.

If I were the parent of the 9 year old, I would make sure the 15 year old murderer didn't even live long enough for news sites to be having this discussion. I know, that's wrong, but if it were my child that were murdered, I wouldn't care.

i hate to say it too. but i feel the same as you do!! I have to kids they are my life and if anything happen to them i would want to inflict the pain on the ones who took them away too soon

It seems to me that young people today do not know the value of life. At 15, this girl understands what she did. She did not care about the young life she took, just wanted to "see what it felt like". How horrible. If life in prison, after being tried as an adult it the maximum penalty available, then by all means that's what she should get. Being put in the juvenile system, with the potential of being released by the age of 21 is simply not an option, given the severity of the crime. The loved ones of the murdered little girl face a life sentence of grief, with no "parole". Anything less than life for the killer is simply not enough. What might happen to her in the adult prison system should not be an issue in determining her sentence.

Sorry, but there is no redemption here. She killed and at her age, knew the consequences.

I have no sympathy for killers, especially those that play the 'I didn't know they would die' card. I remember a teen who was like 18 years old a few years ago, who killed at least one of his parents and said that he didn't know that death was final and blamed his actions on videogames (because when you die, you can come back to life in the games). Sorry, BS excuse.

I agree. I am living in Mobile, Al right now and there are killings every week. Most of them are under 18.

I don't agree. The national coverage of this particular murder is happening because it's so heinous; it was committed by a girl and girls tend to be less voilent; and because her motivation was not retaliatory, as is often the case with gang violence - she just wanted to feel what it was like. Also, small towns are typically considered less violent, so in that regard the crime is more extraordinary than, say, a drive-by shooting.

However, recently there was a gang rape of a girl by young boys and teenagers in Phoenix that was covered nationally, and another gang rape in California by teens, also the girl murdered in her bedroom for which three boys were charged and aquitted a few years ago in San Diego . . . I could go on - there are many nationally-covered child-on-child murders - but it's depressing, at the least, to think about. Bottom line, big city child on child violence is covered, too.

Missouri is really climbing the ranks of social degenerates! First to break the barrier was the Mom that cyber-bullied a teen to suicide; gesh, what are they teaching/doing in that State??

GUILTY by reason of insanity...execute. This girl is a different kind of crazy. I wonder how the killer "feels" about killing now? Kind of creeps up on her, that slowly developing awareness that you may die for what you have done.

girls tend to be less voilent

Bull hockey. Girl gangs are far more violent than boy gangs are.

Exactly. Too many kids today just take lives and dont think twice about it. Perhaps if the penalty for doing so is consistently severe enough, it might make them think twice. If not at least these hooligans are put away to keep the rest of us safer than if they were let out of jail early. I'd say hang her if we could.

Look up the case of Edmund Kemper. Shot his grandparents at the age of 14, said "I just wondered how it would feel to shoot Grandma." They put him in a juvie hospital and parrolled him at 21. Years later, he was convicted of the 8 murders they can prove he did, including his own mother, and he also confessed to necrophilia and cannibalism.

I'm not pushing to execute juveniles, but I think we need to be really, really careful with kids who show sociopathic tendencies. Treatment isn't effective so far. I agree--lock her up for a long, long time.

Absolutely disagree. While her brain may still be 'developing' as you say, she KNEW killing was wrong. Otherwise why hide and bury the body? Sorry. If she wanted to know what it felt like killing someone she should have done an animal. THEN she might have gotten the help she needed without being executed or spending her life beind bars. NO REHAB FOR TAKING ANOTHER HUMAN BEINGS LIFE! (unless they attack you or loved ones) And I'm a liberal minded person too but KILLING must stop. You take a life, you forfeit yours.

I am a therapist that has worked in Gang Intervention in New Mexico. For this kind of premeditated Violence at any age I challenge you to site any rehabilitation program with even a 40% success rate. Hey, I'll take a 5% success rate. Like drugs, the adrenalin rush becomes an addiction that so very many keep chasing.

WHATEVER! I had friends that had "bad childhoods", etc. and they NEVER killed someone by choking them out, cutting their throat and THEN stabbing her!!! Come on, give me a break. There where two brothers in our hood that EVERYDAY their mom would call them in for a spanking. When asked what they did they said, "oh, mom said it was time for our daily spanking." One's gay now the other is religous but they didn't kill anybody!!!

