MONTANA GRANDMA TORTURED HER GRANDSON TO DEATH. NOW, SHE HEADS TO PRISON FOR LIFE.

A Montana woman and grandmother who tortured her 12-year-old grandson to death will spend the rest of her life behind bars.

Latterly, Gallatin County District Court Judge John C. Brown sentenced Patricia Batts, 51 to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the torture death of her grandson James “Alex” Hurley. To avoid the death penalty, Batts pleaded guilty to deliberate homicide, felony criminal child endangerment, and witness tampering.

“This is a horrific case of child abuse. It was totally unnecessary, and it was done with malevolence,” said Brown during the sentencing hearing, according to AP News.

In February 2020, authorities discovered James’ body in the living room of the home Batts shared with her husband, James Sasser Jr.,51, son and daughter.  Initially, the defendant had told investigators James had been suicidal, erratic and hearing voices. As a result, Batts and family members told investigators that the victim had deliberately run into the entertainment center to hurt himself.

However, the medical examiner’s report showed contrary evidence to the family’s claim. An autopsy showed James died of blunt force trauma to the back of his head, in addition to various bruises and wounds all over his body. As a result, authorities seized phones from family members and found video footage of James being abused and tortured.

Some of the footage showed James being forced to exercise by doing jumping jack, wall squats, and making him stand in front of a fan wearing nothing but his underwear. In addition, the video also showed the victim being sprayed with an unidentified substance that caused him to choke.

“I regret not being the grandmother Alex should’ve had,” said Batts, reported East Idaho News.

In March 2022, James Sasser Jr. was sentenced to 100 years in prison after he pleaded to charges similar to his wife. The couple’s 14-year-old son was sentenced as a minor to a juvenile detention center till his 18th birthday for his role in the homicide. On the other hand, their daughter was sentenced to probation.