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

[shotgun09]

IMO, something happened in the fall of 2019 to trigger removal of James from school and the abuse to escalate. During that time,JSIII was in football according to his profile. Some of the torture described was of the PE/Football work-out type. ( Jumping jacks and squats). Was JSIII resentful that he had to show up for practice and workouts, and James did not? The 4th suspect charged with these crimes may hold some answers. Just wondering what the trigger actually was.

 

[Dave F.]

If the 14 year old is tried as an adult, he automatically qualifies for legal representation as an indigent, regardless of his parent's status in the matter. If he is tried in the juvenile system, indigent legal representation is the selection of a member of the juvenile defense pool. The attorney must be previously accepted as a juvenile defense attorney, and must have qualifications appropriate to the charges.
I am not aware of a single murder case in Gallatin county in which a juvenile was charged, in the last fifty years; so I can't imagine there being a juvenile defense attorney with standing before the court that meets the experience qualification. IMO
Montana – NJDC

 

[Trudie]

IMO, something happened in the fall of 2019 to trigger removal of James from school and the abuse to escalate. During that time,JSIII was in football according to his profile. Some of the torture described was of the PE/Football work-out type. ( Jumping jacks and squats). Was JSIII resentful that he had to show up for practice and workouts, and James did not? The 4th suspect charged with these crimes may hold some answers. Just wondering what the trigger actually was.

I wonder if this might be the case. Did #3 even want to play FB or did his dad want him to? Maybe to get some weight off? Some kids are “big”, but “”fit”. #3 looks unfit & obese, imo. He had to hurt like heck after FB practice.
Imagine your son playing on the opposing team & seeing #3 hit the field. NOT! I’d march onto the field to remove my child before I’d let a 300lb teen have a shot at him.

 

[Trudie]

IMO, something happened in the fall of 2019 to trigger removal of James from school

Oops, also meant to add, I think the summer break might have been a free for all at the home & maybe James H. Did talk or tell something at school, leading to a call to the grandma, but not to LE? So she got scared & decided to pull him out of public school? Jmo

 

[shotgun09]

I hope that IF there was a report made at the school, and the "Grandmother" was called, that there is a record of it. Hmm

 

[Trudie]

I hope that IF there was a report made at the school, and the "Grandmother" was called, that there is a record of it. Hmm

Yea, idk if we would hear about it. I doubt LE knew (if a report exists) until a few days into this ugly saga.
But, I agree, something prompted the removal of James from the school system. Could be bruises? I think an astute teacher might notice signs of abuse.

One thing that really sucks about this is JH probably looked up to his uncle, at one time. Maybe thinking it was really cool to have a young uncle. Instead, his uncle turned out to be a weapon of mass destruction.

I have an idea #3 was stealing food & booze, blaming & disciplining JH.

moo

 

[shotgun09]

Yea, idk if we would hear about it. I doubt LE knew (if a report exists) until a few days into this ugly saga.
But, I agree, something prompted the removal of James from the school system. Could be bruises? I think an astute teacher might notice signs of abuse.

One thing that really sucks about this is JH probably looked up to his uncle, at one time. Maybe thinking it was really cool to have a young uncle. Instead, his uncle turned out to be a weapon of mass destruction.
I have an idea #3 was stealing food & booze, blaming & disciplining JH.

moo

Something snapped with "Grandma" too. And JB III was more than willing to 'enhance' the torture. And both PS and JB III were very cautious on what was texted to JB JR. JR knew something was wrong, and yet did nothing to stop it.

 

[Trudie]

Something snapped with "Grandma" too. And JB III was more than willing to 'enhance' the torture. And both PS and JB III were very cautious on what was texted to JB JR. JR knew something was wrong, and yet did nothing to stop it.

Right yet Jr had the wherewithal to volunteer his time to coach FB. Was he trying to separate them & wear #3 down? No way am I making excuses for Jr, but did he feel helpless or trapped? Who has the money in the family?
Iirc, upthread someone posted Jr wanted to take Madison & the 6 yo and leave? Why? I think because he saw this coming & wished to be out of Dodge.
I wonder if #3 ever attempted to discipline the 6yo?
It will be interesting to hear from #3s teacher/s. How did he behave in school, how was his academic performance, how did he interact with his peers?

 

[mickey2942]

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-st...-held-for-montana-boy-who-was-beaten-to-death

This is just so tragic. If anyone in the family had just reached out to someone in the community, to save James' life. They could have had him out of the house in a heartbeat.

If his Mother had called CPS or made a police report for a welfare check. James would possibly have been saved.

