MT - James Hurley, 12, tortured to death, W. Yellowstone, Feb 2020 grandparents & uncle arrested #1

[Trudie]

This is all speculation.....
I wonder if Uncle was the one threatening self harm, hearing voices, etc. Once James entered the family unit, was Uncle pissed if James got a snack or a soda? With his weight being out of control, did mom attempt to stifle his eating? Was it “all of the cookies are gone...no more for a week,” and out of rage and withdrawal Uncle turned maniacal? Sounds silly but a 14 yo obese boy is apt to fly off the handle over nothing, imo & be a very pathetic person emotionally.
It appears to me Grandpa was not as involved, although he was certainly aware of the abuse, so no excuses....absolutely none.
If James suffered from psychiatric problems possibly they were triggered by nightmares or ptsd. It would be difficult to sleep knowing a 300# monster armed with a paddle lurked nearby. (I don’t know Uncle but had nightmares after reading here.)
The sister/aunt....idk what to think. Why did she not call for help or alert a friend? She obviously was aware of the torture her nephew suffered. Was she so wrapped up in her life she was able to block what she witnessed & heard?
Did Uncle invite Gage to the discipline party to video him, hoping he would kill James or at least be blamed?

Anyone know if Gramps is employed by the BOE? I know he coached FB. In my state, a coach is employed by the school system.

I hope all 4 are most miserable tonight, wishing they had more food & a comfortable bed. Things James never knew in their home.

 

[Trudie]

Grandma (PB) was recorded choking James. Omg, why on earth was Uncle (I assume) recording her? I can only guess so he could use it against her?

Up until 09/19 James attended school. Idk when the school calendar begins in MT, here it is August. In any case, what prompted pulling James from school? I assume the torture inflicted upon him worsened from that point on.

 

[Dave F.]

I’m afraid Uncle’s status might revert to “minor”. Are you?

The Cowles Montana Television Network stations are confirming this evening that the 14 year old in this case has been charged as an adult with Deliberate Homicide (which in Montana can be the equivalent of Murder in First Degree). His defense still has an opportunity to argue for remanding it back to the juvenile system, but frankly the odds of it happening are quite slim IMO. IANAL
Teen charged as adult in death of 12-year-old West Yellowstone boy

 

[Dave F.]

This is all speculation.....
I wonder if Uncle was the one threatening self harm, hearing voices, etc. Once James entered the family unit, was Uncle pissed if James got a snack or a soda? With his weight being out of control, did mom attempt to stifle his eating? Was it “all of the cookies are gone...no more for a week,” and out of rage and withdrawal Uncle turned maniacal? Sounds silly but a 14 yo obese boy is apt to fly off the handle over nothing, imo & be a very pathetic person emotionally.
It appears to me Grandpa was not as involved, although he was certainly aware of the abuse, so no excuses....absolutely none.
If James suffered from psychiatric problems possibly they were triggered by nightmares or ptsd. It would be difficult to sleep knowing a 300# monster armed with a paddle lurked nearby. (I don’t know Uncle but had nightmares after reading here.)
The sister/aunt....idk what to think. Why did she not call for help or alert a friend? She obviously was aware of the torture her nephew suffered. Was she so wrapped up in her life she was able to block what she witnessed & heard?
Did Uncle invite Gage to the discipline party to video him, hoping he would kill James or at least be blamed?

Anyone know if Gramps is employed by the BOE? I know he coached FB. In my state, a coach is employed by the school system.

I hope all 4 are most miserable tonight, wishing they had more food & a comfortable bed. Things James never knew in their home.

The only paid employee of the West Yellowstone Wolverines football program is the varsity Head Coach, The eight other coaches of the varsity, plus the junior varsity and prep program coaches, are 100% volunteer. The varsity plays in Montana High School Class C, which is eight man football. IMO
Rankings - West Yellowstone Wolverines Football (Yellowstone, MT)

 

[Trudie]

The Cowles Montana Television Network stations are confirming this evening that the 14 year old in this case has been charged as an adult with Deliberate Homicide (which in Montana can be the equivalent of Murder in First Degree. His defense still has an opportunity to argue for remanding it back to the juvenile system, but frankly the odds of it happening are quite slim IMO. IANAL
Teen charged as adult in death of 12-year-old West Yellowstone boy

thanks @Dave F.
Do you know where James & Patricia worked?

 

[mickey2942]

Grandma (PB) was recorded choking James. Omg, why on earth was Uncle (I assume) recording her? I can only guess so he could use it against her?

Up until 09/19 James attended school. Idk when the school calendar begins in MT, here it is August. In any case, what prompted pulling James from school? I assume the torture inflicted upon him worsened from that point on.

I believe that is probably true. School starts at the end of August here.

There is absolutely no reason or justification for allowing anyone to be abused, or bullied. I just can't wrap my head around this situation. Adults allowed this behavior, and participated in this as well. I hope that they consider the death penalty for this case. They probably won't.

This abuse should not be condoned by society.

Death penalty in Montana, Capital crime, James was killed by torture, they have video evidence.

Capital punishment in Montana - Wikipedia

 

[Trudie]

They probably won't.

They must! Petitions are circulating! Find one & sign.
This is outrageous!

 

[mickey2942]

They must! Petitions are circulating! Find one & sign.
This is outrageous!

Gallatin county, is pretty liberal, mostly folks from other areas, younger folks, Montana State University. I don't see Gallatin county as being a death penalty crowd. That is Bozeman, the largest city in Gallatin county.

