In a closed court hearing yesterday, evidence was taken in a Central Missouri murder case involving a teenager and a little girl. Alyssa Bustamante is accused of killing 9-year-old Elizabeth Olten in the woods in the fall of 2009. Bustamante was 15 at the time.
Prosecutor Mark Richardson says Judge Pat Joyce has taken a motion to suppress evidence under advisement.
(AUDIO) Richardson tells the Missourinet a ruling won’t be issued for at least 20 days
Media was blocked from the hearing, which called forward two sources to testify. One was Highway Patrol Investigator David Rice; the other was Tobie Meyer, a staff member at the Prenger Family Center in Jefferson City. Bustamante spent time at the Prenger Center after she was arrested for murder.
View documents filed in court on March 16: Bustamante Motion to Suppress and Bustamante Judge’s Docket Entry
Her defense attorneys are asking that her disclosures during the initial interrogation be suppressed — including the alleged confession to law enforcement officers that she murdered Olten because she wanted to know what it was like to kill someone — on the basis that no parent, legal guardian or juvenile officer was present. Bustamante’s defense contends that her statements were coerced and were not voluntary.
Bustamante’s defense has submitted a list of witnesses. Her defense lawyers have told the court they have evidence — books, papers, photos and other objects — that could be introduced at trial.
Trial is set for June in Cole County — a jury is being brought in from Springfield.
For photos and backround, visit KRCG’s website at http://www.connectmidmissouri.com/news/story.aspx?id=591777.