There's a difference between immaturity and murder. At the age of 15 they know right from wrong. They know killing is wrong. That's not the kind of development their brain is under.

You don't know if she had psychological and emotional struggles, we'll assume she did because as logical and rational human beings we can't understand why anyone, especially a kid, can do this sort of thing, especially TO a kid. We put this kind of action in a box to categorize it and make ourselves feel better so that we don't have to face a reality that there are just some really sick people out there and they don't necessarily have to be adults.

This wasn't an emotional or psycholgical "oops, I didn't mean to kill her, I'm so devestated" thing. She WANTED to know what it was like to kill someone. She picked another child, younger, weaker...

Alyssa Bustamante is accused of killing Elizabeth Olten by strangling the victim, cutting her throat and stabbing her on Oct. 21.

Would you like her to be the next kid that went to school and killed her classmates? She didn't try drugs or alcohol and get in over her head where rehab could possibly set her straight. She knew what she was doing. She murdered another child. Can you imagine the fear and pain Elizabeth went through? Strangling, cutting and stabbing. Three different ways. Ask any psychologist or profiler, this is an up close and personal kill.

Start teaching these teenagers that for every action there's a reaction and it's not going to involve a little slap on the wrist or a sit down on the couch and talk to a doctor and some medication (that later they can blame an addiction on and other heinous crimes).

What if it was YOUR child she did that to? Or what if it was an 18 year old girl? Does three years really make a difference?

Have you ever done something you knew was wrong? People do things against their better sense every day, small acts and enormous acts alike. Preservation of human life is typically thought of as a universal rule, especially with regard to innocents. Is that not a case for the fact that those who kill other innocent humans need the most help, because clearly there is something wrong with their development?

She knew what she was doing, premeditation while digging the grave! She can be rehab'd in adult prison. She is NOT the victim here, the 9 yr old was!!

Have you ever done something you knew was wrong? People do things against their better sense every day, small acts and enormous acts alike

Yeah... I stole a candy bar when I was in middle school. I didn't murder anyone.

Today at 15 girls are having their second baby, don't fool yourself that she is a child. Innocence is lost at a very early age. Do you think that with TV, movies, what they teach in school, video games and peers theydon't grow up quick. We are at war, if she sees tv or newspapers she understands death. She did not think you could kill someone and they just get up, she knew what the consequences were for the little girl, she just may not have known what they would be for her. If she wants to be an adult and commit adult crimes, judge her as an adult. Too bad it won't open the eyes of lots of others.

Luckydonut

I cannot understand why when a crime like this occurs immediately the murderer becomes the victim with every excuse in the book made for them.

The victim who died a horrible death is literally forgotten.

I wonder if these bleeding hearts would feel the same way if the victim were one of their loved ones.

Her mental health problems don't get rehabilitated. She'll kill again.

Luckydonut, liberal minded souls like yourself are responsible for the release of unrepentant, repetitive rapists, mass murderers and serial murders into our society that fill our media up regularly. People like you always think that you can save them and rehabilitate them.

History has proven that this doesn't work. If she does get lucky and is 'rehabilitated,' how about we make sure she lives next door to you or your loved ones, and not if, but WHEN she repeats her heinous crime on one of your family members, perhaps then you might consider changing your philosphy. I doubt it, but just possibly then you might see that she's and others like her are a lost cause.

Do you recall the media hype on the man in Cleveland a couple of weeks back? He was 'rehabilitated,' according to his previous keepers. I doubt the families of his 11 latest victims would agree.

Take a life, give your life in exchange. And no lethal injections or electric chairs. Death should come by the same method they used. Strangulation, cutting the throat and then stabbing. If it takes her a while to die using these methods, then hopefully she'll suffer enough to realize what wrong she committed before she passes.

Yes, I'm a narrow minded, right wing conservative. I've believed for years that the death penalty should be automatic upon conviction of murderers, rapists, drug dealers and drunk drivers who've maimed or killed another human being.

Why is compassion for an extremely screwed up kid a liberal idea? Hmmm...

