Murderer At Age 15? Check.

As reported by Matthew Zarrell on the Nancy Grace website, linked to CNN, a 15-year-old girl by the name of Alyssa Bustmante will be charged as an adult in the case of the slaying and brutal murder of 9-year-old Elizabeth Olten. On November 18th, Bustmante was indicted by a Cole County Grady Jury "on charges of first degree murder and armed criminal action."

On October 21st, Elizabeth Olten, 9 years old, went missing. Bustmante is accused of slitting her throat, stabbing her multiple times, and strangling her. Thus, the charge of armed criminal action. Alledgedly, Bustmante used a knife in the horendous murder. On November 18th, Bustmante was charged as an adult and, if convicted, she could face life in prison with no parole. All at the young age of 15.

Of course a history of mental illness comes into question. No sane 15-year-old adolenscent murders a 9-year-old in the horrific manor as Bustmante is accused of. David Cook, a juvenile officer for the circuit court, "testified Bustmante spent 10 days at a mental health center after a suicide attempt." Since, she has been (thankfully) prescribbed prozac to help depression. Her oarents became conc erned when she began researching "Goth" but she soon stopped. Unsurprisingly, she tried to cut herself via her fingernails resulting in jail officials clipping her nails.

Could a 15-year-old have planned such a vicious crime? Sure. Sgt. David Rice, of the Missouri Highway Patrol, interviewed Bustmante and asked her mutiple questions about the murder. She confessed to digging two holes the Friday before the murder. Bustmante claims that she killed Olten "because she 'wanted to know what it felt like' to kill someone."

All I can think about is how awful for Elizabeth Olten's family. I was very pleased to read that Bustmante will be tried as an adult. In my opinion, killers often start young: killing animals and watching horror movies then onto humans and so forth. Of course she is young, but who's to say there wouldn't have been a next time or another helpless victim if she hadn't been caught? We can only hope that she doesn't slip between the cracks and become hospitolized for society's protection. Obviously, it was premeditated. Two holes were dug. She may not be sane but if she is old enough to kill another human being for sheer pleasure, she's more than old enough to facde the music and sit in jail for the rest of her life.

Thought Concentration Camps Were a Thing of the Past? Think Again

I was almost in tears as I read this devastating article on MSNBC.com reported by the Associated Press: Mom ran pet ‘concentration camp,’ son says.

Sharon McDonough is a widowed 43-year-old mother of seven, harmer of many. McDonough is accused "of running a house of horrors for pets at her suburban home, forcing her children to help torture them and burying at least 20 dogs in her backyard..." This is simply incredible to me. As to how anybody could ever cause harm to innocent, helpless animals is beyond me.

McDonough pleaded, ofcourse, not guilty to an embarrassing six counts of animal cruelty. She is accused of abusing five dogs and one cat. The poor animals were stored miserably in cages covered in feces and urine. As if that wasn't enough, their coats were matted with dirt. Fortunately, a judge has taken away custody of the woman's six daughters ages 18 months to 13 years.

Douglas, McDonough's 21-year-old son, turned his mother into authorities on November 5th. After his mother was arrested, he called the home they lived in "a concentration camp for the animals." He tales of the way the animals were treated was extremely hard to read and almost unbearable. "She would have the oldest kids hold down the dog while we duct-taped his mouth and she would hit him." He lated added that him and his sisters were forced to take part, against their will.

McDonough's unfortuante neighbors have feared the worse: that their missing pets could possibly be infact be very close to them. McDonough's suburban home is the site of 20 very shallow graves filled with dogs.

There is no excuse for any behaivor of this kind. Reason of insanity, in my opinion, can't even be a clausible plea for a crime like this. Whatever excuse this monster could come up with as to why events like these would ever be okay will probably never be known.

According to the Associated Press, "Since the dog carcasses were found, vandals have spray-painted "killer" on the garage and "guilty" on McDonough's mailbox." Along with other forms of vandalism, I have no doubt that this miserable excuse for a human being will be forever haunted by her unforgiveable actions.

Stop, Drop, Swim

When is it okay to set your "friend" on fire? According to 15-year-old Matthew Bent, apparently when he owes you $40 for a video game. On October 12, firefighter-paramedic Bobby Goss experienced "the worst call of his four-year career" says Rich Phillips, CNN reporter.

Goss was one of the first people on the gruesome scene. When Michael Brewer was attacked by five of his friends, his life would forever change. He is now burnt on over 65% of his teenage body. According to reports, Brewer was doused in alcohol and set on fire. When Brewer refused to pay the alleged $40 he owed Bent for a video game, "one of the teens -- 15-year-old Matthew Bent -- stole Brewer's father's bicycle."

But it didn't stop there. Brewer blamed Bent for the theft and police soon arrested him. Phillips reports that "The next day, Bent and four other teens found Brewer, authorities say, and surrounded him. Police say witnesses have told them that they called him a snitch before pouring alcohol on him and using a lighter to set him on fire."

Brewer then ran 100 yards to an apartment complex pool and jumped in, eliminating the flames. In my opinion, it is pretty safe to say that the pool saved Brewer's life. He was on a breathing venilator until Tuesday, and is now breathing successfully on his own after a month.

The five kids accused of this horrific crime are not getting away scott free. "Three of the five teens -- Denver Jarvis and Bent, both 15, and Jesus Mendez, 16 -- have been charged as adults with attempted second-degree murder..." They are currently being held without bail. Two other teens, one of whom is 13, are being charged as juveniles with aggravated battery. They may be charged as adultas as soon as prosecutors throughly investigate the case.

I find this extremely disturbing. It makes absolutely NO sense to me as to how ANYONE can think it's ever okay to set someone on fire for ANY reason. All five of these monsters should be tried as adults and be put away for the rest of their lives. They are only teenagers, who knows what they could possibly think of when they're adults. And over a video game? Really? What's going to happen when they get in a car accident or their girlfriend cheats on them or they're shorted change at a drive thru? It amazes me that anybody could ever think of setting somebody on fire as a way to solve their problem. I hope these five teenagers get everything they have coming to them.