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

[Trudie]

because his mom was embarking on a new life? Not really. He went to live with his dad after his dad was injured and lost his legs. Where was the dad before all of that???

Why is everyone blaming the mom??? She is a victim too. This thread is gross.

idk if dad & James has a visitation schedule, or not. Some kids will spend summer vacay with an out of state parent.
I don’t think anyone has blamed his bio mom. I think she allowed her son to move to MT, never imagining he’d be murdered by his own flesh & blood. Evidently she could not make phone contact, per linked reports. I can’t find any custody petitions in MT courts. Idk if she would have had to file in TX to get the ball rolling, or exactly how she would have gone about regaining custody. I’m sure it would be a mess to work thru.

 

[Trudie]

I attached it below.

Patricia Batts, Homocide of a Minor, no bail
Gage Roush, Assault on a Minor, bail, $50,000
James Danny Sasser, Homocide of a Minor, no bail.

Gage only needs 10%, correct? I’m afraid granny will raise it.

 

[mickey2942]

Gage only needs 10%, correct? I’m afraid granny will raise it.

Probably, and put her house up for the surety. I wouldn't do it.

They probably want Gage Roush to testify against the family. He is probably getting a deal, because he isn't on the videos. Guessing.

 

[Trudie]

@mickey2942 Gage is on the video, the Sheriff recognized him, iirc, or when LE questioned him, he confessed. I’ll grab a link.

Upon investigation, deputies say Roush’s clothes matched those of a fourth man in the videos, seen hitting Hurley with his hands and a wooden paddle.
West Yellowstone reels after death of 12-year-old boy, candlelight memorial planned

I hope his grandma is aware of the risks if she is contemplating getting her gentle giant out of jail. I think he could be more dangerous due to the stress. Moo

 

[Trudie]

Montana prison inmates are eligible for parole after serving one fourth of the sentence unless the judge restricts parole eligibility. Most offenders sentenced to 20 years in prison are eligible for parole in five years.
https://cor.mt.gov/Victims/tenthings
Information for every victim of a felony

^^this is why I want Gage to get the max sentence!

 

[mickey2942]

'He loved life': Mother speaks out after son tortured to death

From James Hurley's mother, Alicia Davis.

Apparently, a fund raiser was set up by James Hurley's Aunt, Loren Davis, to "Bring James Home". It has been deactivated at this time.

 

[neesaki]

Idk why grandma Batty did not buy a one way plane ticket for James, send him back to his mom. Idk how any person lives in a home with such turmoil & chaos.

Simplest answer..... Maybe Grandma Batts is a psychopath. Jmo

 

[Trudie]

'He loved life': Mother speaks out after son tortured to death

From James Hurley's mother, Alicia Davis.

Apparently, a fund raiser was set up by James Hurley's Aunt, Loren Davis, to "Bring James Home". It has been deactivated at this time.

Alicia Davis, the boy's mother, told ABC13 he has lived in Cleveland until he was 10, when he moved to Montana.

The family said Hurley went to visit his father before he passed away in 2018, but his grandparents kept him in their custody.

from your link^^, so did James move to MT or simply go to visit his ailing dad, I’m confused?

 

[Trudie]

Simplest answer..... Maybe Grandma Batts is a psychopath. Jmo

How interesting would it be to know what her relationship was like with Tommy?

 

[mickey2942]

Alicia Davis, the boy's mother, told ABC13 he has lived in Cleveland until he was 10, when he moved to Montana.

The family said Hurley went to visit his father before he passed away in 2018, but his grandparents kept him in their custody.

from your link^^, so did James move to MT or simply go to visit his ailing dad, I’m confused?

I am not sure. But the environment in Montana was not optimal. It is very sad that his Mother was unable to save James.

 

[Niner]

This quote from the article on post #303 by Trudie:

"They are not the legal guardians. They never had legal guardianship over him," Davis told NBC Montana Friday. "Had somebody given an anonymous call, he would still be alive."

Why did she not call anonymously....
and what mickey2942 said...

The site freezes for me, can someone see if Gage Roush is still locked up.

and yes - Gage is still in jail.

http://webapps.gallatin.mt.gov/Arch...tails.aspx?ReferenceID=110507&InmateID=187841

Questions:

did T. Tate grant custody to his mom?
How long before Tommy’s accident did James live with him?
when Tommy was in SLC hospital, where did James stay?
How & where did Tommy have such a horrible accident?

anyone?

on your 2nd question - I believe James went to live with his father AFTER the accident. IMO
on your 4th question - I believe it was a motorcycle accident.