 

[Trudie]

Ugh.

Gallatin county, is pretty liberal, mostly folks from other areas, younger folks, Montana State University. I don't see Gallatin county as being a death penalty crowd. That is Bozeman, the largest city in Gallatin county.

 

[Trudie]

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I hope Gage is scared to death in the county jail. He’s young, naive, socially inept (imo), I hope he’s peeing his pants! He thinks he’s a bad .
Hopefully he will never have anything to smile about again.
I don’t want the DP for him. He’s young, LWOP is perfect, may he live a long, long life. Probably safer for him to be inside, his FB profile mentions his love of hunting, I think if free, he will be the hunted.

 

[ILikeToBendPages]

Marking my spot...that poor little boy. I'm still cringing since reading the report.

 

[Trudie]

I believe that is probably true. School starts at the end of August here.

I believe that is probably true. School starts at the end of August here.

There is absolutely no reason or justification for allowing anyone to be abused, or bullied. I just can't wrap my head around this situation. Adults allowed this behavior, and participated in this as well. I hope that they consider the death penalty for this case. They probably won't.

This abuse should not be condoned by society.

Death penalty in Montana, Capital crime, James was killed by torture, they have video evidence.

Capital punishment in Montana - Wikipedia

It would be most interesting to hear from his teacher. I wonder what precipitated pulling him out of school shortly after the calendar resumed? Possibly someone was afraid James might talk. Or, had he confided in a teacher that maybe spoke with one of the grands? Also, I’d like to know if James ever left the house, did he go to FB games, to the store or was he possibly locked up or otherwise restrained if everyone left the home? Looking at the house, it appears to have houses around it. He was old enough to run, given the opp’, imo. Since his FB was inactive I assume he had zero phone privileges. Thankfully his Uncle enjoyed a phone and was astute enough to chronicle events.

 

[NuttMegg]

Anyone have an idea why they were so intent on sleep depriving James?

 

[PinkPrincessPoop]

Let's try to reign in the politics a little, we don't want the thread closed.

 

[MimosaMornings]

When was the last time his mother actually saw James? Or any of his other many loved ones in his family? Was she physically prevented from seeing her son when she went to see him?

 

[mickey2942]

When was the last time his mother actually saw James? Or any of his other many loved ones in his family? Was she physically prevented from seeing her son when she went to see him?

I wish that we knew more about his story.

 

[Songbird1973]

As a genealogist, I too have tried to unravel James's family members without much success. I ABSOLUTELY can't find any death record for his father, except for a deactivated go****me page in his name. I can only read a few words of the "Story" in the description of the google search result, which is for a link on a local (West Yellowstone, MT) FB page. The actual Go****me page has no info on it anymore. Perhaps someone knows how to open an archived copy of a page like you used to be able to do, so we could read the whole "Story." The text I was able to read said: Tommy Tate Passed away unexpectedly January 2, 2018. Leaving behind a 10 year old son, family and friends. In 2014 Tommy was in a horrific 4 wheeler that left him paralyzed...

I did locate information on the suspects. Patricia Lynn Batts was born Sep 13, 1971. She had a child, James's father, at 16, on March 17, 1988 in Houston.

In 1992 she married in Houston and took the name Patricia Rone. This marriage was dissolved on Aug 17, 2005. Two children were involved, but it doesn't specify whether they are hers, his, or thiers.

On May 20, 2006, Patricia married James D. Sasser, Jr. in Liberty, TX. So the 14 yr old son (accused suspect) was likely born that same year. The 18 yr old (that PB claimed was hers and James's, at least she said they had three children together) would have been born when James and Patricia were each married to a previous spouse.

 

[Niner]

I guess there are no articles on "when" their arraignments will be?

@Songbird1973 - do you have birth date for James Jr & James III? TIA if you do!

 

[bears10]

As a genealogist, I too have tried to unravel James's family members without much success. I ABSOLUTELY can't find any death record for his father, except for a deactivated go****me page in his name. I can only read a few words of the "Story" in the description of the google search result, which is for a link on a local (West Yellowstone, MT) FB page. The actual Go****me page has no info on it anymore. Perhaps someone knows how to open an archived copy of a page like you used to be able to do, so we could read the whole "Story." The text I was able to read said: Tommy Tate Passed away unexpectedly January 2, 2018. Leaving behind a 10 year old son, family and friends. In 2014 Tommy was in a horrific 4 wheeler that left him paralyzed...

I did locate information on the suspects. Patricia Lynn Batts was born Sep 13, 1971. She had a child, James's father, at 16, on March 17, 1988 in Houston.

In 1992 she married in Houston and took the name Patricia Rone. This marriage was dissolved on Aug 17, 2005. Two children were involved, but it doesn't specify whether they are hers, his, or thiers.

On May 20, 2006, Patricia married James D. Sasser, Jr. in Liberty, TX. So the 14 yr old son (accused suspect) was likely born that same year. The 18 yr old (that PB claimed was hers and James's, at least she said they had three children together) would have been born when James and Patricia were each married to a previous spouse.

great finds. Regarding the fundraiser page, you can try putting the link in the wayback machine and see if any older versions of the page were archived.

 

[mickey2942]

Judge to consider trying 14-year-old as adult for West Yellowstone boy's death

Hearing on March 5th regarding James Sasser iii, determination regarding status as "adult".

More information in this article, regarding James Sasser jr, "Grandfather", who wanted to leave the house, as he was afraid if anyone found out how JH was treated, the six year old would be taken away.