A Montana woman has been sentenced to life in prison for the torturous killing of her 12-year-old grandson. Patricia Batts, 51, pleaded guilty to deliberate homicide in the death of James "Alex" Hurley, which occurred in February 2020 in West Yellowstone. Batts also pleaded guilty to felony criminal child endangerment and witness tampering. She received 10-year sentences for each of those charges. Hurley had been living with Batts and her husband following the death of his father. An autopsy revealed that Hurley died from blunt force trauma to the back of his head, and he had bruises and wounds all over his body.

Prosecutors alleged that he was beaten, denied food, and subjected to forced exercise. Disturbing videos of the boy being tortured and punished were found on cellphones seized from the family members. During the sentencing, District Judge John C. Brown described the case as a horrific act of child abuse, calling it "totally unnecessary" and done with malevolence. Brown stated that the video evidence presented in court was the most horrific he had ever witnessed during his time on the bench.

The Bozeman Daily Chronicle reported that Hurley was emaciated, starved, and routinely beaten at the time of his death. Batts' husband, James Sasser Jr., who also played a role in Hurley's death, was sentenced to 100 years in prison earlier this year. Two children belonging to Sasser and Batts were also charged in the case. Their 14-year-old son was sentenced to juvenile detention until the age of 18, followed by seven years on probation.

The couple's daughter was sentenced to probation for her involvement. Batts has been in jail since her arrest, just over a week after Hurley died. The sentencing brings some closure to this horrifying case of child abuse, but it serves as a stark reminder of the need to protect vulnerable children and ensure justice is served.