Elizabeth Olten's mom sues Pathways Behavioral over slaying JEFFERSON CITY, Mo., Oct. 29 (UPI) -- A Missouri woman is suing a private mental-health treatment company for allegedly failing to take steps to control a patient who killed her daughter. Patricia Preiss filed a wrongful death suit in Cole County last week over the 2009 slaying of her 9-year-old daughter, Elizabeth Olten, by a teenager who was under the care of Pathways Behavioral Healthcare. The suit contends Pathways was well aware of the disturbed behavior of Alyssa Bustamante, now 18, who was sentenced to life in prison in January. The suit alleges the center took no steps to have Bustamante locked up or to warn Preiss and her daughter Bustamante had made "specific, identifiable threats to harm Olten." The (Jefferson City) News-Tribune said a Pathways counselor testified at Bustamante's trial the teen had attempted suicide in the past and been considered a threat to herself but not to anyone else. Preiss earlier this month won a $400,000 judgment against Bustamante's grandparents, who were the girls legal guardians. The suit against Bustamante and Pathways seeks unspecified damages. Pathways declined immediate comment on the case.