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

[Crimescenetape]

Or just report him as a "runaway". There is a lot of space up there.

Good thing Batts didn't sober up before she called the police.

I could be mistaken but I believe the beneficiary needs to be in the household to be eligible for Social Security death benefits. Filing a "runaway" police report would stop benefits effective the date of the report. Maybe the family knew that, maybe they didn't. I've met some people who know more about getting around the system than government employees.

 

[mickey2942]

I could be mistaken but I believe the beneficiary needs to be in the household to be eligible for Social Security death benefits. Filing a "runaway" police report would stop benefits effective the date of the report. Maybe the family knew that, maybe they didn't. I've met some people who know more about getting around the system than government employees.

Yeah, the checks would have stopped. But they wouldn't be in prison now.

Odd. They have zero ethics in regards to abusing JAH. And are totally ethical when it comes to notifying authorities.

I actually think that Batts had so disassociated from JAH, and blamed him for "having to discipline" JAH, that she thought the police would just take JAH out like trash, and she could just roll over on the sofa again.

 

[Niner]

Anyone heard anything on court dates for:

James Sasser, Jr. - last one was 3/6/20
Madison Sasser - last one was 5/1/20
Gage Roush - last was 4/21/20.

Than I have
Patricia Batts on 5/27
James III on 7/7

I can't seem to access the court site anymore - but that was never updated anyway.

TIA if you find something!

 

[Niner]

Aunt, man tied to murder of West Yellowstone boy post bail

May 24, 2020

MISSOULA, Mont. — The aunt of a West Yellowstone boy and another man arrested in connection with his murder posted bail over the weekend.

The Gallatin County Detention Center confirmed with NBC Montana that 18-year-old Madison Sasser and 18-year-old Gage Roush posted bail,

 

[MimosaMornings]

 

[FrankieT]

Aunt, man tied to murder of West Yellowstone boy post bail

May 24, 2020

MISSOULA, Mont. — The aunt of a West Yellowstone boy and another man arrested in connection with his murder posted bail over the weekend.

The Gallatin County Detention Center confirmed with NBC Montana that 18-year-old Madison Sasser and 18-year-old Gage Roush posted bail,

What a shame.

 

[ajaylee]

Yeah, the checks would have stopped. But they wouldn't be in prison now.

Odd. They have zero ethics in regards to abusing JAH. And are totally ethical when it comes to notifying authorities.

I actually think that Batts had so disassociated from JAH, and blamed him for "having to discipline" JAH, that she thought the police would just take JAH out like trash, and she could just roll over on the sofa again.

Do we know for sure that Batts knew JAH was dead when she (?) called 911?

1) I don't recall who actually made the 911 call. I believe Sasser (dad) was at work when he got the news.

2) Do we know that whoever notified 911 reported a dead body? Sasser (son) had been researching things like 'being in a coma', IIRC. I can easily visualize Batts seeing JAH unresponsive (perhaps not responding to her voice or to physical prodding) and calling 911 without knowing he was dead. I can not see Batts making any attempt to render aid to JAH.

After all, if JAH was injured so badly he was effectively 'brain dead', that would be the answer to all their prayers - JAH disposed of but alive so they can keep cashing his Social Security checks.

 

[Niner]