So what you are saying is...

if someone is 17yrs and 51 weeks old and brutally murders a little girl... They should be out in 3 yrs and 1 week.

I don't know if anyone forgot what it's like to be a teenager or maybe me and my kids are just special... I WAS VERY AWARE OF MURDER BEING WRONG long before 15.

My son is only 9 and when saw the news about a boy (10yr old) killing his dad (because he was mad) a few weeks back. He told me "that's crazy, mom" "will they kill him or put him in jail forever?" I told him the truth... that i didn't know. I told him that he might end up in juvie and not be in jail for very long. He than explained to me that a kid on the bus had told him about juvie and that it didn't seem that bad. He then asked "If kids don't really get in trouble for doing bad things, wont they just do it again?"

Sorry, but to say that a 15 year old doesn't know it's wrong to strangle, slash, and stab a little girl... that is ridiculous. Also ridiculous is to say that magically at 18 years old everyones brain is perfectly developed.

I know 15 years who are more mature and fully developed physcially and MENTALLY than 20 year olds and a few who are 20+ and have the mentality of a 10 year old. This is a decision that should be based on nothing other than COMPETENCY...

OH AND I AM NOT A CONSERVATIVE... Liberal... Independent

Why is it that when a crime is committed by a woman, it's always some 'mental problem'. If it were a guy, just fry him. Isn't this how Jeffrey Dahmer started out , 'I just wanted to see what it was like to kill someone'? If she had not gotten caught, there would have been another victim (probably younger). She's not sorry, she's just sorry she got caught.

Luckydonut, I am wondering if you would be singing the same tune if it was your 9 year old daughter who had been murdered senselessly so someone could 'feel what it's like'. I bet you wouldn't be happy with rehabilitation if it happened to you.

Absolutely disagree. While her brain may still be 'developing' as you say, she KNEW killing was wrong. Otherwise why hide and bury the body? Sorry. If she wanted to know what it felt like killing someone she should have done an animal. THEN she might have gotten the help she needed without being executed or spending her life beind bars. NO REHAB FOR TAKING ANOTHER HUMAN BEINGS LIFE! (unless they attack you or loved ones) And I'm a liberal minded person too but KILLING must stop. You take a life, you forfeit yours.

Good points Mike 63074..with the exception of suggesting that she should have "done an animal"....... Could be she already had. That's unfortunately where most of these sociopaths start...... with poor innocent animals who can't defend themselves. There's way too much of that happening out there and not much of anything happens to the sick individuals who perpetrate those atrocities.

How about she should not have "done" anything/anyone at all.......

Have you really thought about what you just wrote? How do you or anyone rehabilitate a fifteen-year-old girl who KILLED TO SEE WHAT IT WOULD FEEL LIKE? I don't think so. She needs to spend the rest of her life locked away.

Even though human brains aren't "fully" developed until mid 20s, we are still taught the difference between right and wrong whether it is through family or media(to an extent). By the age of 15, a young girl is definitely able to process her emotions and think through on the consequences of her actions...she buried the body because she knew what the consequences of the discovery would be. I don't think ANYONE whether a child or adult should have to "see" for themselves what it would be like to kill another human being. Even my 4 year old student knows how to hurt but restrains himself because he knows hurting others are wrong. Are you saying he is much more developed than the 15 yr old?

"Is that not a case for the fact that those who kill other innocent humans need the most help, because clearly there is something wrong with their development?"

WOW! Once someone is killed NOTHING brings them back. NOTHING. I am so sorry that those who kill innocent humans need the most help. But once a murder is committed against innocents you have forfeited your right to live. There are hundreds of thousands of other people who need help and haven't murdered any innocents. Go help them. Execute murderers. And I am a liberal. Liberal for most things....except murderers.

I will supply the bullets and shovel!!!

What it all really boils down to is responsibility. No one wants to accept it anymore especially parents, because it takes time and energy and effort to raise a child with morals and ethics. I see so much of it at work. So many kids who don't give a crap because their parents don't give a crap. I'm sorry but I have to agree. No rehabilitation. After 10 if the kid is screwed up, there's really no point in trying to rehab. The path is set. My kids have been raised from birth to understand wrong from right. They know if they don't follow rules there are swift and immediate consequences. They know they have to work to make it through life. I can guarantee if this little girl were made to work and work hard, she wouldn't have had the time to plan the murder of a child, nor would she have had the time or energy to fantasize about it.

