Mo. teenager charged with killing neighbor, 9, seeks to move trial, claims residents biased

Mo. teen charged with murder says residents biased

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — An attorney for a Missouri teenager charged with killing a 9-year-old neighbor says his client’s trial should be moved because local residents are biased against her.

Fifteen-year-old Alyssa Bustamante is to be tried for murder in Cole County in the October death of Elizabeth Olten.

But Bustamante’s attorney says residents are so prejudiced against her that she cannot get a fair trial in Cole County. The change of venue motion cites online public comments made in response to news stories posted by newspapers in Jefferson City and New York City.

Authorities say Bustamante strangled Elizabeth, stabbed her and cut her throat because she wanted to know what it felt like to kill someone. She has pleaded not guilty.