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

[Trudie]

I still think that the family is going to try to make the "kill" on GR. But he got low bail, probably going to flip on the family.

He only has one assault charge, iirc. He did “fess up to LE and self identify as the person on video beating Alex. I’m afraid he will get 90 days or straight probation, so his time served might be it. Hope his loss of freedom leaves a bad taste in his mouth and he is afraid for the rest of his life, maybe then he’ll walk on the right side of the law.

 

[mickey2942]

Our family, like most families now, consists of steps, halfs, whatevers, and they are all treated equally. Same gifts, trips, celebrations.

It is evident that that is not consistent in all families. And what a shame. Children should have a right to live in a home that is safe, secure, and enriching.

Sounds like JAH never had that, anywhere.

 

[mickey2942]

One thing I think is Alex was nothing, absolutely nothing to JS. He is not Alex’s grandfather, he’s the significant other or husband to Alex’s grandma. Not all step relatives “care”. Perhaps JS “ignored” or had been told to mind his own biz. Remember, the daughter stated her dad contemplated leaving with the 6yo. Of course that would not have helped Alex. Another peculiar thing is JS rec’d texts from #3 that should have been addressed, like “I’m gonna kill him.” Why did JS tolerate #3 (his son) making threats. I wonder if everyone feared #3. Did he wear the pants in the family?
From previous links, bbm: Gage Roush, 18, was arrested and charged with felony assault of a minor and appeared in court in the Feb. 3 death of James Alex Hurley, the Bozeman Daily Chronicle reported.
After Hurley's death, investigators found video evidence indicating Roush, the boy's grandparents and 14-year-old uncle regularly abused him, authorities said. The autopsy found he had bruising all over his body and died from trauma to the head, prosecutors said.

Roush told detectives that he was the person in the video hitting Hurley, according to charging documents.

Roush could face up to 40 years in prison if convicted.
Fourth person charged in fatal beating of 12-year-old boy

GR's life in West Yellowstone is basically over. And most of Montana, this seems like a huge state, but if your name has been in the papers, you are "known".

He can hang out with Grandma, but I don't see much of a life for him in West Yellowstone. No matter how long he serves. This won't go away for him in a small town like that.

 

[Trudie]

Perfect! Not like he was arrested for shoplifting or DUI, he won’t serve 40 years, even if sentenced to 40. So imo, he should serve life in public opinion & always be known as the abusive man he is.

GR's life in West Yellowstone is basically over. And most of Montana, this seems like a huge state, but if your name has been in the papers, you are "known".

He can hang out with Grandma, but I don't see much of a life for him in West Yellowstone. No matter how long he serves. This won't go away for him in a small town like that.

 

[Trudie]

Gage R. is still in custody. Guess grandma & girlfriend can’t raise the 10% necessary to free him. I’m glad.

 

[mickey2942]

Gage R. is still in custody. Guess grandma & girlfriend can’t raise the 10% necessary to free him. I’m glad.

Interesting. Maybe they don't want to. His bail is only $50,000. If Grandma has a house, she could probably put it up, or get cash mortgage fairly quickly and easily.

Or wherever his parents are...they could kick in cash.

I am thinking that there is a problem, when your bond is only $5,000, and no one helps pay it.

 

[Trudie]

Grandma might be a bit apprehensive? I would leave him there, In fact if he lived with me, his things would be boxed & already in storage, I would never be able to look at him again. Pure evil at 18.

Interesting. Maybe they don't want to.

 

[mickey2942]

Grandma might be a bit apprehensive? I would leave him there, In fact if he lived with me, his things would be boxed & already in storage, I would never be able to look at him again. Pure evil at 18.

Our Mama always told us to never call her if we needed bail money. Fortunately, none of us ever did! Maybe because we heard that mantra all of the time!

 

[Trudie]

Our Mama always told us to never call her if we needed bail money. Fortunately, none of us ever did! Maybe because we heard that mantra all of the time!

Ditto! I’m on pins & needles anxiously awaiting the decision on #3–adult or child. It will be a closed door hearing, correct? Will his detention social worker have input? As in will SW come forward with 963 reasons he must be tried as a child?

 

[mickey2942]

Ditto! I’m on pins & needles anxiously awaiting the decision on #3–adult or child. It will be a closed door hearing, correct? Will his detention social worker have input? As in will SW come forward with 963 reasons he must be tried as a child?

I don't know. The kid really didn't have an opportunity to be "normal" in a family like that. In a way, he is a victim as well.

But, can he be successfully rehabilitated? I say, slim to none. He reminds me of Ed Kemper, ironically, also from Montana.

Ed Kemper killed his Grandparents when he was 15 years old, placed in a juvenile psychiatric facility, and let out at age 21. He is one of the serial killers who was in "Headhunters", FBI profiled him.
Edmund Kemper - Wikipedia

 

[Trudie]

Or wherever his parents are...they could kick in cash.

Idk if he has parents, I’m under the impression Grandma raised the “gentle giant”.

 

[Trudie]

I don't know. The kid really didn't have an opportunity to be "normal" in a family like that. In a way, he is a victim as well.

But, can he be successfully rehabilitated? I say, slim to none. He reminds me of Ed Kemper, ironically, also from Montana.

Ed Kemper killed his Grandparents when he was 15 years old, placed in a juvenile psychiatric facility, and let out at age 21. He is one of the serial killers who was in "Headhunters", FBI profiled him.
Edmund Kemper - Wikipedia

I understand he didn’t have a chance, I do think he enjoyed his status of “large & in charge” & maybe needed no encouragement to administer beatings to his nephew. Perhaps he felt he was helping his mom, idk.
I would never trust him, no matter how rehabilitated someone might claim him to be. Actually if he ended up on my street, I’d move. Jmo
Yes, very similar to EK! Yikes (I don’t think #3 has the high IQ.)

