GUILTY MT - James Hurley, 12, tortured to death, W. Yellowstone, Feb 2020 grandparents & uncle arrested #2

[PinkPrincessPoop]

A 12-year-old Montana boy was found dead in a living room; police say grandparents and uncle 'tortured' him - CNN

The grandparents and uncle of a 12-year-old boy in Montana have been charged in connection with his death after police say they found evidence of them torturing the child.

Videos found by police show a pattern of abuse that included forced exercises and physical abuse, according to court documents.

James Alex Hurley had been living with his grandparents, James Sasser Jr. and Patricia Batts, for the last two years. Also in the home were the couple's children, including their 14-year-old son, who was James' uncle. The uncle is being charged as a minor.

Detectives found video from about two years ago in which James "appeared to be a healthy and well fed boy," court documents said. At the time of his death, detectives said James "appeared to be emaciated," according to the documents.

"I believe the systematic torture and beatings are perpetrated on the victim in this case that led to his death," Bjorn Boyer, deputy county attorney with the Gallatin County Attorney's Office, told CNN affiliate KTVH-TV.

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Investigators: videos of James Alex Hurley, 12, appearing being tortured by members of his extended family before his death

According to charging documents, On Feb. 3, 2020 a Gallatin /County Sheriff’s deputy was dispatched to a home on Buffalo Drive in West Yellowstone for the unattended death of a 12-year-old child.

The deputy found circumstances surrounding the death suspicious and he requested assistance from the detective division after he observed the boy had multiple wounds and contusions all over his body.

During various interviews, detectives determined Hurley had been taken out of school in Sept. 2019. Court documents state it appears that very few people have had contact with the boy in the last several months outside the family.

[SBM and BBM for concision and emphasis. A lot more info in the links. I hope I did this right as it is the first time for me. Thank you.]

Thread #1

 

[NuttMegg]

Another West Yellowstone man charged in connection to 12-year-old's death

"During the investigation into Hurley’s death, Gallatin County Sheriff’s deputies found a video on Hurley’s uncle’s phone recorded in January that showed Roush striking Hurley with a wooden paddle, according to charging documents. Hurley can be seen crying and heard screaming “I (expletive) hate this.”

Sasser III told detectives that Roush was the man in the video hitting Hurley, court documents say.


A detective saw Roush at Hurley’s grandparents’ hearing in court on Thursday.

Roush admitted to detectives that he was the person in the video hitting Hurley, according to charging documents. Roush said he also forced Hurley to remain sitting against a wall while he hit Hurley."

 

[NuttMegg]

“Systematic torture” - Sheriff, friends weigh in on West Yellowstone boy’s death

"Batts' friend says there was a breaking point.

“I knew something was wrong and I encouraged her repeatedly to get him some help and have him put somewhere and she just really expressed that she just did not like him,” says the woman.

Investigators found places in the home where large amounts of blood were cleaned with vinegar.

Then, they found videos.

“She (Batts) is on a lot of the videos that show the torture to this young boy,” Boyer says. “She’s in the videos seen strangling the boy.”

 

[Niner]

Can someone give a 10% synopsis on this article - I can't seem to access it over here. TIA!

Attorneys plan to challenge death penalty in West Yellowstone murder case

 

[mickey2942]

Can someone give a 10% synopsis on this article - I can't seem to access it over here. TIA!

Attorneys plan to challenge death penalty in West Yellowstone murder case

"Defense attorneys plan to file motions by the end of October challenging the constitutionality of the death penalty in the case, although lawyers did not go into detail on Friday about their arguments."

They also want Batts to be able to talk to her 14 year old son, James Sasser III. They are challenging the search of the cellphones that have videos of Batts torturing and encouraging James Sasser III to torture Alex Hurley.

Disgusting. She probably won't even get five years. Probably with time served, she will be out by the time the trial is over.

 

[Heaven Leigh]

What a nightmare this poor child endured.
Tortured to death..smh

 

[Niner]

Thank you @mickey2942 !

 

[Niner]

just in case someone has heard anything new yet!

 

[Niner]

As usual I can't get into this article from the Bozeman paper. Can someone give a 10% synopsis on this? And if there are any court dates in there. TIA!

Attorneys argue for contact between father, son in West Yellowstone child homicide case

 

[Niner]

Can anyone access this article... I can't. If so, please post at least a 10% synopsis on this. TIA!

