James and Jennifer Crumbley, the parents of Oxford High School shooter Ethan Crumbley, are scheduled to be sentenced Tuesday morning.
The two initially started the trial together and will eventually appear in court together for the first time since before they separated. Prosecutors are asking for 10 to 15 years in prison for the parents, who asked to serve time.
Two separate juries found both James and Jennifer at fault in connection with the Nov. 30, 2021, shooting in which their then-15-year-old son killed student Tate Mire, 16. He was found guilty on four counts of manslaughter. Justin Schilling, 16 years old. Hannah St. Juliana, 14 years old. and Madisyn Baldwin, 17, and seven other victims were injured.
The parents’ trial is being described as historic as they are the first parents of a school shooter to go on trial for a child crime in U.S. history. Ethan Crumbley’s case was considered historic because in addition to the murder charge, he also pleaded guilty to terrorism charges. Now 18 years old, he will spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Mother of Michigan shooter wants house arrest, withdraws voice of remorse after shooter’s parents are sentenced
James Crumbley and Jennifer Crumbley are seeking prison terms or no additional jail time. (Mandy Wright/Detroit Free Press, via AP, Pool)
James Crumbley refused to testify in his own trial after his wife took the stand about a month before the trial began.
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At one point during the trial, Jennifer said she “wouldn’t have done” anything differently if she had the chance.
Watch Jennifer Crumley’s testimonial:
“Of course, after all this happened, I looked back and asked myself if I would have done anything differently. I wouldn’t have done it,” Jennifer testified, adding that her son was with her. Crumbley added that she wished she had killed her husband, James, “instead.”
Jennifer Crumbley recanted her testimony in a pre-sentence statement.
Jennifer Crumbley Trial: Michigan Jury Convicts Mother of Mass Shooter of Manslaughter
On November 30, 2021, Tate Mire, 16, was killed in the shooting at Oxford High School. Justin Schilling, 16 years old. Hannah St. Juliana, 14 years old. and Madisyn Baldwin, 17, and seven other victims were injured. (Eric Shields-USA Today Network)
“At trial, when I took the stand, I was asked if I would have done anything differently, and I testified that I didn’t. And without the benefit of hindsight that I have now, It’s true,” Crumbley wrote, according to detroit news. “Given the information I have now, of course my answer would be very different. If I could go back in time, there are many things I would change. I know my son is a quiet, good boy and loves his pets. I never imagined he would hurt someone like that.” ”
Michigan mother on trial for her son’s shooting, raising questions about parental responsibility in mass shootings
Video shows Jennifer Crumbley, left, and her son Ethan Crumbley at the range for target practice on November 27, 2021. Screened in court during Jennifer Crumbley’s trial on January 25, 2024 in Pontiac, Michigan. (Mandy Wright/Detroit Free Press, via AP, Pool)
Ethan uses a 9mm SIG Sauer that his father bought him. shooting up oxford high school The gun contained several rounds of ammunition when authorities recovered it. Days before the massacre, Jennifer posted on social media about the purchase as a Christmas present for her teenage son.
Witness says Michigan shooter’s mother Jennifer Crumbley called her son ‘oppy baby’
Photos showed a shooting range target with bullet holes hanging in Ethan’s messy bedroom, scattered on the floor and bed. (Oakland County Court)
Prosecutors say the shooting occurred as the Crumbley family arrived at Oxford High School on the morning of Nov. 30 to meet with a school counselor after Ethan was found scrawling a disturbing note in class. He suggested the shooting could have been stopped earlier.
His note included a picture of a gun and the words “Help me,” “I’m bleeding,” and “My life is worthless.”
Check out our interview with Crumleys after the shoot:
However, after the meeting, the parents turned their backs and went back to work, leaving their son at school. Ethan then pulled a firearm from his backpack and shot and killed four students and injured seven others. The shooting resulted in multiple civil lawsuits against Crumbley parents and school administrators, alleging they failed to stop the shooting.
Ethan Crumbley stands with attorneys Paulette Loftin and Amy Hopp during a hearing in Oakland County Circuit Court on August 1, 2023 in Pontiac, Michigan. (Clarence Tubb Jr./Detroit News, via AP, Pool, File)
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Prosecutors pointed to diary entries, text messages and videos showing Ethan’s parents ignoring him as he called for help. Prosecutors said at Jennifer’s trial that the day before the school massacre, Ethan made a 19-minute video explaining what he would do the next day.
After the shooting, the Crumbleys allegedly fled Oxford after initial questioning by police and headed to Detroit with $6,000 in cash. U.S. Marshals ultimately arrested them several days later on December 4, 2021.
