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

[Dave F.]

Perhaps Darrell was the middle name.

It was Darrell. Date of death January 2, 2017. He died in a hospital; perhaps he was still in Salt Lake City. It seems highly unlikely (to me) that his affairs (such as Social Security) were properly closed out. JMO

 

[Trudie]

If uncle is not ultimately charged as an adult, there will be a huge uproar.

Do any of you think Sasser jr to be less involved in the physical torture? I still consider him as culpable, he obviously did nothing to prevent his son from torturing James.

 

[Luckyzmom]

Just for the record, I personally wasn't thinking that there was anything suspicious with Tommy's death. I had just begun to wonder, based on the lack of information in Tommy's name (death record, online obituary,, etc) whether that was his real name. I also wondered momentarily if perhaps the story told by PB/S that Tommy died was a lie. But I am satisfied from all I have found that he did die, I believe he was being well cared for in a hospital at the time, and the only noteworthy thing is that his extended family (in TX) didn't make public FB posts about his death, and many show noticeably less public activity in general around that time and afterwards.

It wouldn't be strange for an ATV accident to cause paralysis and/or loss of limbs. And both of these conditions leave a person very susceptible to very severe infections and possible death.

Thanks very much. Wasn't implying anything nefarious, should have been more clear. Just thinking Mom might not have been an adequate full time caregiver and hoping it didn't impact James in a negative way . Bet he had been through an awful lot just with Dads accident and injury, then passing.
Would be hard for anyone to go through without emotional support. At that tender age, must have been a difficult experience to process.
Lost my Grandpa to cancer about his age. Turned my world and my brothers upside down. Poor kid ....

 

[Trudie]

Judge to consider trying 14-year-old as adult for West Yellowstone boy's death

After the incident, the aunt told detectives, she and Sasser Jr. messaged each other that they wanted to leave the house with the 6-year-old boy. The aunt said Alex’s grandfather was concerned that his 6-year-old son would be taken away if anyone found out how the family treated Alex, court documents say.
^^^^
I hope the texts can be found for evidence. Grandpa/dad was concerned about the 6 y.o. But not the 14 year old? Was he not concerned the 14 year old was an obese, overly aggressive child! Not asking if he had any concerns for James, we know the answer.

 

[cocomod]

Dad of James paralyzed in 2014, passed 2018 at this home I wonder. Frightening to think about. Hope he had outside caregivers :'( just unbelievably sad. Thanks

MOO Looking at pictures, it looks like he lost his legs at some point after the original accident. It is so sad. I still believe that the reason James was sent to his dad is that his quality of life was low and they didn't know how long he would last. MOO

 

[bears10]

Dad of James paralyzed in 2014, passed 2018 at this home I wonder. Frightening to think about. Hope he had outside caregivers :'( just unbelievably sad. Thanks

Dad had a girlfriend who he may have lived with. I wonder if she had any contact/relationship with JH at any point after dad died.

 

[mickey2942]

Very sad. James was definitely kept, I am sure, for his Father's Social Security Death Benefits. That is what I originally thought.

My heart just breaks for this little guy. His life was horrible, bullied and beaten to death and no one stepped up to stop the abuse.

The 18 year old woman in the house, Madison, should be charged as well. She could have gone to the authorities to save a life. The fact that she didn't, is depraved. She should not get a pass.

In the Nubia Barahona case, it was another child in the home, who told an adult outside of the home about the abuse. It saved Victor's life, but not Nubia.

 

[Dave F.]

Dad had a girlfriend who he may have lived with. I wonder if she had any contact/relationship with JH at any point after dad died.

