James Crumbley, father of Oxford High School shooter Ethan Crumbley, calls himself a “martyr” and says he feels like “joining the army” in a prison phone call obtained by Fox News Digital. ing.
An Oakland County, Michigan, judge on Tuesday found James and his wife, Jennifer Crumbley, guilty of manslaughter for their respective roles in the then-15-year-old’s school shooting. The defendant was sentenced to 10 to 15 years in prison. The test was carried out on my 1 year old son on November 30, 2021.
“I kind of feel like a martyr,” James said during one prison call. “You know, we are martyrs, but there is no death aspect at all, because I don’t know a better word. That’s why I use the word ‘martyr’. But we… I’m a martyr to make sure this never happens to anyone else in America again. [Oakland County Prosecutor] Karen McDonald. ”
He later added that he and his wife were “going to fight the good fight for everyone else.”
James and Jennifer Crumbley sentenced for Michigan son’s school shooting
James Crumbley was found guilty of manslaughter for failing to secure a gun in his home and disregarding his son’s mental health. Ethan Crumbley murdered four of his students at Oxford High School in Oakland County, Michigan in 2021. (Mandy Wright/Detroit Free Press via AP, Pool)
“I’m going to join the army and fight for my country,” he says. “You know, I’m like that too. I’m fighting for everyone else’s freedom.”
“I’m going to join the military and fight for my country.”
During the defendant’s sentencing hearing on Tuesday, portions of James’ prison phone calls were read out in court. Specifically, prosecutors highlighted a moment when James appeared to threaten McDonald, the Oakland County prosecutor who first filed the historic charges against Crumbley’s parents in December 2021. . They are the first parents of a school shooter to be indicted and convicted in U.S. history. children’s crimes.
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Oakland County, Michigan Attorney Karen McDonald filed historic charges against Ethan, James, and Jennifer Crumbley in December 2021. (Mandy Wright/Detroit Free Press)
Ethan, now 18, pleaded guilty to the shooting and was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
On other prison calls, James repeatedly used profanity and insults at MacDonald.
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“That’s right, Karen McDonald, you’re going down,” he said on one phone call. “Go ahead and record this call. Send it to Karen McDonald. Tell her how James Crumbley is going to take her down. Once I’m done with her, she’s a lawyer.” I don’t have a license. And like I said, Karen MacDonald will work as a lawyer.” She’s choosing MacDonald because she can’t get a job anywhere else. ”
Jennifer and James Crumbley, the parents of Michigan school shooter Ethan Crumbley, are each accused of failing to take steps that could have prevented the murder of four students in 2021. He was sentenced to at least 10 years in prison. (Carlos Osorio)
James later said he planned to “run wild” once he got out of prison.
“Karen McDonald, you’re going to fall, you better be scared.”
But his defense attorney, Marielle Lehman, argued Tuesday before Oakland County Judge Cheryl Matthews that her client did not physically threaten prosecutors.
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James Crumbley’s attorney, Mariel Lehman, argued Tuesday before Oakland County Judge Cheryl Matthews that her client did not physically threaten prosecutors. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, Pool)
“I dispute that Mr. Crumbley ever made physical threats against Prosecutor MacDonald,” Lehman said Tuesday. “I have never threatened to physically harm him.” “Instead… Mr. Crumbley’s comments, some of which may not have been very respectful, are angry out of frustration over being incarcerated for the past two years and being locked down 23 hours a day. ” Mr. Crumbley and I have been claiming for six months that he did nothing illegal or wrong. But he was complaining. ”
James then addressed the court for the first time during sentencing. He did not testify during the trial, as did his wife.
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Video: James Crumbley speaks at sentencing
“I really want the families of Madisyn Baldwin, Hannah St. Juliana, Tate Myre, and Justin Schilling to know… how truly sorry I am and to hear what happened to them. How devastated I was,” James said. “I have cried countless times for you and your children. I know your pain and loss will never go away. A part of you will be forever missing. But please know that I am truly sorry.”
James’ statement ended with a loud declaration that the court did not know the whole truth about the shooting. it is. You have no truth at all. ”
Ethan Crumbley, 15, walks into Oxford High School in Oakland County, Michigan, on the morning of November 30, 2021, attends morning classes, meets with his parents and school counselor, and is returned to class. I was sent back to class earlier. He pulled a gun from his backpack and killed 16-year-old Tate Myre, 16-year-old Justin Schilling, 14-year-old Hannah St. Juliana, and 17-year-old Madisyn Baldwin. (FOX 2 Detroit)
Ethan uses a 9mm SIG Sauer that James bought for 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.
Prosecutors also revealed at both trials that the gun was not properly secured in the Crumbleys’ home. Ethan had a target poster with bullet holes in his bedroom.
Video displayed in a courtroom in Pontiac, Michigan, on July 27, 2023, shows Ethan Crumbley at the shooting range. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Prosecutors have suggested the Crumbleys could have stopped the shooting before it occurred. they arrived at oxford high school Ethan was scheduled to meet with the school counselor on the morning of November 30th after he was caught scribbling disturbing notes in class.
His note included an image of a gun and the phrases “Help me,” “I’m bleeding,” and “My life is worthless.”
Witness says Michigan shooter’s mother Jennifer Crumbley called her son ‘oppy baby’
From left: Ethan Crumbley, Jennifer Crumbley, James Crumbley. (Oakland County Sheriff)
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 led to several civil lawsuits against the Crumbleys and school administrators, alleging they failed to stop the shooting.
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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.