Peter, you said it perfectly. (And Colorado Cop, too.)

Cop, you've identified part of the problem. For years (since my 24 y/o daughter was in school) we've been teaching our childrren that they don't have to take responsibility for their actions. If the young get in trouble every excuse possible is made. They do something particularly bad and their wrists are slapped, nothing more. And God forbid the parents actually try to discipline their children, forget actually punishing them for misbehaviour! So the problem has two causes, liberal society has decided that it's anethema for parents to discipline or punish children, we might "damage their fragile self-esteem" and then the same societal influences teach those children to eschew any responsibility for their actions ("it depends on what your definition of 'is' is"). Is it any wonder there are so many problems with youth? The real surprise is that there aren't far more problems.

sorry ed craft, but we are not born evil. we're either taught to be that way or we have really screwed up parents that refuse to see that their child has serious problems.

Actually, while I am normally inclined to agree with you, its been shown that sociopaths are infact, born that way... and there is no way to instill moral values in them no matter what is done.

True. I doubt that Ted Bundy ever felt a guilty pang.

And we wonder why kids get such screwed up ideas . . . .

nikkinala, you need to read the comments a little more carefully. I said NOT to pull the trigger, I just wanted to see her expression. If she had done THAT to the 9 year old victim (just scare her), she'd have gotten a good talking to and a timeout, the victim's loved ones would be happy, you'd be happy and we wouldn't be discussing this.

Just wanted to add a little something here, since this is 'my little block'. When I was 15 and younger, I never had a thought about wanting to kill someone just to see how it felt. I'm absolutely certain that I never even imagined such a concept. I did many many stupid things that I was very fortunate did not get me or others killed (I'm sure almost everybody can say that!), but I never WANTED to kill anybody. Maybe I wanted to later, in revenge for something done to me, by bullies for example. Most people have that urge at one time or another, but most never do it. I never did.

I can understand manslaughter (an accidental homicide) or revenge (premeditated), but I cannot fathom, then or now, the concept of wanting to go out and kill someone (especially a little girl) just to see what it feels like. I can't imagine where such a mentality comes from, and I can't imagine being able to 'rehabilitate' such an urge away. I can only compare it to pedophilia, which has absolutely been proven over the course of history to be 'rehabilitation-proof'. I know there are a few comments here pleading that the killer is only a 15 year old, and while I'm not a death penalty advocate, I just can't agree that she should ever be free while she's still young and strong enough to kill again.

Horrifying and psychopathic in nature... This is a terrible disaster for all, really beyond description.

I believe she should be tried as an adult-but protected in prison from the general population. The way juvenile laws are written, this young woman could be out of jail in 3 to 6 years. This is beyond imagination. The laws must be re written.

Yes, we are told by researchers that the brains of youth are still developing and this is a part of under-refined judgement.

However, this is a horrendous death for a nine year old at the hands of a probably very disturbed 15 year old. I would imagine the killer's life experiences have been horrendous, but I would NOT trust her for a second-even in prison. Years of therapy might help, but a true psychopath with the ability to out wit her prey is a nightmare, I feel.

I wouldn't say that the killers life must have been horrendous. We don't know that at all. Many young killers have come from very normal upbringings. I don't think it is fair to the victim to say that this 15 year old must have had horrendous life experiences.

I DO believe in 'the bad seed'. I think that is exactly what a sociopath is. I believe that babies are absolutely born with a personality. Life can impact kids of course, but a sociopath is a sociopath. period.

While I am conservative, I personally don't believe in the death penalty. but I believe in paying for your crime and this crime should land this cold-blooded killer in prison for the rest of her life. That is not cruel...though unusual. I just pray that the prosecutors for this case stay strong and do what is right.

Amen

Most interesting and for the most part I agree with a minor tweak. I am not sure that we can assume that ONLY the Christian approach can be successful. So, in that vein, I offer this thought:

• Societies and cultures can change. In the case of America's crisis of youth violence, the problem begins in the home. It is there that parents must learn about and then begin to foster a family culture based on sound moral values. Love, if it is genuine, always works.

