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

[Trudie]

Heartbroken West Yellowstone comes together to remember murdered 12-year-old

Included in this article is video of Alex singing

How interesting one teacher considered Alex her fave. How I wish he had confided in her.

 

[mickey2942]

How interesting one teacher considered Alex her fave. How I wish he had confided in her.

Children almost never volunteer information about abuse, because they are told that they are abused because they are "bad". They don't really understand that what is happening to them is not normal, because in their dysfunctional family life, abuse is normalized.

Abused children believe that they are being treated that way due to their behavior. That is why it is so difficult to get them to discuss it.

 

[Trudie]

I

Children almost never volunteer information about abuse, because they are told that they are abused because they are "bad". They don't really understand that what is happening to them is not normal, because in their dysfunctional family life, abuse is normalized.

Abused children believe that they are being treated that way due to their behavior. That is why it is so difficult to get them to discuss it.

. Yea, his teacher probably would have had to guide him, based on what she noticed.
Even little AJ Freund failed to articulate his abuse to his ER doctor. Of course he was much younger.

 

[Yuletide]

BBQ?




Come on, she can post her opinion.

Thank you. Yes. In an article posted above it said he loved barbecues in addition to sports and helping people.

 

[Yuletide]

It was the ABC 13 article that referenced he loved barbecues. Readily available online and posted above

 

[Trudie]

I hope he got to enjoy a few BBQs!

 

[Yuletide]

My best guess and humble opinion is that we will see a host of plea deals upcoming given the video evidence. One must surmise that the available videos are just the tip of the iceberg and that much more went on than what we will ever know. It takes a monumental level of depravity to be able to lift your phone and video the torturing of a child, unless you immediately turn that evidence over to law enforcement. The most graphic of the images in my opinion are: 6 feet tall 300 lbs vs 5 foot 3 103 lbs. The person beating him was 200 pounds heavier and 9 inches taller. Let that sink in. Another image is the Grandmothers words: "it was a blood bath". Her disconnection to reality in this statement is monumental. What she and her husband allowed, participated in, and encouraged in that home is sadistic. There are snippets in articles here and there of people outside the family that were aware there was a problem in the home with James Alexander being there, but none of those people seemed close enough to the situation to be able to realize the gravity of the situation. (i.e. friends of the aunt that lived in the home, a friend of the Grandmother who the Grandmother confided in). The time for justice for James Alexander has come and gone. There is no justice for that sweet boy on earth. Justice for those of us who value a civilized society will be when all four of the known participants see their lives forever altered for what they have done to an innocent child.

 

[Dave F.]

Was his obituary posted on here? I think I missed the part about bbq.

The information about Alex loving barbecue was provided to ABC News by his mother and quoted in the article at the link below. It refers to his love of a cuisine that is original in East Texas

“NEW PHOTOS. James Alexander Hurley's mother said the boy tortured to death in Montana grew up aTexan. He loved football, basketball, & barbecue.”

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

Citing selected portions of Wikipedia definition:

“Texas Barbecue refers to methods of preparation for barbecue unique to Texan cuisine.
Texas barbecue traditions differ geographically and culturally: East Texas, Central Texas, South Texas, and West Texas each have their own unique barbecue styles.
East Texas–style: The meat is slowly cooked to the point that it is "falling off the bone." It is typically cooked over hickory wood and marinated in a sweet, tomato-based sauce. Beef brisket (slowly cooked in smoke in a wood fired "pit") is the most common barbecue.
Barbecue in Texas is most commonly served with white bread, spicy sauces, pickles, sliced onion, and jalapeños; sides include pinto beans, potato or rice salad, and cabbage slaw. Common desserts served with barbecue are fruit cobbler, banana pudding, and pecan pie.”

Barbecue in Texas - Wikipedia

I think we can all pray that Alex is enjoying barbecue in a better place. I hope he saves some room for pecan pie.

