Ethan Crumbley: Michigan school shooter's parents get emotional while testifying at manslaughter trial

Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.

MICHIGAN, UNITED STATES: During the recent court hearing of the accused school shooter, the mother, Jennifer Crumbley, broke down in tears while viewing surveillance footage of her son's deadly school shooting. 

To provide context, 15-year-old Ethan Crumbley fatally shot four fellow students on November 30, 2021. 

Subsequently, both parents, James and Jennifer Crumbley, were arrested and are currently facing manslaughter charges.

In the ongoing manslaughter trial, Jennifer openly acknowledged the difficulty of confronting the horror caused by her child, expressing that it was hard to "stomach." 

She also shared insights into the freedom she granted her son and how he had the ability to express anything to her. 

Additionally, she refrained from portraying herself as a victim but rather conveyed empathy for the real victims, particularly the families of the deceased teens.

What happened in the courtroom?

Jennifer Crumbley, in her defense on the sixth day of her manslaughter trial, recounted the tragic events surrounding her son Ethan's shooting rampage. 

On the day of the incident, Ethan, then 15, used a gun allegedly given to him as a gift by his parents just days prior to open fire on his classmates, resulting in the deaths of students Tate Myre, 16, Hana St. Juliana, 14, Madisyn Baldwin, 17, and Justin Shilling, 17.

During her testimony, Jennifer Crumbley expressed deep remorse and stated that she would willingly give her life in exchange for the children killed by her son. When asked if she could change what happened, she replied affirmatively, expressing the wish that her son had taken their lives instead.

Jennifer Crumbley addresses threats following her son’s shooting in school

Jennifer also explained her actions following the tragedy, addressing her apparent attempt to evade arrest. Faced with threats through social media and email after her son was identified as the perpetrator, she and her husband rented a room at an extended-stay hotel on December 1. 

They later stayed at an art studio where they were eventually discovered, invited by a friend who owned the studio.

Jennifer clarified that they planned to turn themselves in on Saturday, December 4, at a courthouse handling weekend arraignments, unaware that they were subjects of a manhunt.

Responding to questions about her awareness of court appearances, Jennifer explained that she was waiting for directions from her attorney and felt unsafe due to the community being aware of their intention to surrender at the police station.

She also disclosed taking medication to help them sleep before turning themselves in, emphasizing their need for rest after days without sleep. 

Earlier, Jennifer revealed that upon learning about the shooting, she initially didn't believe her son would be involved, but her perspective changed when her husband informed her that the gun was missing.

Jennifer addressed text messages between her and her son, explaining that the phrase "next time don't get caught" was an inside family joke referring to her own troublemaking tendencies as a child. 

When asked if she believed her son was a danger to others, she responded with a firm "No," expressing the shock and difficulty in comprehending that her child caused harm and death to others.

Jennifer Crumbley discloses son’s shooting hobbies

After Jennifer disclosed certain details about the aftermath of the shooting, she discussed her only child's hobbies, which included shooting a BB gun and practicing target shooting in their backyard. Additionally, she mentioned his interests in playing video games and collecting coins.

Jennifer expressed her belief that she had fostered an environment where her son felt comfortable discussing his mental health issues with her. "I trusted him, and I felt like I had an open door that he could come to me about anything."

She also stated that she didn't consider her son in need of a psychiatrist, emphasizing that his only reported struggle was with anxiety before tests. Jennifer testified that he never expressed a desire to see a mental health professional.

Jennifer denies calling her ‘victim’

After over three hours of testimony, Jennifer Crumbley was posed a final question by her lawyer, Shannon Smith. "Do you believe you are the victim here?" Smith inquired. Jennifer hesitated, responding, "I don’t want to say that I’m a victim because I do not want to disrespect those families that truly are the victims of this. But we did lose a lot." 

When asked if they had lost everything, Jennifer affirmed, "We did." Following this exchange, Oakland County Circuit Judge Cheryl Matthews halted the proceedings for the day.

After the jury exited the courtroom, prosecutors raised concerns about potential breaches of attorney-client privilege. Jennifer Crumbley had testified that she followed Smith’s instructions regarding turning themselves in. Assistant Oakland County prosecutor Marc Keast expressed his intention to address this matter during cross-examination.

Ethan Crumbley, now 17, pleaded guilty in October to all 24 charges against him, including murder and terrorism, receiving a life sentence without the possibility of parole. 

Prosecutors assert that the Crumbleys were aware of their son's troubled state, having been called to the school due to disturbing drawings he made in a math workbook. While Ethan remained at the school, the parents left after meeting with school officials and their son.

The Crumbleys have consistently contested the criminal case in Michigan, with defense attorneys arguing against a sufficient causal link between the parents' actions and their son's school attack. 

They believe holding the parents criminally responsible would set a dangerous precedent. If convicted of manslaughter, Jennifer and James Crumbley face a potential 15 years in prison. James Crumbley's trial is scheduled to commence in March.