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Grandma Accused of Torturing Tween Grandson to Death Had Family Get in on the ‘Fun’

NewsPublished Aug 16, 2023
By Genny Glassman
James Alex HurleyGallatin County Sheriff's Office/Facebook, Chalabala/iStock

In February 2020, authorities found 12-year-old James Alex Hurley dead in his grandparents' home in Gallatin County, Montana. An investigation revealed that his multiple injuries and bruises were the result of horrific “systematic torture and beatings" at the hand of his grandmother, Patricia Batts.

Batts eventually pleaded guilty, and the family and prosecutors who had planned to seek the death penalty accepted a plea deal with a recommended sentence of life imprisonment.

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When police arrived at the family home on February 3, 2020, James was found dead with multiple wounds and bruises all over his body.

James had lived with his grandparents and their children for two years, but police claim he endured horrific abuse from the whole family during that time. KBZK reported that James' parents did not live with the family; his mother sent him to live with his father in Montana, but two years before James' death, his father died. 

In the house along with James' grandmother was grandfather James Sasser Jr., Batts' teenage son and Batts' daughter, Madison Sasser, who was charged with aggravated kidnapping and negligent homicide, People stated.

Sadly, torturing James was a family affair.

Batts was accused of beating her grandson, and video obtained by police reportedly shows that the whole family would join in. It was these "systematic torture and beatings" that eventually led to James' death.

Court documents reveal that at the time of his death, James 'appeared to be emaciated.'

Meanwhile, video from two years before his death showed James was a fit and "healthy and well-fed boy," the documents noted.

At the time of his death, James weighed 100 pounds and was 5 feet 3 inches, but his extreme weight loss is thought to be the result of his family withholding food from him and making him do exercises such as jumping jacks and squats. The family allegedly recorded this abuse on video.

Family friend Gage Roush was also charged with assault of a minor.

Police found video of Roush allegedly hitting James with a wooden paddle. It's unclear why Roush got involved in the abuse or what the extent of the charges against him are.

Batts, her husband, and her teenage son were arrested February 12, 2020, and charged with deliberate homicide.

Deputy Gallatin County Attorney Bjorn Boyer filed a notice at that point that he would be seeking the death penalty for Batts. It was not clear if the death penalty would also be sought for the rest of the family, but they all remained in prison on bond.

A former friend of Batts told KTVH that she was 'devastated' by Batts' actions.

She told the news station that she was "mortified. I’m disgusted to my core."

"Before it was confirmed to me, personally, that it was them ... this was my friend that did this, I couldn’t help but go to what this was like for him and how scared he must have been," the friend added.

“I trusted this woman,” she continued. “I’ve known her since 2008. I’m just reeling. I’m devastated for this little boy.”

crimeJames Alex HurleyPatricia Battsmurderhomicidecrime newsGallatin CountyMontanachild abuse
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