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

[Yuletide]

Like “the family that tortures together stays together.”
I consider Alex tortured by all of the adults, even if not physically tortured. Doing nothing added to the emotional torture.

I absolutely agree. Sometimes all a person needs is to know one person cares about them, and that gives them the strength to see to their own well being.

 

[Trudie]

Every morning I hope to see a local posting info that one or more of the dirty trio took a deal for LWOP, to avoid DP.
Realistically, I know it is too soon.

 

[Dave F.]

Every morning I hope to see a local posting info that one or more of the dirty trio took a deal for LWOP, to avoid DP.
Realistically, I know it is too soon.

While the DP is possible, it is not likely. Just seven days ago, sentencing was handed down in Gallatin county's latest prior domestic homicide...........220 years and no possibility of parole. Something along those lines is far more likely IMO.

Prosecutor discusses guilty verdict in Bozeman murder trial

'Outrageous, intolerable:' Joseph Paul DeWise hears from woman he shot at sentencing

 

[Yuletide]

I don’t foresee a death penalty in this case. As with all group crimes, it’s difficult to prove who inflicted the fatal injury with so many contributing to the abuse. I would be satisfied with life without parole. I pray their 6 year old lands in loving hands and is raised properly, and grows to overcome his early years.

 

[Trudie]

While the DP is possible, it is not likely. Just seven days ago, sentencing was handed down in Gallatin county's latest prior domestic homicide...........220 years and no possibility of parole. Something along those lines is far more likely IMO.

Prosecutor discusses guilty verdict in Bozeman murder trial

'Outrageous, intolerable:' Joseph Paul DeWise hears from woman he shot at sentencing

Sounds perfect! Give them all a lifetime supply of vinegar to clean prison walls & floors.

 

[Trudie]

I don’t foresee a death penalty in this case. As with all group crimes, it’s difficult to prove who inflicted the fatal injury with so many contributing to the abuse. I would be satisfied with life without parole. I pray their 6 year old lands in loving hands and is raised properly, and grows to overcome his early years.

The chances he will be raised by his sister is great, imo.

 

[mickey2942]

The chances he will be raised by his sister is great, imo.

Terrible. The 18 year old woman is as messed up as the rest of the family.

The 18 yo would always resent the 6 yo, she wouldn't be able to do the same things as her friends. He would be better off in foster care or with an older family member. Maybe an aunt or uncle, brother or sister of parents.

 

[Yuletide]

The chances he will be raised by his sister is great, imo.

I certainly hope that is not the case. She needs help in overcoming her environment also. Had she reached out to authorities to assist Alex, I might feel differently

 

[Yuletide]

The chances he will be raised by his sister is great, imo.

I certainly hope that is not the case. She needs help in overcoming her environment also. Had she reached out to authorities to assist Alex, I might feel differently

 

[Niner]

Well 220 years sounds good for all of them!

Any news on their next court dates? The court site hasn't changed for any of the adults. I know JS3 is on 3/5.
TIA!

 

[Dave F.]

The chances he will be raised by his sister is great, imo.

The 6 yo is undoubtedly in temporary foster care under the supervision of the Montana DPHHS. They are not likely to give custody to an 18 yo under any circumstances, without a judge's order. IMO

 

[Trudie]

The 6 yo is undoubtedly in temporary foster care under the supervision of the Montana DPHHS. They are not likely to give custody to an 18 yo under any circumstances, without a judge's order. IMO

Really? As next of kin, of legal age, I would expect she would be appointed guardian. I doubt she would want to be bothered but I do think PB wishes for the 6yo to remain under her control, so to speak.

 

[mickey2942]

Really? As next of kin, of legal age, I would expect she would be appointed guardian. I doubt she would want to be bothered but I do think PB wishes for the 6yo to remain under her control, so to speak.

No, it is based on assessment. If a worker had any doubts, if the 18 yo petitioned, it would go to a judge. Who would make a decision based on the assessment, unless there are extraordinary circumstances, the 6 yo is going to go to older adults in the family, if they want him, or foster care.

I wouldn't want that child as a foster child. It would be all sorts of messed up, because I doubt that the parents would release him for adoption. The Social Worker would probably have to take him to arranged family unity meetings with the parents in prison. And the kid comes back, with all sorts of anger management issues.

Unless a judge ordered the family unity meetings off, based on assessment. That kid would be more drama than it is worth, with potential visits with the 18 yo sister, if she even shows up.

Doing foster care is great, as long as the parents and other family members are out of the picture. The kids are no problem. It is dealing with the other family members who are full of drama.

 

[Diet_Slushie_Monster]

Wow. So in 2012 when Alex was 5 years old, it’s a surprise that he is Tommy’s son.

I’m guessing Mr Hurley had been present in his life up until that time and not afterwards.

Wondering how his parents met if one lived in Texas and the other in Montana. And when did Alex first meet his dad and did he visit regularly from 2012 to 2018?

