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

[Dave F.]

@Trudie - Typically, trials in Montana can take two full years after the charges are filed, to get to court. A lot of that seems to be dependent on whether the defense wants to stretch it out. The Gallatin County Jail is pretty comfortable compared to the prison at Deer Lodge, so I doubt the men will be in any hurry to move on. The women's prison at Billings is nicer, though; so we might see some kind of plea negotiation on that side. It's just my brutally frank opinion from the street. I think you can stick a fork in them, regardless JMO, IANAL

 

[Trudie]

@Dave F. I think it’d be great for them to have a true jury of their peers. What must their neighbors think?
It looks like a rather nice area to live. Smh. JS evidently had a good job. Moo

 

[Lusitana]

Tommy Tate
James Hurley
James had a big sister, P. Not sure why she isn't mentioned on his obituary.

 

[mickey2942]

They won't do a change of venue, because the courthouse is actually in Bozeman, quite away from West Yellowstone. Same county though, Gallatin.

Gallatin County, Montana - Wikipedia

Gallatin County is 2200 square miles.

 

[Trudie]

I have yet to read the AA. I’m working up the courage. I think @Dave F. Is unraveling the name puzzle.

 

[neesaki]

I have yet to read the AA. I’m working up the courage. I think @Dave F. Is unraveling the name puzzle.

May I ask why you say Dave is unraveling the name puzzle? I looked back and didn’t find any posts on the subject. Just asking because I’ve been trying to unravel it as well, research via a paid search site.

Let’s just say,not making much progress other than finding a few relatives, but no obit on or other info on Alexis’ father other than his FB. Rather chaotic, as I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many last names in one family.

 

[Dave F.]

I have yet to read the AA. I’m working up the courage. I think @Dave F. Is unraveling the name puzzle.

The linked articles describe the situation well, except I would use a little different terminology myself:

I would call the “grandmother”, who is held on $750,000 bail, the grandmother, as well. She is the mother of the deceased father.

I would call the “grandfather”, who is held on $500,000 bail, the grandmother’s current husband. He is related to the victim only by that marriage.

I would call the “uncle”, who is also held on $500,000 bail, the son of the grandmother’s current husband. He is also related to the victim only by that marriage.

The “friend”, whose bail is set at $50,000, is a former football player for the team that the grandmother’s current husband coached. I don’t really have a word to describe him, but he certainly wasn’t a friend IMO

The birth mother chose the name of the victim. I haven’t got a clue why she did not give him his father’s surname.

As always, it’s just my opinion.

Court documents describe pattern of abuse in case of 12-year-old's death

Fourth person charged in fatal beating of 12-year-old West Yellowstone boy

 

[Trudie]

@Dave F. Thank you! Idk how you sorted everyone out.

have you been able to determine why the family despised James to the point of not only withholding food but needing to physically torture him as well?

 

[LietKynes]

West Yellowstone reels after death of 12-year-old boy, candlelight memorial planned
"I hope this is a turning point and [Roush] grows up,” Reed says..."

I'm sorry for her being blind-sided.
But what the __?

He's 18.
Already considered to be a grown up by the public schools, the military and those at the voting polls.

What is the grandma (of Roush) saying ?
That he's just a kid still ?
Maybe she wants to see him charged as a juvenile and hopefully released in a few years ?
My .02 is that all of them including the 14 year old be locked away for the rest of their lives.

There will always be those who feel that because of the 14 year old's youthfulness -- a short sentence until he's 18 or 21 should suffice.
Who wants him living with them after he's released ?

Even with months or years of counseling, what if he's freed to live his life and becomes a father himself, and the child angers him ?
Or is put into a half way home for adults and someone annoys him ?

I'm betting poor James didn't think he was a 'gentle giant' as he was being brutally beaten to death.

And it's obvious the grandparents weren't withholding any food from the 14 year old but were enabling him as he weighs 300 lbs.
That isn't healthy for an adult let alone a teen.

And where were the 'loving' relatives of James while he was alive ?
Did they try to find out if he was ok ?
Even if the bio mom was blocked from calling James-- after two years she should have gone to the authorities.

If this sounds too judgmental, so be it.
Child murderers are the worst.

 

[Dave F.]

West Yellowstone reels after death of 12-year-old boy, candlelight memorial planned
"I hope this is a turning point and [Roush] grows up,” Reed says..."

I'm sorry for her being blind-sided.
But what the __?

He's 18.
Already considered to be a grown up by the public schools, the military and those at the voting polls.

[FONT=Georgia, serif]What is grandma (of Roush) saying ?
That he's just a kid still ?
That she wants to see him charged as a juvenile and hopefully released in a few years ?[/FONT]
My .02 is that all of them including the 14 year old be locked away for the rest of their lives.

[FONT=Georgia, serif]There will always be those who feel that because of the 14 year old's youthfulness -- a short sentence until he's 18 or 21 should suffice.
Who wants him living with them after he's released ?[/FONT]

[FONT=Georgia, serif]Even with months or years of counseling, what if he's freed to live his life and becomes a father himself, and the child angers him ?
Or is put into a half way home for adults and someone annoys him ?