 

[Trudie]

My best guess and humble opinion is that we will see a host of plea deals upcoming given the video evidence. One must surmise that the available videos are just the tip of the iceberg and that much more went on than what we will ever know. It takes a monumental level of depravity to be able to lift your phone and video the torturing of a child, unless you immediately turn that evidence over to law enforcement. The most graphic of the images in my opinion are: 6 feet tall 300 lbs vs 5 foot 3 103 lbs. The person beating him was 200 pounds heavier and 9 inches taller. Let that sink in. Another image is the Grandmothers words: "it was a blood bath". Her disconnection to reality in this statement is monumental. What she and her husband allowed, participated in, and encouraged in that home is sadistic. There are snippets in articles here and there of people outside the family that were aware there was a problem in the home with James Alexander being there, but none of those people seemed close enough to the situation to be able to realize the gravity of the situation. (i.e. friends of the aunt that lived in the home, a friend of the Grandmother who the Grandmother confided in). The time for justice for James Alexander has come and gone. There is no justice for that sweet boy on earth. Justice for those of us who value a civilized society will be when all four of the known participants see their lives forever altered for what they have done to an innocent child.

Well said! @mickey2942 is familiar with the justice system for that area & also feels plea deals will be the end result. Idk how I feel about plea deals. I’m afraid #3 will get a light sentence because of his youth. I’d hate for him to ever walk free, possibly becoming a father, or enjoying a BBQ. The grands possibly will get sentences that ultimately result in living their days out inside. Moo
The 18 yo family friend concerns me as well. We know he’s going to get a light sentence, even if 20 yrs is handed down, he could be out in 3-5. What happens once he’s a father? How might he punish his future children?

@Dave F. hopefully Alex is enjoying all those things & all he wants!

 

[Yuletide]

Well said! @mickey2942 is familiar with the justice system for that area & also feels plea deals will be the end result. Idk how I feel about plea deals. I’m afraid #3 will get a light sentence because of his youth. I’d hate for him to ever walk free, possibly becoming a father, or enjoying a BBQ. The grands possibly will get sentences that ultimately result in living their days out inside. Moo
The 18 yo family friend concerns me as well. We know he’s going to get a light sentence, even if 20 yrs is handed down, he could be out in 3-5. What happens once he’s a father? How might he punish his future children?

@Dave F. hopefully Alex is enjoying all those things & all he wants!

 

[Yuletide]

I, too, am very concerned about the younger two of the four criminals. They are both violent criminals with no compassion, in my opinion, but may find a way to wrangle the legal system due to age and influence of the older adults in the home. A slap on the wrist for those two would be a slap in the face to the memory of James Alexander. JMO

 

[NuttMegg]

Well said! @mickey2942 is familiar with the justice system for that area & also feels plea deals will be the end result. Idk how I feel about plea deals. I’m afraid #3 will get a light sentence because of his youth. I’d hate for him to ever walk free, possibly becoming a father, or enjoying a BBQ. The grands possibly will get sentences that ultimately result in living their days out inside. Moo
The 18 yo family friend concerns me as well. We know he’s going to get a light sentence, even if 20 yrs is handed down, he could be out in 3-5. What happens once he’s a father? How might he punish his future children?

@Dave F. hopefully Alex is enjoying all those things & all he wants!

If that non-family guy was the same age as the 300/14, he could probably finagle some defense such as he was made to do it or encouraged by Batts, whatever. But he was an adult too, so can't claim to be influenced by 300/14. I can't imagine the dynamics where they encouraged each other to beat up Alex. What does that sound like, verbally? Hit him harder, Gage, knock the s hit out of him? Or just non-verbal instinctive meanness between 2-4 thugs? I wish I could hear those tapes, not to hear Alex suffering, but to hear how they encouraged each other to kick and hit him. (IMO)

Anyone remember that movie with Jodie Foster "The Accused"? To make the story short, the prosecution was not able to convict the rapists of rape, they got off on "reckless endangerment". So, they tried prosecuting 3 of the guys who CHEERED the rape (in the back of a bar by the pinball machines). This was loosely based on a true story, 3 guys were convicted of criminal solicitation, for their cheering and egging on the rapists. "In the end, the jury convicts the three defendants. As the trial provided testimony and evidence that the men raped Sarah, the three men already serving prison time for reckless endangerment are unlikely to be granted parole."