JMO

That is correct. It was not suspected that Alex would be anyone else's son until the paternity test came back as not a match to the long term S.O.
Also correct. Mr. Hurley was present in his life up until 2013. It was a very emotionally charged period in time and we all decided that we didn't want to confuse Alex further, so contact was slowly cut back with Mr. Hurley while Tommy stepped in more regularly. Tommy was a wonderful father to Alex after he found out he was his biological son and truly stepped up to the plate.
Tommy is from Texas. His mother only recently moved to Montana in the last 13 years or so.
Alex met his dad the first time almost immediately upon the paternity test results as that was the best thing for Alex. Tommy had unrestrained access to Alex as there were no formal custody arrangements so he saw him regularly until Tommy relocated to Montana. It was explained to Alex in age appropriate ways what the situation was. He adjusted quite well to the change, as most young children do. Tommy and Alex were extremely close from what I know.

 

[Diet_Slushie_Monster]

Interesting. So Alicia was able to subpoena or otherwise legally obtain the DNA of Tommy Tate for the paternity test? He was in Montana at the time?

It was actually a lot easier than that. Alicia just simply explained the situation to Tommy and he offered to take the DNA test. Tommy was living in Texas during this time.

 

[Yuletide]

No, it is based on assessment. If a worker had any doubts, if the 18 yo petitioned, it would go to a judge. Who would make a decision based on the assessment, unless there are extraordinary circumstances, the 6 yo is going to go to older adults in the family, if they want him, or foster care.

I wouldn't want that child as a foster child. It would be all sorts of messed up, because I doubt that the parents would release him for adoption. The Social Worker would probably have to take him to arranged family unity meetings with the parents in prison. And the kid comes back, with all sorts of anger management issues.

Unless a judge ordered the family unity meetings off, based on assessment. That kid would be more drama than it is worth, with potential visits with the 18 yo sister, if she even shows up.

Doing foster care is great, as long as the parents and other family members are out of the picture. The kids are no problem. It is dealing with the other family members who are full of drama.

No, it is based on assessment. If a worker had any doubts, if the 18 yo petitioned, it would go to a judge. Who would make a decision based on the assessment, unless there are extraordinary circumstances, the 6 yo is going to go to older adults in the family, if they want him, or foster care.

I wouldn't want that child as a foster child. It would be all sorts of messed up, because I doubt that the parents would release him for adoption. The Social Worker would probably have to take him to arranged family unity meetings with the parents in prison. And the kid comes back, with all sorts of anger management issues.

Unless a judge ordered the family unity meetings off, based on assessment. That kid would be more drama than it is worth, with potential visits with the 18 yo sister, if she even shows up.

Doing foster care is great, as long as the parents and other family members are out of the picture. The kids are no problem. It is dealing with the other family members who are full of drama.

Agreed. Fostering with bio parents is 1 step forward three steps back. Best situation is under three years old, adopt them and raise them as your own. That’s what we did with 2. Of course, they know the truth, but they were never torn or put in a situation they weren’t able to understand.

 

[Diet_Slushie_Monster]

Did Tommy and Alex live with the Sassers before Tommy died? Did Tommy have another family, with other offspring? I understood that Alex went to live with the Sassers after Tommy died, so you are saying that Tommy and Alex actually lived with the Sassers before Tommy died?

MOO
Tommy actually lived with a girlfriend for awhile when he was in Montana from what I've been told. Alex was placed with the Sasser Sadists during Tommy's many hospitalizations and unfortunately Tommy passed away during one of these hospital stays. Alex was meant to come home after Tommy's funeral but that did not happen for various reasons.

I did not personally know Tommy, but we ran the same circles, so I don't know if he had other children aside from Alex. I believe he may have had a daughter but I can't say that for sure.

 

[Diet_Slushie_Monster]

Thank you @Diet_Slushie_Monster
Welcome!

Children? Alex had siblings? I can see visiting his bio dad for the summer but to go to Montana and live with people he had never met and he found out his bio dad was someone else - as an adult I would be terribly upset much less as a child.

JMO
Yes, Alex has an older sibling through his mother. He had many brothers and sisters through his family name. Alex did do a small visit at first before it was decided he could stay longer. Alex had known Tommy was his father since he was 5 so by the time he moved to Montana, they weren't strangers. It was only agreed to let Alex stay so that he could spend more time with his father and it was well known Tommy was not well and would not have very long left.

 

[mickey2942]

Agreed. Fostering with bio parents is 1 step forward three steps back. Best situation is under three years old, adopt them and raise them as your own. That’s what we did with 2. Of course, they know the truth, but they were never torn or put in a situation they weren’t able to understand.

By the time the paperwork gets straight, the 6 yo could be going on 9. Just too much in this little guy's life.

Best scenario, is if there is some normal people in this family, Aunt, with kids, cousins, that he could live with and hopefully out of state.

I am not a fan of children visiting parents in prison. And these particular parents, might very well have their parental rights terminated anyway by the court. After all, a minor child was abused, tortured and killed while in their custody.

Who knows what horrors this 6 yo has been exposed to...

 

[Yuletide]

MOO
Tommy actually lived with a girlfriend for awhile when he was in Montana from what I've been told. Alex was placed with the Sasser Sadists during Tommy's many hospitalizations and unfortunately Tommy passed away during one of these hospital stays. Alex was meant to come home after Tommy's funeral but that did not happen for various reasons.

I did not personally know Tommy, but we ran the same circles, so I don't know if he had other children aside from Alex. I believe he may have had a daughter but I can't say that for sure.

What were the various reasons he could not return to his mother?