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I don't even...I know we all see things in different ways, but what would posses someone to do this?! Sounds extraordinarily selfish in my opinion.

I don't know, maybe I was just shocked because the teenager was so young (15 at the time), but I just can't fathom how she could do this and think it was okay or even fun, for that matter.

Conjectures aplenty, but I suppose the sad truth is simply that the brain develops in many ways, some less marvelous than others. Afterall, another girl around the same age got accepted to MIT and launched the acceptance into space with a rocket (so I hear).

What always comes out to was where was the supervision?

"In her diary, she described the experience as "pretty enjoyable."

"I just want you guys to know that I really am sorry for everything," Bustamante said. "I know that words can never be enough and they can never adequately describe how horrible I feel."

Uhuh...I'm getting mixed messages here, unless they're forcing her to say those apologies.

EDIT: "I strangled them and slit their throat and stabbed them now they're dead," Bustamante wrote in her diary, which was read in court by a handwriting expert. "I don't know how to feel atm. It was ahmazing. As soon as you get over the 'ohmygawd I can't do this' feeling, it's pretty enjoyable. I'm kinda nervous and shaky though right now. Kay, I gotta go to church now ... lol."

What is...I just...

I know some people think children can't be psychopaths, but I personally think there are enough examples like this one to show it happens.

They may as well throw the switch now, because there's no rehabilitation for someone like this.

To be honest, I think there's just some people out there who are, for lack of a better term, bad people. Here's part of the proof.
There's no reform, no rehabilitation, no reasoning, no excuse, and no forgiveness for these kinds of people.

You can't blame external sources for this sort of thing, only the person's character.

There's an interesting book about a child murderer called "Cries Unheard: Why Children Kill: The Story of Mary Bell".

I agree completely. Apparently her mother now refuses to even call her her child. I probably would, too, in that situation.

In the D&D alignment system, she'd be Chaotic Evil for sure....... http://media.photobucket.com/image/rece ... -Chart.png

Her mother apparently stopped calling Alyssa Bustamante her child long before this happened:



I think the parents of Alyssa have as much to answer for, as the child herself. There are no supernatural forces at work here. It's a matter of irresponsible people having children who ought not to be having children in the first place.

-- Nephele

She might be descended from a whole line of chaotic evil.


Of course, that might as well just be the entire human race.

Ah, I see. I missed that part of the article. That would probably explain a lot.

Yet lots of children who go through that, don't end up committing thrill kills at 15.

Some even become productive, responsible members of society.

Lack of opportunity could be a factor.



By the time they're grown, sure. It could be that, in the years leading from a feral childhood into full adulthood, someone -- a teacher or friend -- came along who made a difference in their lives.

But I'm inclined to think that all children, when left to their own devices and not receiving the benefits of responsible parenting, are naturally pretty savage little beasts.

-- Nephele

Absolutely! That's what makes "Lord of the Flies" so believable, and disturbing.

Why couldn't she just become a stripper or a porn star like everyone else?

I think the little monster got what she deserved. She's a sociopath and I don't buy her apology for a minute. She did it to see how it felt, enjoyed it and is now sorry that she got caught.

Edited to add: Up until now I hadn't seen any photos of this girl, but she fits the physical stereotype of the female serial killer as I learned in one of my criminal justice classes. Spooky.

~spidey