It just seems like no one loved or cared about James when he was alive.

 

[Trudie]

@mickey2942 the Sasser house looks fairly close to other homes, I wonder if at least one neighbor noticed James wasn’t out playing?

 

[Luckyzmom]

That's a perfect set up for this type of abuse to escalate, poor guy. Many families would have taken a different approach to the problems this young man was facing. Just a terrible waste and a shame no one noticed that something was awfully wrong in that household...MOO

 

[mickey2942]

@mickey2942 the Sasser house looks fairly close to other homes, I wonder if at least one neighbor noticed James wasn’t out playing?

You know, I really thought about that. I live in a neighborhood with several children around, I know them from hanging out, church, whatever. But, honestly, I don't see these kids very much, especially in the winter.

I probably wouldn't notice if one was abused. I am just not home enough. Or outside. So, people here tend to mind their own business.

 

[Trudie]

True, all over US, lol. We are less observant, I think.
Now where I live (rural) with distance between homes, if I’m out riding or walking dogs & see my neighbor boy, I always ask where or how his sister is. There’s a big age dif’ in them so she’s not out hunting for snakes or snapping turtles. But if #3 ever played put, I would think his playmates might find it curious that JH was not with him.
Ita with you, one phone call from a loved one might have made a difference.

 

[Trudie]

That's a perfect set up for this type of abuse to escalate, poor guy. Many families would have taken a different approach to the problems this young man was facing. Just a terrible waste and a shame no one noticed that something was awfully wrong in that household...MOO

Yet in the AJ Freund case, report after report resulted in no help for the poor child. So, who knows.
I guess because I don’t have a lot of kids on my road, I would notice if suddenly there was only ever one outside where there should be two. Maybe in a subdivision it is dif’, a lot more kids, etc. Plus did #3 even go outside? He doesn’t appear to me to be the type child that enjoyed outdoor stuff. His friend Gage is 4 years older. Idk if #3 needed an older friend......Jmo

 

[Trudie]

@mickey2942 how nice so many braved the cold to attend the vigil. A vigil for a little boy that should be out playing in the snow......

another link about the vigil

West Yellowstone mourns boy in community vigil

 

[mickey2942]

@mickey2942 how nice so many braved the cold to attend the vigil. A vigil for a little boy that should be out playing in the snow......

another link about the vigil

West Yellowstone mourns boy in community vigil

Yes, there was an ice storm here. The wind was fierce and cold yesterday.

 

[Diet_Slushie_Monster]

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.

MOO

Hello. I can actually answer the question as to why he had the last name Hurley. Alex, as he was called by family members, is indeed the biological child of Tommy Tate and Alicia Davis. Alicia was in a long term relationship with another man. During a separation period, Alicia and Tommy had a drunken one night stand, they had been friends for years. Alicia and the other man worked things out and got back together, soon after she found out she was pregnant with Alex. Everyone involved just assumed Alex was this man's child so he was given that man's family name and even started to resemble him a bit we thought. In 2012, the relationship broke down and Alicia and this man went to court to figure out custody of the children, a paternity test was done and it was found out that Alex was the biological son of Tommy Tate and not the man who had been raising him up until that point. It was then decided it was in Alex's best interest to start a relationship with Tommy Tate stepping in as his father figure from that point on. I hope this clears up any name confusion for this case.

 

[shotgun09]

Thank you for the clarification regarding James ( Alex) name and history. That information is very helpful! Do you know if Alex was living with Tommy (and where) since 2012?, and then was left with Tommy's mother when Tommy died?

 

[Trudie]

Stunning! So what do you think is the reason PB despised him so? Also, “Alex” was basically a stranger to all of his paternal family?

Hello. I can actually answer the question as to why he had the last name Hurley. Alex, as he was called by family members, is indeed the biological child of Tommy Tate and Alicia Davis. Alicia was in a long term relationship with another man. During a separation period, Alicia and Tommy had a drunken one night stand, they had been friends for years. Alicia and the other man worked things out and got back together, soon after she found out she was pregnant with Alex. Everyone involved just assumed Alex was this man's child so he was given that man's family name and even started to resemble him a bit we thought. In 2012, the relationship broke down and Alicia and this man went to court to figure out custody of the children, a paternity test was done and it was found out that Alex was the biological son of Tommy Tate and not the man who had been raising him up until that point. It was then decided it was in Alex's best interest to start a relationship with Tommy Tate stepping in as his father figure from that point on. I hope this clears up any name confusion for this case.

 

[Trudie]

I hope one day Yellowstone can have a monument or a scholarship dedicated to JH so he is never forgotten. Something!