This brings the issue to a broader religious/ethical base and surely, we as humans must seek to live and teach our children by a sound moral framework or we will continue to see these horrific events that we keep witnessing.

Lastly - an additional element of all this - since we are noting the role of the parents - is that we need to re-introduce the concept of discipline to our approach to parenting - and I am NOT talking about beating the living daylights out of the kids. I am talking about kids seeing and learning that there is a value to being disciplined - following the rules, treating people properly (as you would wish to be treated), living within your means, not simply going for the easy way. How in the heck are children going to learn how to be productive and upstanding people if they see their parents / businesses/ many people in the 24/7 news cycles being less than admirable? The kids learn what they see - and that applies no matter what religion (if one is on board with one but some spiritual/ethical guidepost) they see. But thanks for a thought provoking article.

While I agree with 90% of what you wrote Peggy, just because it is a Christan home does not make it all rosy. There are those Christan homes where extremists use the bible to beat their children into submission, and in turn create just as bad a problem. As I said while I agree with you on the break down of the family, ... it doesn't take only the 'Christan' attitude to fix the problem.

Bad behavior knows no and has no socio or economic base. Rich or poor, christian or not, single parent or two, generally children tend to view the world ascue who have parents who regard them as separate entities like adults or that the children are a liability.

I can remember a time when there was at least one parent accessible to the child or children at all times. With the surety of someone there, they were less likely to lose step. Now days with so many single family homes, it is near imposable for there to be that assurance, and for the single parent who 'can' instill that comfort to their child or children, my hat is off to you as you are in a small minority.

It takes a parent or parents to step out of the idea that kids are adults, and to actually be a parent and teach their children right from wrong.. PERIOD. Christian or Other, matters neither way. Wrong is Wrong.

I agree 100% that parents need to be better parents. However, I'm not with you about single parents who can raise good kids being in a "small minority". Do you have statistics to back up your statement?

I've been a single parent of three children for over 12 years (ever since my youngest was only 8 months old). I still have not remarried. Two of my children are adults now and are responsible, compassionate, well-rounded individuals. My children have two parents. The only difference in their situation as opposed to a two-parent household is that mom lives in one house, dad in another. Their father and I both have taught them that it matters what other people think and feel.

So, not only 'can' I as a single parent instill moral values, love and comfort to my children, I DID do so. I also have the pleasure of knowing many other single parents who have accomplished the same thing.

Single parents who raise good children are most likely in the small minority category. I'm sure there are parents like you who were able to spend the time and effort to be a good, loving parent. But frankly, many face different struggles that make it hard to pour that kind of attention on their children whether it is due to financial, or personal matters. And because of these factors, the children become victims of (whether intentional or unintentional) neglect. Especially in this fast paced society where other values are placed above family. So congratulate yourself. You have made a difference in this world :) And thank you on behalf of everyone!

I dunno I could be mistaken, as is typically the case with text messages, but you kinda come off as condescending. There is no evidence to support those claims as your statement is filled with logical fallicies, and also appears to have somewhat of a sarcastic closing to the statement. It is an unfair, uninformed opinion.

While I agree with your statement that many face struggles that make it hard to get by- it is not just the single parents that face that. Married households struggle with the same issues. The only reason we hear more about trouble in single family homes is because in a society where there is no sanctity in marriage, and relationships are disposable that's all we have left anymore.

Let's face it every few miles or so I see a billboard from some attorney offering low-cost fast divorces. Mix that in with the number of young people, and others who are just poppin' em out and I'd say you got more than a minority. They make up a huge percentage of the population! I somehow doubt that only a FEW kids out of that vast number turn out ok, and better kids come from "family" homes. Look at kids like the menendez brothers, and plenty of others that came from well-to-do "family" homes that are responsible for some grissly crimes of their own.

I myself spent quite a few years as a single mother prior to my marriage and I was an excellent mom. Still am! Mostly because I could never let what happened to me happen to my daughter. I've known many single mothers that qualify as being the same. Could I have done better? Well since I can't claim perfection, then yes will have to be my answer, but I think that applies to all of us =) Should my few shortcomings be misconstrued as neglect? It shouldn't.