Wednesday, May 27th:
*Omnibus Hearing (@ am MT) – MT – James Alexander Hurley (12) (found Feb. 3, 2020 deceased in living room, West Yellowstone) - Only For *Patricia “Trish” Lynn Batts (48) aka Patricia Sasser & Patricia Rone (paternal grandmother) arrested (2/12/20 & charged (2/13/20) & arraigned (3/24/20) with 1 count of felony deliberate homicide. Charged (3/5/20) & arraigned (3/24/20) with aggravated kidnapping, criminal child endangerment & strangulation. Plead not guilty to all charges. $750K bond. DA will seek DP.
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. Next arraignment hearing on 3/6 for both.
3/5/20 Update: Batts face new charges which were filed on 3/5/20 for kidnapping, child endangerment & strangulation. 3/11/20: Gallatin County District Judge John Brown asked attorney Ryan Peabody at a hearing on Wednesday to file his qualifications to represent Batts to argue against the death penalty. Had arraignment hearing on 3/24/20 & plead not guilty to all charges. Batts Only: Omnibus hearing on 5/27.
5/8/20 Update: Prosecutor Bjorn Boyer has filed notice of intent to seek the death penalty for Batts, if she is convicted of deliberate homicide (the equivalent of first degree murder in other states).
*James Danny Sasser, Jr. (47) – Hearing on 3/6/20.
*James Danny Sasser III (14) – Hearing on 7/7/20.
*Gage Anthony Roush (18) – Status hearing on 4/21/20.
*Madison Sasser (18) – Arraignment hearing on 5/1/20.
James was sent to Montana to live with his father (~August 2017) by his mother; father was hospitalized in Nov. 2017 died in January, 2018 & ended up living with grandparents. Videos of abuse dating back to December 2019. "Detectives observed videos of what appeared to be the family torturing (James)," the complaint said. Instances of the abuse included James being forced to do exercises -- jumping jacks and wall squats -- along with standing in front of a fan with no clothing but his underwear, according to the complaint. Videos reviewed by detectives also showed the suspects spraying James in the face with an unknown substance that burned him and choking him, & detectives also found food in the house was locked up so James did not have access to it. Roush could be seen on cell phone video beating Hurley with a paddle. Under Montana law, deliberate homicide by means of torture is one of the aggravating circumstances that would allow the county attorney’s office to seek the death penalty.”

 

[mickey2942]

Aunt, man tied to murder of West Yellowstone boy post bail

May 24, 2020

MISSOULA, Mont. — The aunt of a West Yellowstone boy and another man arrested in connection with his murder posted bail over the weekend.

The Gallatin County Detention Center confirmed with NBC Montana that 18-year-old Madison Sasser and 18-year-old Gage Roush posted bail,

. I wonder if the bail was reduced. Why did Roush get out now, rather than before?

 

[Niner]

. I wonder if the bail was reduced. Why did Roush get out now, rather than before?

I don't believe either of them had their bail reduced.... from what I gathered in the article.

 

[Niner]

Per article James Sasser Jr. was also at hearing on 5/27.

Hearings pushed back for grandparents in case of murdered West Yellowstone boy

May 27, 2020
BOZEMAN, Mont. - The timeline of hearings for the grandparents of a murdered West Yellowstone boy has been pushed back after an omnibus hearing in Gallatin County District Court on Wednesday.
[.....]
During omnibus hearings with Judge John Brown on Wednesday afternoon, James Alexander Hurley's grandparents - Patricia Batts and James Sasser Jr. - Judge Brown allowed the timeline of their hearings to be pushed back at the request of their lawyers. This is considered to be standard procedure for a high-profile case like this one.
[.....]
Batts' hearing is being pushed back another two months to July 29. She is facing the death penalty if convicted of felony charges that include deliberate homicide, strangulation of a family member, aggravated kidnapping, and child endangerment. She has been held at the Gallatin County Detention Center since February on a $750,000 bond.

Her husband, James Sasser Jr., is facing charges of deliberate homicide and criminal child endangerment and will have his hearing pushed back one month to June 25. He is held on $50,000 bond.

 

[Dave F.]

The previous web portal to the roster of the Gallatin County Jail has been taken down. I found this link on the main Gallatin County website. It appears to be current, and JR is no longer listed, so he must have posted bail. MS was never listed on the old roster site, but it seems pretty obvious that she has also posted bail.
Being "out on bond" on a felony charge in Montana nearly always involves wearing a monitor 24/7, regular reporting in person, steady employment, etc. Out on bond is far from total freedom. Days spent in jail awaiting trial count as full days served if a person is sentenced, so many felons who feel they are going to be convicted; prefer to stay in jail, thus reducing the time they will actually spend in prison before parole.
IMO
Zuercher Portal
Zuercher Portal

 

[Niner]

Unfortunately that site doesn't give court dates that you posted @Dave F. ....

 

[Niner]

Just noticed that the article in my post #891 - that the bond is incorrect.

Her husband, James Sasser Jr., is facing charges of deliberate homicide and criminal child endangerment and will have his hearing pushed back one month to June 25. He is held on $50,000 bond.

