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

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  • #781
@NuttMegg - any local news about Madison's arrest? I searched over here (Europe) but that is the only article that is coming up.
Here is one more article which says something that occurred to me, maybe her arrest wasn't related to Alex. There are a couple of posters from Montana, maybe they know more. I see just 2 articles in my google search.

"Sasser was arrested in Conroe on Thursday afternoon. A warrant was issued for her arrest less than an hour beforehand, though it is unclear which law enforcement agency issued the warrant or if it's related to the case in West Yellowstone."
Teen aunt of murdered West Yellowstone boy arrested on fugitive charges in Texas
 
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  • #782
Dang - can't access that article....

Oh - well - I'm sure we will hear more! :)
 
  • #783
Dang - can't access that article....

Oh - well - I'm sure we will hear more! :)
Teen aunt of murdered West Yellowstone boy arrested on fugitive charges in Texas
BOZEMAN, Mont. - The aunt of James Alex Hurley, the 12-year-old boy murdered last month in West Yellowstone, has been arrested as an out-of-state fugitive in Texas.

Montana Right Now confirmed that Madison Sasser, 18, is being held in the Montgomery County Jail in Conroe, Texas.

Sasser was arrested in Conroe on Thursday afternoon. A warrant was issued for her arrest less than an hour beforehand, though it is unclear which law enforcement agency issued the warrant or if it's related to the case in West Yellowstone.

Sasser is the paternal aunt of James "Alex" Hurley, who was killed in February. Prosecutors allege Alex endured years of torture and abuse at the hands of his grandparents - James Sasser Jr. and Patricia Batts - and 14-year-old uncle. All three of those family members are being held on homicide charges related to the 12-year-old's death.

Alex's father died around two years before his son's death, while his mother lived in Texas. Court documents say that his mother had made multiple attempts to contact Alex before his death, attempts that were allegedly blocked by Batts.

Alex was described by teachers and classmates as a friendly, outgoing boy who always knew how to put a smile on people's faces.

This is a developing story and will be updated as we learn more.
 
  • #784
  • #785
The Montgomery County Jail roster confirms MS is being held.

Jail Roster
 
  • #786
Well, that is interesting news. I kept checking Gallatin county detention for her name to show up. She is as culpable as the rest of this clan.

This is the entire article from the Bozeman Daily Chronicle.

Woman arrested in connection to death of West Yellowstone boy

An 18-year-old woman was arrested in Texas in connection to the beating and torturing to death of her 12-year-old nephew at their home near West Yellowstone.

Madison Sasser was arrested Thursday in Conroe, Texas, on a warrant accusing her of negligent homicide in the death of Alex Hurley. The warrant set her bail at $150,000. She is being held at the Montgomery County jail in Texas.

Madison’s parents, James Sasser Jr. and Patricia Batts, and 14-year-old brother, James Sasser III, are each charged with felony deliberate homicide. Gage Roush, 18, is charged with felony assault on a minor after prosecutors said he was seen on video hitting the boy with a wooden paddle.
 
  • #787
So MS took off to Texas - thinking refuge at relatives? Sad that MS was able to make her way there but his mom never made her way to Alex over a two year time period after his father died. Why did MS hate Alex so much?
It’s hard for me to understand that hatred.
 
  • #788
Aunt of dead West Yellowstone boy arrested in Texas

Posted: 8:08 PM, Mar 19, 2020
Updated: 4:23 AM, Mar 20, 2020

The aunt of a 12-year-old boy who was reportedly tortured and beaten to death in February in West Yellowstone has been arrested in Texas.

MTN News confirmed that Madison Sasser, 18, is jailed in Conroe Texas, being held on an out-of-state fugitive warrant.
[.....]
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.


Wonder what this is about - "out-of-state fugitive warrant"???
Did she flee MT to TX to avoid arrest?
 
  • #789
Wow. I was thinking that perhaps they didn't arrest her because maybe she had been 17, like the time where she and others allegedly chased Alex outside. Maybe she had been told not to leave Montana, not sure how that works.
“Fugitive” would imply she was already arrested and fled, right? Or not? I’m thinking of “fugitive from justice”.
 
  • #790
So MS took off to Texas - thinking refuge at relatives? Sad that MS was able to make her way there but his mom never made her way to Alex over a two year time period after his father died. Why did MS hate Alex so much?
It’s hard for me to understand that hatred.
Madison’s step siblings live in TX. Wonder if she went to them?
The MT house will ultimately enter foreclosure, imo....but when? Due to covid, foreclosure might be delayed.
 
  • #791
MS is charged with Negligent Homicide (MCA 45-5-104), held on $150,000 bail.
Negligent homicide carries a maximum penalty of twenty years and/or a fine of up to $50,000.

Woman arrested in connection to death of West Yellowstone boy

45-5-104. Negligent homicide, MCA
I’m glad to hear this. It is quite sad, MS was a cute, young woman, probably ready to graduate high school and venture into adulthood. Now, she’s a disheveled, frumpy 18 year old, with a grim future.
@Dave F. Is this a ploy by LE to extract guilty pleas from James & Pat? You know, if mom & dad plead, precious daughter walks.
With the Covid issue, Madison might be stuck in TX for a minute. Sounds like Covid is hitting the jails/prisons hard.