Patricia Batts, Homocide of a Minor, no bail
Gage Roush, Assault on a Minor, bail, $50,000
James Danny Sasser, Homocide of a Minor, no bail.

Actually Batts has $750K bond & Sasser Jr has a $500K bond.

per my notes:
2/13/20 Update: Grandparents initial appearance in court. Batts bond set at $750K & Sasser Jr. at $500K. Did not enter any pleas, but requested public defenders.

 

[Dave F.]

This quote from the article on post #303 by Trudie:



Why did she not call anonymously....
and what mickey2942 said...




and yes - Gage is still in jail.

Archonix XJail Public



on your 2nd question - I believe James went to live with his father AFTER the accident. IMO
on your 4th question - I believe it was a motorcycle accident.



Actually Batts has $750K bond & Sasser Jr has a $500K bond.

per my notes:
2/13/20 Update: Grandparents initial appearance in court. Batts bond set at $750K & Sasser Jr. at $500K. Did not enter any pleas, but requested public defenders.

It was a four-wheeler accident. IMO

 

[Lusitana]

I believe Tommy Tate has another child, and that child does not live in Montana.
So, does anyone know if this family is from Montana, or did they move there at some point?

 

[Trudie]

Why did she not call anonymously....
and what mickey2942 said...

@Niner Tysm for all your hard work this morning, lol!
(So glad Granny hasn’t bailed her gentle giant)
I’m not getting the part where James went to MT. When dad Tommy passed away, did bio mom know? Did anyone tell her Tommy was now parentless in Montana? If she was notified of Tommy’s death, what did she think would happen to James, where did she think he would go.......
We don’t know if LE had any requests to make a welfare check. I don’t mean recently, we know they did not, but two years ago, did anyone request a check?
I know LE stated they have not found supporting doc’ that PB sought medical treatment for James. If she/they did not have legal guardianship, Idk if a doctor would have treated him.
Imo, it was imperative for PB to pull James out of school, the risk he would talk or his condition would be noted, was too great. I wonder if the abuse escalated during the 2019 summer break & prior to that it was not as severe, so he was allowed to attend school. I’m thinking perhaps the grands worked & uncle babysat all summer & liked to exercise his authority.

 

[Trudie]

How horrible would it be to have to defend any of the 4.
I assume they will have court appointed legal teams.

 

[mickey2942]

How horrible would it be to have to defend any of the 4.
I assume they will have court appointed legal teams.

The strategy here, would be to target one person as the main culprit, so that your client would get a pass.

What is tricky, is the video evidence. Maybe Grandpa is going to try to get a "Hedda Nussbaum" defense. I originally thought Grandmother would go with that, but the evidence made her a primary perpetrator.

 

[Trudie]

The strategy here, would be to target one person as the main culprit, so that your client would get a pass.

What is tricky, is the video evidence. Maybe Grandpa is going to try to get a "Hedda Nussbaum" defense. I originally thought Grandmother would go with that, but the evidence made her a primary perpetrator.

I am curious to see if Sasser Jr & PB try to blame their son for the actual death? I think Madison will be an instrumental witness, if this goes to trial. She is young & naive, more than likely the entire court process will scare the he77 out of her.

*again, I’m so afraid GR will get a light sentence & be out in no time. After reading Montana’s sentencing info it looks like 40 years might be ten or less. In my state we have the same issue, a criminal gets 35 years & is paroled in 7. Disgusting.
As young as GR is, I fear he will one day have a family & possibly harm his own children. Jmo. (If he wanted to marry my daughter, it would be a shotgun wedding, if you catch my drift).

 

[Dave F.]

I believe Tommy Tate has another child, and that child does not live in Montana.
So, does anyone know if this family is from Montana, or did they move there at some point?

The family is not from Montana, but have lived in West Yellowstone for about twelve years. They are all from Texas. IMO

 

[mickey2942]

Well, this will be a big case for Gallatin county. I can't remember the last child killed by abuse and torture in Gallatin county. And four separate defendants.

This is huge. It will be interesting to watch.

 

[NuttMegg]

Well, this will be a big case for Gallatin county. I can't remember the last child killed by abuse and torture in Gallatin county. And four separate defendants.

This is huge. It will be interesting to watch.

If I were the best buddy, I'd be looking for a squeal and a deal.