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

[Trudie]

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.

True!
I wonder where the six year old is and what his emotional state is.
Also, how peculiar Madison sent texts out “I think my bro killed my uncle” & no one thought to call 911 for a welfare check. I want her charged with something & I sincerely hope she is not going to raise her young brother.

 

[mickey2942]

The whole family is the picture of dysfunctional.

What a great case study for a forensic family analysis. There are a lot of theories about psychopathy, and whether it is genetic or environmental. More and more research leans towards genetic antisocial personality traits. No one really wants to hear that though.

 

[Trudie]

@mickey2942 I’d like to know what their relationship was like with James when his dad was alive.
Also, I have heard of a family adopting an older child & things not going real well once the child is brought into the home. I wonder if the existing kids view a new child as an outsider/intruder. I doubt James was ever made to feel welcome. Probably had no bedroom, only behind the sofa or on a floor, only allowed to sleep after uncle dozed off.
Uncle has such deep seeded probs for a child, imo. He is filled with rage & hate, I suspect some of his rage is triggered by his weight, he has probably been bullied at school. Beating James might have made uncle feel he was beating his bullies.
For the life of me I can’t imagine sleeping thru the major bloodbath on Super Bowl Sunday. Just another normal Sunday at the Sasser home, I guess.

 

[mickey2942]

I did find the charging documents.

@Trudie @Niner

 

[Luckyzmom]

Thanks @mickey2942 what a terrible existence this young man had at the end of his short life. Appreciate your finding this.

 

[mickey2942]

Thanks @mickey2942 what a terrible existence this young man had at the end of his short life. Appreciate your finding this.

This is like something out of "Deliverance". The girl said they spray bottles of vinegar around for the "bedbug infestation"? Seriously?

The charging documents are horrible to read, and the narrative that they were "asleep" during the fight? Probably passed out.

This poor kid didn't have a chance.

At least the criminals were brilliant enough to video the abuse, sounds like several instances, imagine what they didn't tape? And that will be for the jury to watch.

 

[neesaki]

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.

Fully culpable, he was right there witnessing it, if not more, Then got the damning text from the killer Uncle baby hughey. He didn’t stop it even though he could and should have, and then he should have called the law. He did none of the above.
Once upon a time, I thought I knew what heinous, appalling, and horrific was. Until I saw this. Then, I had no words.

 

[Luckyzmom]

This really is grim ... Would think an adult would have reached out for grief counseling at least. But, thought it was better to isolate this poor kid. Yup, prison seems like the safest way for this "family" . Hope there is a safe home for the six year old. He's going to need lots of help after living in that house. How is the CPS agency locally ? He deserves a chance at a normal life... TIA MOO

 

[neesaki]

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

Where did you find this? You do mean, TT? As in, his middle name is Darrell? I looked this up and nothing come up in the right age range or location.

 

[neesaki]

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.

You’re right, it was all about the money. Why it makes it more heinous and disgusting than otherwise, IDK. But it kind of does.

 

[mickey2942]

This really is grim ... Would think an adult would have reached out for grief counseling at least. But, thought it was better to isolate this poor kid. Yup, prison seems like the safest way for this "family" . Hope there is a safe home for the six year old. He's going to need lots of help after living in that house. How is the CPS agency locally ? He deserves a chance at a normal life... TIA MOO

CPS is the same every where. Low pay, burnout.

I really want to know if CPS was ever called to check on James.

 

[Trudie]

The charging documents are horrible to read, and the narrative that they were "asleep" during the fight? Probably passed out.

I have not read the docs yet but from Msm recall James had an alcohol problem that struck me odd. The food is locked but the booze is not? Plus, if James was able to stand, or resume a squat like position, per video, he was not drunk, moo.

@mickey2942 Tysm,

 

[Dave F.]

This really is grim ... Would think an adult would have reached out for grief counseling at least. But, thought it was better to isolate this poor kid. Yup, prison seems like the safest way for this "family" . Hope there is a safe home for the six year old. He's going to need lots of help after living in that house. How is the CPS agency locally ? He deserves a chance at a normal life... TIA MOO

The Montana Department of Health and Human Services, Children and Families Division devotes most of it's resources to child care licensure and regulation and to working directly with law enforcement to take custody of children of people who have been charged with a crime. Since his parents have been arrested, the six year old in this case is undoubtedly in DPHHS-CFD custody now. I'm not sure I agree with @mickey2942 about the low pay, but I agree that burnout definitely seems to be a problem. The bureaucracy itself is another huge challenge.
Since neither the deceased father or the grandparents appear to have any prior arrests in Montana, it seems unlikely that the attention of the DPHHS-CFD would have been triggered. JMO

 

[bears10]

I have not read the docs yet but from Msm recall James had an alcohol problem that struck me odd. The food is locked but the booze is not? Plus, if James was able to stand, or resume a squat like position, per video, he was not drunk, moo.

@mickey2942 Tysm,

I think the grandma made up that James drank alcohol. jmo

 

[neesaki]

I think the grandma made up that James drank alcohol. jmo

Either that or maybe he drank to relieve some of the pain.

 

[cocomod]

Either that or maybe he drank to relieve some of the pain.

The 14 year old admitted that they lied about him hurting himself. I am sure the grandma lied about the alcohol. Unless she made him drink it. I have zero regard for her.

 

[shotgun09]

I have stated earlier in this thread, that poor little James life over the past few years must have been like living in a horror movie. And "grandma"....I just picture her looking and sounding as fierce and ugly as the character actress from "Throw Momma from the train". ( Goonies ) The continuous physical and verbal-emotional abuse I have read about from her just screams HORROR! Hoping and praying that eventually justice will be served, and all charged will receive the maximum sentence.

 

[Trudie]

Either that or maybe he drank to relieve some of the pain.

If the food was under lock and key I bet the booze was too. Maybe uncle helped himself to the booze, who knows. If James didn’t eat, alcohol would make him violently ill.

 

[Songbird1973]

Where did you find this? You do mean, TT? As in, his middle name is Darrell? I looked this up and nothing come up in the right age range or location.

Ancestry.com (paid subscription) has a Texas birth record for TT. The first name is "Tommy" not Thomas. The middle name is Darrell. The mother is listed as PLB, middle name Lynn. No father listed.

 

[NuttMegg]

Ancestry.com (paid subscription) has a Texas birth record for TT. The first name is "Tommy" not Thomas. The middle name is Darrell. The mother is listed as PLB, middle name Lynn. No father listed.

Did Tommy have an older sister by Batts?