I'm married now and my husband is in the Armed Forces. I've been a single mom again for the past 8 months. What's your solution for that one? I have a harder time now because we're military than I did when I was working as a therapist/ accnts. receivable clerk making almost nothing at both. Does this mean that at some point in our house my child is/ or was experiencing neglect? Kind of a grey area wouldn't you agree?

The bottom line is even married couples providing a "family environment" aren't perfect. They shouldn't get a cookie because they have a title, nor should they be regarded as more stable and less likely to produce a sociopath. As in my case (my abuse @ the hands of a wealthy, married couple) they are just as capable of neglect as any other type of household. They have shortcomings as well.

On a personal note from someone who has never had a "traditional family unit"- what is family anyway? I always thought it was the people who meant the most to you. They don't have to be blood to be family. The only traditional family I ever had abused me in unimaginable ways I care not to discuss here..Take from that what you will..

We're all just trying to live in this world and blame-shifting isn't going to solve the problem. That whole "focus on the family christian banter" NOT STARTED BY YOU though you certainly ended it- at least for me-has detracted from what this whole forum was actually about: A little girl getting brutally murdered at the hands of another child, and how it should be handled.

So she had a crappy childhood - so did I. I've done some stupid @!$%#, but I took responsibility, and I don't blame my parents for the stupid choices I've made. I never used my upbringing as an excuse for bad behaviour & I certainly never murdered anyone. She had no excuse either. She deserves to be in the general population with the rest of 'em. That little girl got no mercy -neither should she.

Point: Stop blame-shifting! Accountability is key!Setting a standard across the board that such atrocities will never be tolerated, and only the swiftest and harshest of punishments will be delivered should be where everyone's focus lies. We need a deterrent-not blame. Heat rises. Like the analogy, if we crack down on this from the bottom it can only work it's way up. Crack down on the adults, and children as adults-EQUALLY-and we may be nearer to a solution.

Hmmm.. sorry about that, I really didn't mean to sound condescending... I really was congratulating her. Parenting is THE toughest task. You're raising children for an imperceptible future. You can only hope that you've prepared them enough for the things to come.

And no, I did not mean to say only single parents face those troubles.. I just focused on single parents because I wanted to answer Angela's comment. Its true even married couples do face similar problems. But in most cases, it is easier to handle those things with someone by your side (unless it is a troubled marriage..as many seem to be these days). Yes everyone, whether alone or with a significant other, will face shortcomings.

Yes, I do think at one point or another, your children have/will face some form of neglect. Again neglect doesn't have to be intentional or to an extreme extent. One definition of neglect is: "To fail to care for or attend to properly". Haven't you had days where you weren't able to be as attentive to your children as you should have been because of other problems? As you said, no one is perfect. However, as long as you try your best as a parent, I don't see a problem arising from it.

Lastly, I am sorry you've had to face problems with your blood relatives. Although your past was unfortunate, it has made you a stronger person and someone your children should be very proud of.

Amen, Marie. I just read one comment accusing some of us of being just as violent and sick as this Alyssa person because we're for having her tried as an adult.

I'm really sorry she's turned out to be the kind of person she is. Obviously, her grandma -- and certainly her parents -- failed miserably. Alyssa was suicidal at a very young age. She needed help long before now.

Would any of us with young kids want someone like that to be on the streets or in our neighborhood?

Two wrongs do not make a right!!!!

I agree. Kids copy what they see and hear around them. Reading some of your comments, I wouldn't be surprised if your children (or future children, or nieces and nephews, or that kid down the block that you watch sometimes) were as violent and nasty as some of you seem to be. I believe that this girl commited a horrible wrong and deserves to be punished. I'm not sure if I agree with the death penalty in general, so I'm not going to say we need to execute the child, but she does deserve to be tried as an adult,  at the very least she needs a substantial prison sentence. She's a disturbed girl, and while in no way do I think that lets her off the hook, I think it needs to be taken into consideration that this girl needed help that she didn't get. It's too late now and another child will never get a chance to live her life, and while that is a horrible thing and everyone is indignant about it, what right have we to wish a violent death for another child out of anger and a misplaced sense of vengence? The situation isn't fair, and no parent should have to go through what the parents of either child is going through. My heart goes out to both families, and I hope the judge makes the right decision. Who would killing Alyssa help at this point? It won't bring Elizabeth back. It won't fix thing on either side. The only thing it would do is sooth the unjustified anger of people who have nothing to do with it. The fact that you could in good conscious say execute her or you hope that she gets killed in prison is in its own way just as sick as what she did.

