A 16 year old Cole County girl will go on trial next spring for the murder of her 9 year old neighbor. 

Alyssa Bustamante had her trial date set yesterday by Cole County Circuit Judge Patricia Joyce.  The Cole County teen will face first degree murder charges on May 16^th of 2011 in the October 2009 death of 9 year old Elizabeth Olten.  Olten’s body was found in a pre dug grave in a wooded area near St. Martins after Bustamante confessed to the killings.  Bustamante said in her confession to police that she wanted to feel what it was like to kill someone.  Also at yesterday’s hearing Judge Joyce stood behind her initial ruling that the 16 year old could not have continuing education classes provided while she was in jail.  The 16 year old has been allowed access to a book that will allow her to get her high school equivalency.  The next hearing in the case is not scheduled until October.