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

[Diet_Slushie_Monster]

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?

I've been advised that I should add MOO to my posts as I'm not a verified insider. I don't know how to do that.

Alex did not live with Tommy until early 2018 when he relocated to Montana. Tommy asked if Alex could come stay with him to get to know his side of the family after the move and Alicia agreed. Unfortunately, Tommy passed away while Alex was living there with him. Shortly after his passing, his mother (Tommy's)asked if Alex could stay and Alicia agreed because we thought it would help with his grieving process.

 

[Diet_Slushie_Monster]

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?

JMO

There is no answer for that kind of question in any circumstance involving an adult and a child and certainly not one that we've found here. They're just disgusting people. Alex's paternal family is scattered between Montana and Texas so Alex knew some of them here in Texas but had not met Montana family as far as I know.

 

[shotgun09]

So this poor boy lived on a high range of emotions,... excitement and joy to be with his father, to the grief and loss of his father...then to the horror and terror of a home he barely knew and eventually died in, in two years!

 

[Trudie]

He had one hell of an introduction......
I hate them!

 

[Luckyzmom]

That's an awful lot for a young man to wrap his head around then to lose his Dad on top of it all. My heart just hurts for Alex and his family

 

[MimosaMornings]

Wow. So in 2012 when Alex was 5 years old, it’s a surprise that he is Tommy’s son.

I’m guessing Mr Hurley had been present in his life up until that time and not afterwards.

Wondering how his parents met if one lived in Texas and the other in Montana. And when did Alex first meet his dad and did he visit regularly from 2012 to 2018?

 

[NuttMegg]

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.

Interesting. So Alicia was able to subpoena or otherwise legally obtain the DNA of Tommy Tate for the paternity test? He was in Montana at the time?

 

[NuttMegg]

I've been advised that I should add MOO to my posts as I'm not a verified insider. I don't know how to do that.

Alex did not live with Tommy until early 2018 when he relocated to Montana. Tommy asked if Alex could come stay with him to get to know his side of the family after the move and Alicia agreed. Unfortunately, Tommy passed away while Alex was living there with him. Shortly after his passing, his mother (Tommy's)asked if Alex could stay and Alicia agreed because we thought it would help with his grieving process.

Did Tommy and Alex live with the Sassers before Tommy died? Did Tommy have another family, with other offspring? I understood that Alex went to live with the Sassers after Tommy died, so you are saying that Tommy and Alex actually lived with the Sassers before Tommy died?

 

[Niner]

Thank you for clearing up "Alex"'s last name @Diet_Slushie_Monster - much appreciated.

and

to WS & this thread!

 

[MimosaMornings]

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.

Thank you @Diet_Slushie_Monster
Welcome!

Children? Alex had siblings? I can see visiting his bio dad for the summer but to go to Montana and live with people he had never met and he found out his bio dad was someone else - as an adult I would be terribly upset much less as a child.

 

[shotgun09]

So Alex's paternity was a surprise to many. Tommy (dad) stepped up and welcomed Alex home with him. ( In MT or Texas?) At some point, Tommy becomes ill, and passes. This is devastating to Tommy's mother, PS. She welcomes Alex home to live with her and her family, having a bit of Tommy and hoping to establish/continue a bond with Alex. Alex's mother is okay with this. I am sure initially all was well, but under currents in that home (JS III) were not so accepting.

 

[NuttMegg]

So Alex's paternity was a surprise to many. Tommy (dad) stepped up and welcomed Alex home with him. ( In MT or Texas?) At some point, Tommy becomes ill, and passes. This is devastating to Tommy's mother, PS. She welcomes Alex home to live with her and her family, having a bit of Tommy and hoping to establish/continue a bond with Alex. Alex's mother is okay with this. I am sure initially all was well, but under currents in that home (JS III) were not so accepting.

I'm curious as to whether Alex lived with Batts and Sasser before Tommy died. I bet not. People don't change all of a sudden like that, becoming monsters overnight.

 

[NuttMegg]

I wonder why Hurley's surname wasn't changed back in 2012. Since she was splitting with the Hurley person anyway.

 

[Vail]

So Alex's paternity was a surprise to many. Tommy (dad) stepped up and welcomed Alex home with him. ( In MT or Texas?) At some point, Tommy becomes ill, and passes. This is devastating to Tommy's mother, PS. She welcomes Alex home to live with her and her family, having a bit of Tommy and hoping to establish/continue a bond with Alex. Alex's mother is okay with this. I am sure initially all was well, but under currents in that home (JS III) were not so accepting.

BBM I don't really buy that as her motive, and I am not convinced Alicia was ok with Alex living there permanently. Her statements since his death indicate she thought it was only going to be an extended stay, as Batts wouldn't let him return and eventually cut off contact. JMO It is ntrely possible she is doing a little damage control, though. I don't really understand why a report for custody interference/request for a welfare check wasn't requested and feel there is more to that whole story, just not sure it is relevant to us here.

 

[NuttMegg]

I feel the same, but I think it's OK to ask where he lived in Montana when he first got there, etc. And was that the first time he ever saw his father? Because I can't see how he lived with Batts/Sasser et al before Tate died, and how it turned into a torture situation after the death of the father. And to unravel the different names to figure out who is who. The father and the son are dead, and Batts and SasserJr and III are in custody for serious offenses.
I'm also not too comfortable with stories here, saying that there was a "drunken one night stand" that produced Alex. I really doubt that came from the one person alive who could tell that story, if it was anyone's business anyway.

 

[mickey2942]

I am betting that the DA will offer deals to everyone involved. And they should accept the offers. I mean, just the video evidence alone is more than enough to convict.

Otherwise, the prosecutors office in Bozeman is in for a marathon. This is a huge case for Gallatin county.

Kudos to the officer who went to the home. He gets a giant gold star award for uncovering this.

 

[Trudie]

I am betting that the DA will offer deals to everyone involved. And they should accept the offers. I mean, just the video evidence alone is more than enough to convict.

Otherwise, the prosecutors office in Bozeman is in for a marathon. This is a huge case for Gallatin county.

Kudos to the officer who went to the home. He gets a giant gold star award for uncovering this.

Oh by deals, I hope you mean LWOP rather than DP.

 

[Yuletide]

There were five adults in this child’s life that could have saved him. His 18 year old Aunt that lived in the residence and saw the abuse could have given an anonymous tip to LE. The 18 year old man that is arrested but not family could have done the same. I have no words for the two “Grandparents “. And his mother who was being forbidden to speak to him could have called for a welfare check. Failed epically by five adults

 

[shotgun09]

Three of those five adults have been charged with this heinous crime. The 18 year old aunt faces questioning I am sure, along with serious counseling. The mother undoubtedly will question her own agreement to send Alex to MT for the rest of her life. I wouldn't go so far as to say she failed him in epic proportion. Who could imagine/ foresee the horrors that befell poor Alex? They were family for God's sake!

 

[Lusitana]

I don't blame the mother, at all.