Attorneys argue for contact between father, son in West Yellowstone child homicide case

this is all I can see:

Attorneys argue for contact between father, son in West Yellowstone child homicide case
Idaho State Journal
James Sasser Jr., center, sheds a tear while listening to audio evidence during a motions hearing at the Gallatin County Law and Justice Center on ...

 

[Niner]

@mickey2942 - are you around? Was wondering if there was a court date from the above article I posted ^^ since you did the last article I posted.

James, Jr. (father) - might have been in court?

TIA!

 

[mrz]

Wow. Haven't heard of this case yet. Just a dark story! Hope justice moves swiftly for the victim!

 

[mickey2942]

@mickey2942 - are you around? Was wondering if there was a court date from the above article I posted ^^ since you did the last article I posted.

James, Jr. (father) - might have been in court?

TIA!

"All proposed motions are due in writing to Judge John Brown by the end of the business day on July 26. Brown will issue a decision on the motions after receiving all written proposed orders. Sasser Jr.’s two-week jury trial is scheduled to begin on Sept. 20.".

My own opinion? They are going to lay the blame on Sasser III, and these two will skate out with time served. And seriously? Sasser III is better off with NO CONTACT with either one of his "parents", who basically let him abuse and beat a child to death. James Hurley was nothing but a Social Security check to these folks.

 

[Niner]

Thank you @mickey2942 - much appreciated.
So Sasser Jr did have a hearing on Friday, 7/16?

And I agree with you on Sasser3 - better to have no contact with those people, especially his mother!

 

[mickey2942]

Thank you @mickey2942 - much appreciated.
So Sasser Jr did have a hearing on Friday, 7/16?

And I agree with you on Sasser3 - better to have no contact with those people, especially his mother!

The hearing was on Tuesday, July 13th.

"Sasser Jr.’s attorneys have filed multiple motions in the case. Attorneys spent the majority of a full-day motions hearing on Tuesday arguing a motion that Sasser Jr. be allowed to have contact with Sasser III.".

 

[Niner]

Thanks!

 

[Niner]

Just bumping up thread & wondering IF there might be a motions hearing on 7/26, as that is the date that the Judge said all pending motions should be filed by - ??

TIA if someone can find anything (over there) in the U.S.

 

[mickey2942]

Just bumping up thread & wondering IF there might be a motions hearing on 7/26, as that is the date that the Judge said all pending motions should be filed by - ??

TIA if someone can find anything (over there) in the U.S.

I just checked the Bozeman Chronicle, nothing new since July 13, 2021.

 

[Niner]

Can someone reading here - give a 10% synopsis on this article. I can not access it over here. A sentencing date if they have it - or if he got sentenced already - ?
TIA!

Grandfather pleads guilty in West Yellowstone murder case

 

[mickey2942]

Can someone reading here - give a 10% synopsis on this article. I can not access it over here. A sentencing date if they have it - or if he got sentenced already - ?
TIA!

Grandfather pleads guilty in West Yellowstone murder case

I just read this article, and was going to post it. I am surprised by the hefty sentence recommended. And surprised by the guilty plea.

"A West Yellowstone man pleaded guilty Friday to three felony charges stemming from the killing of his 12-year-old grandson in early 2020 at their home near Hebgen Lake.

James Sasser Jr. admitted to felony deliberate homicide in the murder of James Alex Hurley, a 12-year-old West Yellowstone boy who was described by those who knew him as an “All-American boy” who loved football and greeted people with a big smile."

During the plea change hearing, which lasted less than half an hour, Sasser Jr. admitted under oath that Hurley’s death was “the result of an aggravated assault by James III,” as phrased by his lawyer Colin M. Stephens.

Throughout the hearing, Sasser Jr. said little more than “Yes, sir,” “Yes,” and “Yeah.”

Prior to Sasser pleading guilty, Gallatin County District Court Judge John Brown asked him if he understood the gravity of the admitting guilt."

Prosecutors Bjorn E. Boyer and Marty Lambert recommended in the plea agreement that Sasser be sentenced to 100 years in the Montana state prison for the deliberate homicide charge with none suspended, 10 years in the Montana prison for the criminal child endangerment charge with none suspended and 10 years in the Montana state prison with none suspended.

Sasser Jr.’s sentencing for his involvement in Hurley’s death is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 9. Judge John Brown scheduled a full day for the sentencing."

The rest of the article discusses the other four involved, Patricia Batts, charged with death penalty, her trial is scheduled for next summer. Madison Sasser, on probation, James Sasser, III, incarcerated as a juvenile until age 18, and under probation until age 25, Gage Roush, probation for five years, and court ordered counseling.