It should be $500,000 bond.

 

[Dave F.]

Unfortunately that site doesn't give court dates that you posted @Dave F. ....

Thanks, but I don't recall posting any court dates. I live in Montana, so I assume that any court date, other than" tomorrow morning", is probably going to change. IMO

 

[Dave F.]

Just noticed that the article in my post #891 - that the bond is incorrect.

Her husband, James Sasser Jr., is facing charges of deliberate homicide and criminal child endangerment and will have his hearing pushed back one month to June 25. He is held on $50,000 bond.

It should be $500,000 bond.

It was close , though. Just one key stroke off. I personally hate it when I sticky keyboard issues. JMO

 

[Niner]

Thanks, but I don't recall posting any court dates. I live in Montana, so I assume that any court date, other than" tomorrow morning", is probably going to change. IMO

No - not complaining about you - just saying the link you gave doesn't give court dates - so actually useless to me!

It was close , though. Just one key stroke off. I personally hate it when I sticky keyboard issues. JMO

Especially if you are writing an article....

 

[ajaylee]

I wonder what the legal strategy is going to be.

Sasser (dad) seemed quite quick to suggest that he was 'just about' to divorce Batts and take the kids (except Alex). Yeah, he was 'just about' to do that...someday. He seems quite ready to let Batts take full responsibility.

However...Batts is potentially facing the death penalty - and at the very least, a very long sentence. I think the evidence suggests that the fatal blow(s) were struck by the boy. He texted his dad at one point that he was going to kill Alex and his sister texted her BF that she thought her brother had killed Alex. If he goes down as a youth, it will likely only be until he is 21, a far shorter sentence than his mother is likely facing.

Of course, it's an entirely different story if the boy gets tried as an adult (which I personally favor). I don't think he's likely to get any kind of 'rehab' if he's confined in a youth facility and I certainly don't think there will be any kind of positive family support going forward - none of them seem to have shown the slightest belief that any of them have done anything wrong. Pretty shocking, actually.

 

[Niner]

I do have access to court site, so not sure IF this is still a "go" today, but will post just in case... the court site is never updated.

Thursday, June 25th:
*Omnibus Hearing (@ am MT) – MT – James Alexander Hurley (12) (found Feb. 3, 2020 deceased in living room, West Yellowstone) – for *James Danny Sasser, Jr. (47/now 48) (paternal grandfather) arrested (2/12/20), charged (2/13/20) & arraigned (3/6/20) with 1 count of felony deliberate homicide. $500K bond.
2/13/20 Update: Grandparents initial appearance in court. Sasser Jr. bond set at $500K. Did not enter any plea, but requested public defender. Next arraignment hearing on 3/6. 3/6/20 Update: No plea entered. Next pretrial hearing on 5/27/20 which was rescheduled on 6/25/20.
*Patricia “Trish” Lynn Batts (48) – Omnibus hearing on 7/29/20.
*James Danny Sasser III (14) – Hearing on 7/7/20.
*Gage Anthony Roush (18) – Status hearing on 4/21/20.
*Madison Sasser (18) – Arraignment hearing on 5/1/20.
James was sent to Montana to live with his father (~August 2017) by his mother; father was hospitalized in Nov. 2017 died in January, 2018 & ended up living with grandparents. Videos of abuse dating back to December 2019. "Detectives observed videos of what appeared to be the family torturing (James)," the complaint said. Instances of the abuse included James being forced to do exercises -- jumping jacks and wall squats -- along with standing in front of a fan with no clothing but his underwear, according to the complaint. Videos reviewed by detectives also showed the suspects spraying James in the face with an unknown substance that burned him and choking him, & detectives also found food in the house was locked up so James did not have access to it. Roush could be seen on cell phone video beating Hurley with a paddle. Under Montana law, deliberate homicide by means of torture is one of the aggravating circumstances that would allow the county attorney’s office to seek the death penalty.”

 

[Niner]

Okay - anyone reading here access Gallatin County court site?

Wondering about:
Madison - had arraignment hearing on 5/1/20
Gage - last status hearing on 4/21/20.

Just trying to keep my notes updated!
TIA!