Story, photo courtesy of Steve Nash – Special Contributor to BrownwoodNews.com

On his 15th birthday, Timothy James Basham walked out of the Brown County Courthouse with a new name and a new family.

Prior to a hearing Thursday in the 35th Judicial District courtroom, Timothy was known as Timothy Hill. Timothy was 11 when, in 2022, his 9-year-old sister, HardiQuinn Hill, died of severe neglect in a small, dilapidated house on Avenue C in Brownwood. Timothy and HardiQuinn lived there with their mother and another woman. Both women are serving life sentences for capital murder.

In Thursday’s hearing, Judge Elizabeth Watkins of the Child Protection Court of the Concho approved petitions that:

• Restored the parental rights of Timothy’s father, James Basham. Basham, who lives in Granbury with his wife, Melissa, did not know about Timothy’s existence until child protection officials became involved with Timothy after the death of HardiQuinn. Basham, described in court documents as “a non-offending parent, ” had relinquished his parental rights in 2024 based on what he believed to be Timothy’s best interests.

• Allowed Melissa Basham to become Timothy’s adoptive mother.

• Granted Timothy’s request to change his name to Timothy James Basham.

Basham family members as well as representatives of child protection agencies and law enforcement packed the courtroom as Watkins heard testimony from James, Melissa and Timothy, a handsome young man who was relaxed and smiling.

“I’m just ready for it to happen,” Timothy, who is in the eighth grade, said before the hearing began.

James Basham, 42, said he worked until recently as a heavy hauler and is trying to start his own business as a hauler. “I think it’s pretty good,” Basham said of the events that were about to take place in the courtroom. “We finally made it.”

A petition filed by Brownwood attorney Patrick Howard on behalf of the family explains the circumstances that led to Thursday’s hearing.

Timothy had been taken into the care of the Department of Family and Protective services due to “severe and traumatizing” circumstances — a referral to the Aug. 22, 2022 death of HardiQuinn Hill. Child protection officials removed Timothy from the home and placed him with relatives.

James Basham’s paternity had been established through DNA testing following Timothy’s sister’s death. Timothy had no prior knowledge of his father and did not want a relationship with his father. Despite James Basham “working services and wanting to be in (Timothy’s) life, James willingly relinquished his parental rights,” the petition states.

This decision was based on James’ belief that it was in Timothy’s best interests and on Timothy’s wishes, at that time, to be adopted by another relative.

If that adoption did not take place, reinstatement of James’ parental rights would be sought. The adoption did not happen.

“In the two years since termination, (Timothy) has come to know and develop a very positive relationship with his father and his father’s extended family,” the petition states.

Timothy has been living with James and Melissa Basham in Granbury since July 2025.

After hearing testimony at Thursday’s hearing, Watkins indicated she has presided over numerous hearings involving Timothy.

“It has been quite a few years that we have been going through this … and this is quite remarkable, and I believe there have only been a few of these (parental rights reinstated) done across the state since the law was started,” Watkins said.

“It takes a lot to come back and say ‘I want to have all of my rights reinstated, I want to be the parent for this child.’ I remember the decision that Mr. Basham made on behalf of his son to allow him to develop and grow and mature and get treatment. Based upon all of that evidence, I grant the petition for reinstatement, and congratulations, Mr. Basham.”

Watkins went on to grant the petitions to allow Timothy’s name change and his adoption by Melissa Basham.

“From this moment on, you are Timothy James Basham. Congratulations,” Watkins told Timothy, sparking applause from those seated in the courtroom.

Noting the numerous previous hearings involving Timothy, Watkins said, “this is an unusual case, and it is one that deserves to go slow and steady. I will say that I met (Timothy) when he was much smaller.

“But I think now you tower over me,” Watkins said, addressing Timothy. “That’s one of the things that we look for. In the last year especially, I have seen probably 12 inches of growth and lots of maturity, and that’s what happens when a kid gets settled, when they get home. Their body relaxes, their mind relaxes, and they grow the way that they’re supposed to.”

Watkins said she is “in awe” of what James and Melissa Basham have done. “It’s unselfish to the core, and I thank you for that,” she said.

Howard said Thursday’s hearing was “a really cool ending to a really sad story.”