I see no one bailed Gage yet. He remains on the Gallatin roster.
 
  • #792
@mickey2942 do you think Madison was advised to remain in MT, but fled? Idk if they can request someone to remain in state, if not charged. There was confusion at the onset as to whether she’d been arrested or not, remember?
 
  • #793
Glad that Madison is incarcerated. Sad, though, as she wasn't raised right. She is a perpetrator, but also a victim. The evil of Batts.

I don't know what to think.
 
  • #794
@mickey2942 do you think Madison was advised to remain in MT, but fled? Idk if they can request someone to remain in state, if not charged. There was confusion at the onset as to whether she’d been arrested or not, remember?

She was probably told to stay in Montana. And she fled.

I was pretty sure that it was a matter of time before she was arrested. Probably Gage flipped on her, and those nieghbors who saw her abusing JAH.
 
  • #795
She was probably told to stay in Montana. And she fled.
Idk if she was a senior, but I had hoped she could at least finish school. But, how could she? What a huge distraction she would have been.
I just don’t know if a state can put a “hold” on someone that’s not charged, imo they can’t.
But, once they collected enough info/evidence, issuing a fugitive warrant is the norm, imo. She couldn’t get far, if she did try to run. No street smarts or money.
I hope she gets at least 20 years & serves a minimum of 10.
She needs to mature before she has kids of her own.
 
  • #796
Idk if she was a senior, but I had hoped she could at least finish school. But, how could she? What a huge distraction she would have been.
I just don’t know if a state can put a “hold” on someone that’s not charged, imo they can’t.
But, once they collected enough info/evidence, issuing a fugitive warrant is the norm, imo. She couldn’t get far, if she did try to run. No street smarts or money.
I hope she gets at least 20 years & serves a minimum of 10.
She needs to mature before she has kids of her own.

In Montana, she would have been required to stay in school until she turned 18 or graduated from high school. She has a full sister, who is 10 years older, living in Conroe. I believe she was arrested at her sister's home. A "fugitive warrant" is standard procedure for Montana extraditions. It would have been issued that way under any circumstances.
I believe that the charge is appropriate for what it has been described that she did, but the severity of her involvement should merit sentencing in the upper range. My guess is that she will be sentenced to twenty years, possibly with some of it suspended (converted from jail time to parole time). One way or the other, I believe she will be seeing Montana Corrections personnel regularly for twenty years. JMO, IANAL
 
  • #797
She was probably told to stay in Montana. And she fled.

I was pretty sure that it was a matter of time before she was arrested. Probably Gage flipped on her, and those nieghbors who saw her abusing JAH.

I seem to remember that LE took possession of ALL of their phones on the first night of the investigation. I don't think they needed Gage to flip on anybody except himself, and he did a really good job of that without coaching. IMO
 
  • #798
Madison’s step siblings live in TX. Wonder if she went to them?
The MT house will ultimately enter foreclosure, imo....but when? Due to covid, foreclosure might be delayed.

A mortgage holder has the right, in Montana, to begin foreclosure due to imminent risk from the house being jeopardized as a murder scene. It takes a year or more for any residence foreclosure, and it cannot be used while it is being held in evidence, although title can still transfer. Judging by the condition of the house in news photos, the stigma of a horrible crime, and the generally poor housing market exacerbated by the sudden downturn of the economy; there is very little possibility of a "good sale". IMO
 
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  • #799
A mortgage holder has the right, in Montana, to begin foreclosure due to imminent risk from the house being jeopardized as a murder scene. It takes a year or more for any residence foreclosure, and it cannot be used while it is being held in evidence, although title can still transfer. Judging by the condition of the house in news photos, the stigma of a horrible crime, and the generally poor housing market exacerbated by the sudden downturn of the economy; there is very little possibility of a "good sale". IMO
Tysm @Dave F. I guess the pics of the house must be from the original listing, it looked very well maintained. Iirc, the valuation increased dramatically since JS purchased it.
 
  • #800
In Montana, she would have been required to stay in school until she turned 18 or graduated from high school.
she could quit at 18, right? After participating in a horrific murder in her family home, I doubt the school district wanted her to attend. Jmo. Hopefully she has plenty of time to work on her GED.....

I seem to remember that LE took possession of ALL of their phones on the first night of the investigation.
Yes, per the first reports. She had actually texted a friend/s “I think my bro already killed him”, or similar.
I’m sure Auntie MS is terrified & spending most of her time in county lockup sobbing. You know, terrified like Alex was.
I’m concerned the time actually served in MT is very minimal compared to the imposed sentence.
The most delicious factor in this is mom & dad can really offer no help to their wayward children, without digging their own holes even deeper.
How great would it be to be in Madison’s head? Or Pat’s?
Do either realize the deep manure they are in?
Not that long ago MS was a “little girl”. Now, she’s a homicide suspect. Talk about a dysfunctional family.
Can MT even provide enough pro bono counsel for one family?
 
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