I don't have any idea if that was state law or federal, but wouldn't it be interesting if the friend, for example, were seen on tape as egging on one of the murderers (a minor, for example). Soliciting a crime in addition to his charges of assaulting a minor .

The Accused (1988 film) - Wikipedia

 

[Trudie]

I can't imagine the dynamics where they encouraged each other to beat up Alex. What does that sound like, verbally?

Did #3 call GR, “hey, hey buddy, can you come over & help us whip Alex?” Sick.
Imo #3 did not need an 18 yo friend......now I do t know how what their relationship is/was, but I do consider #3 felt more empowered having an adult friend. Moo
I am under the impression GR is no longer in school?

*previously we discussed one abuser might encourage another, perhaps out of fear. Or, “you hit him too.....”, type scenario.

 

[Yuletide]

I’m not convinced any of these four creeps needed backup or encouragement. According to the investigating officer, in one of the videos of torture, the 6 year old boy was present and walking around like all was normal and fine. Most 6 year olds would be terrified in this situation. It had become the norm in that home IMO

 

[mickey2942]

I
. Yea, his teacher probably would have had to guide him, based on what she noticed.
Even little AJ Freund failed to articulate his abuse to his ER doctor. Of course he was much younger.

That is the problem, a teacher or interviewer cannot "guide" the child to answer "correctly".

I have had a lot of training on this, and every situation is different. The problem is that children process the experience differently than an adult does. And children are afraid to say anything, for fear that they will get in trouble, and the abuse will get worse. They are usually threatened by the abuser with this. That if they tell anyone about the abuse, the abuse will be escalated.

The child is usually isolated, and told that no one cares about him. The child is in the situation of actually being dependent on the abuser for "care", such as access to food, clothing, or even relief from the abuse. It is a sick dependency that the abuser cultivates.

The worst part, is that abused children still believe that their caregivers will be nice, if the child improves their behavior. Classic abuse syndrome. No one can ever "please" an abuser.

 

[Trudie]

I’m not convinced any of these four creeps needed backup or encouragement. According to the investigating officer, in one of the videos of torture, the 6 year old boy was present and walking around like all was normal and fine. Most 6 year olds would be terrified in this situation. It had become the norm in that home IMO

It appears the 18 yo adult female also found it normal. Normal enough to share via text.
Possibly the 6yo just tried his best to behave. I’m sure he was told “Alex is bad, this is what happens to bad boys....”.

 

[Trudie]

@mickey2942 Tysm for sharing your expertise!

 

[mickey2942]

It appears the 18 yo adult female also found it normal. Normal enough to share via text.
Possibly the 6yo just tried his best to behave. I’m sure he was told “Alex is bad, this is what happens to bad boys....”.

And probably the 18 year old woman, Madison, didn't disclose for the same fear, if James is gone, who is going to be the next target? Easier to just ignore it, and be glad you are not the target.

It is interesting though, that based on news reports, that this family never had CPS contact. Usually there are a few calls before a death.

 

[Yuletide]

It appears the 18 yo adult female also found it normal. Normal enough to share via text.
Possibly the 6yo just tried his best to behave. I’m sure he was told “Alex is bad, this is what happens to bad boys....”.

Yes. The number of adults in this particular case are a part of why it's so deeply disturbing. One adult could have made a difference, but all remained complacent to the plight of a child.

 

[Trudie]

Yes. The number of adults in this particular case are a part of why it's so deeply disturbing. One adult could have made a difference, but all remained complacent to the plight of a child.

Like “the family that tortures together stays together.”
I consider Alex tortured by all of the adults, even if not physically tortured. Doing nothing added to the emotional torture.