Quote: "Who would killing Alyssa help at this point? It won't bring Elizabeth back. It won't fix thing on either side"

I can understand what you are saying, but in my opinion I'll tell you who it would help by killing Alyssa - it will help the future victims of this sociopathic teenager. As mentioned already, there is NO cure for sociopaths. It would also help the taxpayers who then would not have to help support this vicious, cold-blooded murderer for the rest of her life in prison and, I would imagine it would give some peace to Elizabeth's family, knowing their childs killer was punished the same way Alyssa punished Elizabeth.

I can understand what you are saying, but in my opinion I'll tell you who it would help by killing Alyssa - it will help the future victims of this sociopathic teenager

Okay... killing Alyssa is not going to help future victims. If she is tried as an adult, as she should be, then she will be in prison and thus not able to incur further victims.

I'm a parent of 3 children. My youngest is 4, then 6 and my oldest is 8 - a year younger then the victim. I can honestly say that I would be overtly hostile if one of my children were hurt and that is because they are mine. I can understand if the parents want tit for tat in this but I also know that it won't fill the void. there will be no easing of the pain if she's executed. Another life gone.

I also have to agree that some on the comments on here are down right telling of a society that breeds people like alyssa. "put her in with the sex offenders?" Come on people! I've raised and will continue to raise my children with the knowledge of right and wrong, of if you hurt someone you could kill them, that doing so is bad. My convictions come from a life long dream of wanting to become a police officer and wanting to hopefully get to kids like alyssa before they do these things and help them. maybe instead of blindly wishing harm you should step back and look at your own lives and how your being seen by children around you and try to change it. go out and teach a child, or just be there for one that's lost or misguided. but no... no one want to help before things go bad, they just want to raise the cross once its already done.

Thank you for bringing some thoughful reason to this discussion! Our culture of violence permeates every waking moment of our children's lives. Even as vigilant parents it is nearly impossible to keep your kids away from all the hate and violence that occurs daily in their lives and comes primarily from so-called 'responsible' adults. This girl will spend approximately 65 years in prison if tried as an adult. Clearly, 21 maybe too soon to be released, but 65 years? Yes, she took all those years away from her victim, but I believe that people can change with treatment and time. Neuroscientists have discovered that the human brain does not even completely finish developing until the age of 26 or 27 but our criminal justice system sounds like it is willing to return to the days of the Salem Witch trials. We have more people in prison than any country in the world and are building more prisons everyday! Obviously it isn't working! It is time that every one of us looks deep into our hearts and souls and considers what part our own hatred and anger has played in creating a society that is producing such violent children. It doesn't happen by accident, and aren't we supposed to be 'our brother's keeper'?

Not all 'life' sentences are just that. If Alyssa got out of prison in 25 years, she will still only be 40. Plenty of time left. Also, people get killed in prison.

I applaud your desire to help children but you have to realistically understand that as unfortunate as it may be, not all children can be rehabilitated. Particularly sociopaths - they may lie and 'get religion' in attempts to fool people that they are 'better', but these people are devoid of empathy, and unable to do anything but manipulate and connive in order to get what they want. Their sense of entitlement and feelings of superiority don't even allow them to understand they are mentally ill.

She is not 'lost' or 'misguided', she is evil, cunning and a cold-blooded killer. Lets stop the PC nonsence and realize, child, teenager, or adult - if you take a life you need, at the very least, to spend the rest of your life away from folks who deserve to be protected from you. We've seen quite enough of all the 'rehabilitated' criminals who simply repeat their choice of lifestyle when released from detention. The law 'puts down' vicious animals - what is different here?

thank you. let us hope that the judge and jury will try to be as fair and level-headed.

Yes I agree.....There is no rehabilitation for a sociopath at that age.... She will never be a feeling person. She needs to be removed permanently from society

There is not rehabilitation for a sociopath at ANY age! Wether they put her in jail or in a mental health facility I do not care, as long as she never gets out.