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

[Trudie]

@Trudie I could not find anything either. Looking for his full proper name. Will update please let me know if you find anything. There's very little background info I can find. Thanks in advance, this should never have gone as far as James being in danger. Heartbreaking

Will do, I’ll be back later to resume my search. I linked the jail site above, I know a few wanted ages for the murderers. I can’t call them grandparents, as grands don’t starve, torture & ultimately kill their grandkids.

 

[bears10]

Complaint and Supporting Documents combined.pdf

Link to the affidavit. Apologies if it’s been posted already. I only read a few pages which had info we already knew, but it still felt sick reading it, so idk if I’ll read any more.

 

[Trudie]

Oh

Complaint and Supporting Documents combined.pdf

Link to the affidavit. Apologies if it’s been posted already. I only read a few pages which had info we already knew, but it still felt sick reading it, so idk if I’ll read any more.

tysm, I’ll have to read after my coffee settles and I get some toast in my stomach. Cases like this seem far worse than an abduction-immediate murder as the torture goes on for months, if not longer.
Again, it sounds like James lived with savage animals.

Anyone have a photo of the “hell hole”, referred to as “home”? I only saw one, it looked okay on the inside.

I hope the arrested never get out of prison & I hope they never get commissary money so they too might experience hunger. Moo

 

[bears10]

Oh
tysm, I’ll have to read after my coffee settles and I get some toast in my stomach. Cases like this seem far worse than an abduction-immediate murder as the torture goes on for months, if not longer.
Again, it sounds like James lived with savage animals.

Anyone have a photo of the “hell hole”, referred to as “home”? I only saw one, it looked okay on the inside.

I hope the arrested never get out of prison & I hope they never get commissary money so they too might experience hunger. Moo

I was actually just looking at a real estate listing of the home from 2014. I am not sure if it’s okay to post, but it’s pretty early on in google search results.

 

[Trudie]

Yes, you can post it as long as you are certain it is the place.
If by any chance it isn’t, you can delete your post. Ty
I’m not a mod, obviously.

 

[SaguaroSpirit]

JoAnne Cunningham had horrific videos on her phone revealing exactly what her poor son, AJ Freund endured.
Yes, why? Do they derive so much pleasure from torturing a child they wish to view it repeatedly? Surely one does not send the video to anyone. Smh

Are these creatures even human?

 

[Trudie]

Are these creatures even human?

Good question! I think not.
Even more pathetic is they taught their son such inappropriate behavior. At 300#, he should have never put his hands on anyone.

 

[Luckyzmom]

Thanks all ! Appreciate it

 

[Trudie]

I was actually just looking at a real estate listing of the home from 2014. I am not sure if it’s okay to post, but it’s pretty early on in google search results.

@bears10 found this info, the previous listing for the dwelling previously referred to as “home”. Cool place, how can anyone live with such a magnificent view in their backyard be so evil?

325 Buffalo Dr, West Yellowstone, MT 59758 - realtor.com®

 

[Trudie]

Butts reportedly claimed Hurley’s behavior became erratic following his father’s death. She said he started drinking alcohol and was stealing items from them and stores, according to the news station.

Documents stated that the grandparents and uncle all claimed Hurley mentioned hearing voices and was seen self-harming on multiple instances. They also alleged that the boy was suicidal.

Teen uncle & grandparents beat, torture little boy until he dies on living room floor: Prosecutors

how did he get liquor?

can anyone help me understand the names? Are these maternal or paternal relatives?
Per article, James H moved in with these beasts after his dad died. Bbm: The father died two years earlier, resulting in Hurley moving in with his other relatives.

 

[Trudie]

Where is James Sasser II? If grandpa is JS & uncle is JS3 is there another JS? I’m losing my mind.....

gotcha, Grandpa is II or Jr, so the big bad boy is III!

if Grandpa is 47, Tommy was very young when he passed, and he fathered James at a young age. Moo

I wonder if James had any of the symptoms/conditions the murderers claim or if they lied thinking LE would justify their abuse?

 

[MimosaMornings]

James Alexander Hurley

“many more uncles, aunts and cousins who loved him dearly.”

Wishing one of them had taken James into their home instead.

I noticed he had both ears pierced in the picture.

 

[MimosaMornings]

Where is James Sasser II? If grandpa is JS & uncle is JS3 is there another JS? I’m losing my mind.....

There are so many different last names it is difficult to figure out James family tree.

 

[lonetraveler]

Are these creatures even human?

This case is so disgusting that I'm not sure how long I will be following it. I don't know what you can call them. Animals don't torture their young, but apparently some humans do. "Monsters" seems appropriate, IMO.

 

[redabby]

There are so many different last names it is difficult to figure out James family tree.

I also cannot get a handle on this family I don't know why they have so many different surnames and another set of grandparents are mentioned in the orbit so really odd.

 

[NuttMegg]

Where is James Sasser II? If grandpa is JS & uncle is JS3 is there another JS? I’m losing my mind.....

James Sasser Jr, means he has the same name as his father but is now a jr. But they could use Joe Blow II if Joe was being named after someone in the family other than the father. Difference Between Jr and II | Difference Between

Then Sasser the III would be same name as the original Sasser. The way I understand it.


But I still don't know where "Hurley" came from.

 

[Trudie]

There are so many different last names it is difficult to figure out James family tree.

For sure, we need a spreadsheet, lol. I wonder if the grandparents are truly grands or if he referred to them as grands?

 

[NuttMegg]

I wonder if the mother had a different significant other and that could be where the name Hurley came from, ie named before he went back to stay with father Tommy Tate, who was the biological child of Batts. Had Batts been married previously to somebody named Tate? Anyway not sleuthing the Mom, just wondering where all these names came from.

 

[Trudie]

James Sasser Jr, means he has the same name as his father but is now a jr. But they could use Joe Blow II if Joe was being named after someone in the family other than the father. Difference Between Jr and II | Difference Between

Then Sasser the III would be same name as the original Sasser. The way I understand it.


But I still don't know where "Hurley" came from.

Lol, let me think about what you’re saying.....
Who is the Jr?
Maybe I missed an article or two that referred to someone as Jr. Tysm

 

[NuttMegg]

Grandma's bond was set higher than " Grandpa's". I haven't read anything stating that Sasser was physically involved in the torture, just that he was aware by texts from James III. Charged for being complicit? Was his voice ever heard in the background of all the videos, suggesting his presence ?

Maybe he is seen in the background in some of the videos, and as the father of the 14 year old son he should have stopped him.