Ethan Crumbley: Michigan prosecutors seek minimum 10-year prison term for Oxford School shooter’s parents
Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.
PONTIAC, MICHIGAN: Prosecutors in Michigan are urging a minimum 10-year prison sentence for Jennifer Crumbley and James Crumbley, marking the first instance in the United States where parents are being held criminally responsible for a school shooting.
Jennifer's “chilling lack of remorse” and James' failure "to exercise even the smallest measure of ordinary care” are at the forefront of the prosecution's argument, as detailed in a court filing on Wednesday, April 3.
The couple, parents of Oxford High School shooter Ethan, were separately convicted of involuntary manslaughter earlier this year. While they were not accused of having prior knowledge of their son's plan, prosecutors contend they neglected to secure a firearm at home and overlooked his mental health issues.
Timeline of Ethan Crumbley's shooting
The harrowing events unfolded on the day of the shooting when the Crumbleys, instead of taking their son home after a concerning meeting at the school regarding Ethan Crumbley's disturbing drawings and behavior, left with a list of mental health contacts and returned to work.
Ethan, at the age of 15, unleashed a horrifying attack at the school resulting in the deaths of Justin Shilling, 17; Madisyn Baldwin, 17; Hana St. Juliana, 14; and Tate Myre, 16.
The Crumbleys were not asked to remove Ethan from school but their lack of intervention ultimately contributed to the deadly outcome. During the trial, it was revealed that James had purchased a handgun just four days prior to the incident, mirroring the firearm depicted in Ethan's drawings, per KSL.
Parents convicted in child's school shooting
With a maximum possible prison sentence of 15 years, the minimum term set by the judge on April 9 will hold significant weight, as it could render the Crumbleys eligible for parole consideration after serving that duration. The couple has already spent approximately two-and-half years in the Oakland County jail since their arrest.
Jennifer, aged 46, is seeking to avoid imprisonment and instead proposes wearing an electronic tether while residing with her attorney, Shannon Smith. Similarly, James, aged 47, expresses a desire for release.
However, assistant prosecutor Marc Keast vehemently opposes these requests, describing such a lenient sentence as "a slap in the face" to the severity of the tragedy caused by the Crumbleys' negligence.
Ethan, now 17, is serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole after pleading guilty to murder and terrorism charges.