 

[Owutatangledweb]

I can't even put into words how disgusted I am by this. I've been following Gannon's case and THIS case blows my mind even more. The depravity is beyond words. The stupidity ... well most of you have already put that into words.

Rest In Peace little guy.

 

[mickey2942]

I understand he didn’t have a chance, I do think he enjoyed his status of “large & in charge” & maybe needed no encouragement to administer beatings to his nephew. Perhaps he felt he was helping his mom, idk.
I would never trust him, no matter how rehabilitated someone might claim him to be. Actually if he ended up on my street, I’d move. Jmo
Yes, very similar to EK! Yikes (I don’t think #3 has the high IQ.)

Yes, and probably the type of job that he could get would be long haul truck driving. Perfect life for a serial killer wannabe.

If he is put in prison until age 21, he gets out, with probably zero family support. Both of his parents would still be incarcerated. Pretty grim. Family support is crucial for juveniles getting out of prison. The statistics for recidivism are almost at 85-90% without stable family support after incarceration for juveniles.

 

[Dave F.]

He only has one assault charge, iirc. He did “fess up to LE and self identify as the person on video beating Alex. I’m afraid he will get 90 days or straight probation, so his time served might be it. Hope his loss of freedom leaves a bad taste in his mouth and he is afraid for the rest of his life, maybe then he’ll walk on the right side of the law.

GR is charged with felony assault, carrying a maximum sentence of twenty years, and a fine of up to $50,000 if he has the ability to pay.
Looking at similar violent cases, I think a felony assault conviction will result in at least a 60 month sentence. IMO IANAL
2011 Montana Code Annotated :: TITLE 45. CRIMES :: CHAPTER 5. OFFENSES AGAINST THE PERSON :: Part 2. Assault and Related Offenses :: 45-5-202. Aggravated assault.

 

[Yuletide]

I think if PB had know the number and nature of the videos sto

Interesting. Maybe they don't want to. His bail is only $50,000. If Grandma has a house, she could probably put it up, or get cash mortgage fairly quickly and easily.

Or wherever his parents are...they could kick in cash.

I am thinking that there is a problem, when your bond is only $5,000, and no one helps pay it.

I think that when Grandma and the girlfriend were initially interviewed, information was fairly limited. Now that the information has been distributed for all to see, it has become evident that the "gentle giant" that Grandma describes is on video beating a defenseless child who was being starved to death and tortured by the family that the "gentle giant" publicly defended. Bailing him out would be siding with him, and that's a position she has decided to avoid imo. I don't think PB or GR were aware that 3 had all of those videos stored. IMO

 

[Trudie]

GR is charged with felony assault, carrying a maximum sentence of twenty years, and a fine of up to $50,000 if he has the ability to pay.
Looking at similar violent cases, I think a felony assault conviction will result in at least a 60 month sentence. IMO IANAL
2011 Montana Code Annotated :: TITLE 45. CRIMES :: CHAPTER 5. OFFENSES AGAINST THE PERSON :: Part 2. Assault and Related Offenses :: 45-5-202. Aggravated assault.

A five year sentence might result in two years served.

 

[mickey2942]

I think if PB had know the number and nature of the videos sto


I think that when Grandma and the girlfriend were initially interviewed, information was fairly limited. Now that the information has been distributed for all to see, it has become evident that the "gentle giant" that Grandma describes is on video beating a defenseless child who was being starved to death and tortured by the family that the "gentle giant" publicly defended. Bailing him out would be siding with him, and that's a position she has decided to avoid imo. I don't think PB or GR were aware that 3 had all of those videos stored. IMO

Valid point. Grandma lives in West Yellowstone, and is probably having a difficult time being related to a man in jail for the most heinous crime in West Yellowstone in over half a century.

 

[Yuletide]

I don't know. The kid really didn't have an opportunity to be "normal" in a family like that. In a way, he is a victim as well.

But, can he be successfully rehabilitated? I say, slim to none. He reminds me of Ed Kemper, ironically, also from Montana.

Ed Kemper killed his Grandparents when he was 15 years old, placed in a juvenile psychiatric facility, and let out at age 21. He is one of the serial killers who was in "Headhunters", FBI profiled him.
Edmund Kemper - Wikipedia

Clearly, the 14 year old was not raised properly. Most young people, recognize the disadvantage of a huge size difference in an altercation. Most would not engage a person 1/3 their size in a fight. Those that cannot process this factual data have seen, heard and done enough in their short lifetime to block out the normal brain functions that create sensible human beings. In short, I don't think he can be rehabilitated. I think he's broken beyond repair. There are plenty of people that were raised in horrible environments that do not act this way because they made a conscious decision to break that cycle.

 

[mickey2942]

Clearly, the 14 year old was not raised properly. Most young people, recognize the disadvantage of a huge size difference in an altercation. Most would not engage a person 1/3 their size in a fight. Those that cannot process this factual data have seen, heard and done enough in their short lifetime to block out the normal brain functions that create sensible human beings. In short, I don't think he can be rehabilitated. I think he's broken beyond repair. There are plenty of people that were raised in horrible environments that do not act this way because they made a conscious decision to break that cycle.

Completely agree. I always go back to a young man I met on a Navajo reservation. He was the most fantastic person I have ever met. At age 12, he converted to the LDS church, his entire family is a story of dysfunction. But, he never drank alcohol, kept away from trouble, went to college, an LDS mission.

At age 12, this young man, made a conscious decision to take a different path in his life. And did it completely on his own. He never strayed from his goals. People, even children, can choose the life they want to live. #3 and his friend GR, chose their path.