No, she is no longer living in Montana; and her social media comments indicate that she has not been involved with the grandmother's family at all. IMO

 

[mickey2942]

One thing regarding uncle, a juvenile detention center is generally much stricter than a county jail. I suspect uncle is learning that he’s not “large & in charge”, yeah....maybe the “large” is covered. He’s going to be in detention for a long time. He will have a very structured schedule, imo. He will get up very early, complete assigned chores, have school/study for a big part of the day, more work & lights out early. No phone, little TV or recreation. The fridge will be locked, not literally but he won’t have access to all he wants to eat. By time he gets to court, he will be a slimmer version of evil, imo.
I think he’s been in detention long enough now to know what it feels like to be bullied. I don’t think any of the staff will take any crap from him! The most delicious part is that he has no one to complain to. He can’t call his mom!
He can’t call his dad. I doubt his siblings care. All moo.

You know, he is so large, that management of him in juvenile detention is going to be significantly different from other kids, especially due to his charges, Capital Murder, killing a child under age 16 by abuse or torture. I don't know if he has actually been charged yet, but that would be pretty close.

He will be in solitary confinement and lockdown. He would just be too risky to be allowed any movement with other detainees. If I was doing his risk assessment, he is definitely a 10. High risk of violence, and risk to staff.

Due to that, any time he would be transferred or transported anywhere, it is going to be full shackles. That kid is really going to have a reality check on his new life. Guards, even in juvenile, are not the most sympathetic people, for good reason, that way they don't get manipulated, however, their demeanor isn't the friendliest. Good.

 

[Trudie]

You know, he is so large, that management of him in juvenile detention is going to be significantly different from other kids, especially due to his charges, Capital Murder, killing a child under age 16 by abuse or torture. I don't know if he has actually been charged yet, but that would be pretty close.

He will be in solitary confinement and lockdown. He would just be too risky to be allowed any movement with other detainees. If I was doing his risk assessment, he is definitely a 10. High risk of violence, and risk to staff.

Due to that, any time he would be transferred or transported anywhere, it is going to be full shackles. That kid is really going to have a reality check on his new life. Guards, even in juvenile, are not the most sympathetic people, for good reason, that way they don't get manipulated, however, their demeanor isn't the friendliest. Good.

Ita & I think his guards are probably already on his “hate” list & they don’t give a damn, lol.
I also bet the big bully is crying like a baby. I highly doubt a juvie facility has king sized mattresses.
We already know he’s likely not pleased with his meal tray.
I hope he’s miserable as hell. Any misery he’s subjected to is nothing compared to the fear & trauma his nephew endured. For any parent to allow their offspring to torture a child leaves me speechless.
I think the guards are tougher in juvie, Jmo.
I’m sure uncle is learning a lot about discipline, and liking it none.

 

[Trudie]

@mickey2942

States that Limit or Prohibit Juvenile Shackling and Solitary Confinement

 

[mickey2942]

@mickey2942

States that Limit or Prohibit Juvenile Shackling and Solitary Confinement

Which can be over ruled with a behavior assessment. A judge reviews and signs off based on recommendations from staff.

Believe me, that kid is getting special attention. I wouldn't do an assessment on him, unless it was with a barrier.

 

[Trudie]

Which can be over ruled with a behavior assessment. A judge reviews and signs off based on recommendations from staff.

Believe me, that kid is getting special attention. I wouldn't do an assessment on him, unless it was with a barrier.

I agree! I wish you were doing his assessment.
Do you think he has been abused, and in turn abused James? Mom Batts must’ve been disappointed with him, imo. Therefore, I wonder if her abuse of her son eased up once James moved in? I firmly believe the food was locked due to uncle. A 14 year old at 300lbs is completely abnormal. He didn’t get that size overnight, so I think at some point mom Batts resorted to locking the food.

 

[mickey2942]

I agree! I wish you were doing his assessment.
Do you think he has been abused, and in turn abused James? Mom Batts must’ve been disappointed with him, imo. Therefore, I wonder if her abuse of her son eased up once James moved in? I firmly believe the food was locked due to uncle. A 14 year old at 300lbs is completely abnormal. He didn’t get that size overnight, so I think at some point mom Batts resorted to locking the food.