I'm betting poor James didn't think he was a 'gentle giant' as he was being brutally beaten to death.

And it's obvious the grandparents weren't withholding any food from the 14 year old but were enabling him as he weighs 300 lbs.
That isn't healthy for an adult let alone a teen.
And where were the 'loving' relatives of James while he was alive ?
Did they try to find out if he was ok ?
Even if the bio mom was blocked from calling James-- after two years she should have gone to the authorities.
[/FONT]

The 18 year old is being held in the Gallatin County Jail in Bozeman. The 14 year old is being held in the juvenile detention system. The location is sealed. IMO

 

[bears10]

The linked articles describe the situation well, except I would use a little different terminology myself:

I would call the “grandmother”, who is held on $750,000 bail, the grandmother, as well. She is the mother of the deceased father.

I would call the “grandfather”, who is held on $500,000 bail, the grandmother’s current husband. He is related to the victim only by that marriage.

I would call the “uncle”, who is also held on $500,000 bail, the son of the grandmother’s current husband. He is also related to the victim only by that marriage.

The “friend”, whose bail is set at $50,000, is a former football player for the team that the grandmother’s current husband coached. I don’t really have a word to describe him, but he certainly wasn’t a friend IMO

The birth mother chose the name of the victim. I haven’t got a clue why she did not give him his father’s surname.

As always, it’s just my opinion.

Court documents describe pattern of abuse in case of 12-year-old's death

Fourth person charged in fatal beating of 12-year-old West Yellowstone boy

according to this link, the 14 year old is her bio son too.

Investigators: videos show boy being tortured by members of his family before his death

Batts said she had three biological children with James Sasser Jr., including Madison Sasser, 18, and James Sasser, III, 14 and another boy 6.

 

[Trudie]

The 18 year old is being held in the Gallatin County Jail in Bozeman. The 14 year old is being held in the juvenile detention system. The location is sealed. IMO

bail is too low for the 18 year old, I’m afraid he’s going to get out & by time he cuts a deal or has trial it will be simple assault with probation. He’s an animal!

 

[Trudie]

Where is the 6y.o.? Is he okay?

 

[neesaki]

May I ask why you say Dave is unraveling the name puzzle? I looked back and didn’t find any posts on the subject. Just asking because I’ve been trying to unravel it as well, research via a paid search site.

Let’s just say,not making much progress other than finding a few relatives, but no obit on or other info on Alexis’ father other than his FB. Rather chaotic, as I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many last names in one family.

Apologies... I meant James, not Alex. Color me confused.

 

[mickey2942]

Where is the 6y.o.? Is he okay?

He could potentially be with the older sister, who is 18. That being said, it probably isn't the best option. Maybe family members stepped up, or he is in foster care.

The kid definitely needs therapy though. Just being in a situation where another child is abused, in front of him, could result in some behavioral problems.

 

[Trudie]

Apologies... I meant James, not Alex. Color me confused.

We are all confused, so many characters here.

 

[SaguaroSpirit]

@Dave F. Thank you! Idk how you sorted everyone out.

have you been able to determine why the family despised James to the point of not only withholding food but needing to physically torture him as well?

If he was "so bad" why not send him back to bio mom? Probably using him as a pawn, a weapon. Very common.

 

[Trudie]

I wonder if poor James took the fall for things Uncle should have been punished for. If food went missing I would be inclined to blame 14yo weighing in at a hefty 300lbs. Is Uncle actually the wayward household member & the grands project his failures elsewhere?
If he was “so bad”, why not seek help?
I pray Uncle gets a stiff sentence, not a juvie slap on his evil hands. He will be a repeat offender, imo. I know nothing of the juvenile system in Montana. Hopefully he is monitored & his every action is noted in his case file. Something tells me he’s going to be a handful for staff.
One reason is because I’m speculating he’s an addict, addicted to food. Addiction is addiction! If so, he’s miserable as I’m sure he’s not at an all you can eat buffet in the chow hall.

 

[Trudie]

The “friend”, whose bail is set at $50,000, is a former football player for the team that the grandmother’s current husband coached. I don’t really have a word to describe him, but he certainly wasn’t a friend IMO

Thanks again for sorting out the cast of characters @Dave F.
So grandpa is a coach? What a role model for young men. Moo

 

[Lusitana]

14 is old enough to know that beating up ANYONE, let alone a small 12-year-old boy is 100% wrong and can end in tragedy. This doesn't strike me as a situation where the teenager was being forced by the adults to harm and abuse another child. He did it by himself, because he wanted to. Everyone in that house is at fault for what happened to this poor boy. I'm not going to judge the girl, because it appears she didn't do anything to James, and I don't even know if she still lived in the home.
To me, it makes no sense, how you could abuse your grandson, the child of your late son who you seemed to love SO MUCH. I mean, it makes no sense to abuse any child.
EDIT: because I don't know how to write.