He is probably getting a full psychological evaluation with testing, educational file review, probably interviews with his teachers, medical evaluation. Full psycho social work up.

It would be interesting to see what his IQ score is, not that is a justification for his behavior.

I saw a news story on James just now, I think that it would be interesting to do a FOIA request to CPS, to see if James had ever had a file opened on him.

 

[Trudie]

It would be interesting to see what his IQ score is, not that is a justification for his behavior.

I'm guessing on the lower end....
Absolutely no justification for his behavior, but could possibly impact juvie/adult charges? Idk
Furthermore, if he is LD or otherwise challenged, his mom needed to be on high alert.
I truly think his mom was afraid of him! Do you? Was she overwhelmed & rather than address his behavior she just went with it? I tend to think he has one hell of a temper & if disciplined, poop hit the fan.
I read an article about a very big autistic boy that had temper issues. His mom had to lock him in his bedroom, for fear he would kill everyone. He demolished their home on several occasions, breaking TVs, computers, lamps, anything he could break, he broke.

 

[Trudie]

Iirc initial reports stated LE could not find record of the grands seeking help for any of the issues they claim a James exhibited.

imo Sasser Jr stands the best shot of exoneration. I haven’t read that he was involved in the physical torture. I think Madison will take his side, Jmo.
Sasser Jr is just as evil, he coexisted & allowed torturous behavior to continue.

 

[mickey2942]

I'm guessing on the lower end....
Absolutely no justification for his behavior, but could possibly impact juvie/adult charges? Idk
Furthermore, if he is LD or otherwise challenged, his mom needed to be on high alert.
I truly think his mom was afraid of him! Do you? Was she overwhelmed & rather than address his behavior she just went with it? I tend to think he has one hell of a temper & if disciplined, poop hit the fan.
I read an article about a very big autistic boy that had temper issues. His mom had to lock him in his bedroom, for fear he would kill everyone. He demolished their home on several occasions, breaking TVs, computers, lamps, anything he could break, he broke.

No, because Batts was also an abuser. And if she had cared about James, she would have made sure that he was in a safe environment, as in, with his Mother in Texas...although, who knows what that would have been...

When kids are out of control, and have no respect for the adults in the home, the adults need to reach out for help, to learn how to parent an out of control teen. But, if they never reached out for help, that is another issue.

Out of control teens, are really crying out for help. They haven't learned any limits, so they keep pushing the envelope, to see where the line is...and they actually can learn to respond positively when parents act like parents.

 

[Trudie]

Out of control teens, are really crying out for help. They haven't learned any limits, so they keep pushing the envelope, to see where the line is...and they actually can learn to respond positively when parents act like parents.

Well uncle’s pushing the envelope is over for now. Idk about MT but I assume if tried as an adult after conviction he remains in juvie? Then as the clock strikes midnight on his 18 bday transfers to state? No way will he ever be found NG. I am flabbergasted he revealed so much to LE. I immediately wonder if he suffers from low IQ. The way he related his abuse, almost like he thought LE would understand.

 

[mickey2942]

Well uncle’s pushing the envelope is over for now. Idk about MT but I assume if tried as an adult after conviction he remains in juvie? Then as the clock strikes midnight on his 18 bday transfers to state? No way will he ever be found NG. I am flabbergasted he revealed so much to LE. I immediately wonder if he suffers from low IQ. The way he related his abuse, almost like he thought LE would understand.

He has been socialized to being an abuser, he may even believe that James deserved the maltreatment. His Mother is the most culpable here, for allowing him to abuse another child.

I don't think that he has a low IQ, at least I hope not, because then he could get out of a trial, for being mentally incapacitated. He doesn't seem to be too low functioning, just mean. He is able to independently use a cell phone, to look up things...that pushes him past 85. Slow, maybe, but he understands the difference between right and wrong.

 

[Trudie]

Anyone have the arrest affidavit?