In a recent development in the trial of Jennifer Crumbley, the mother of Ethan Crumbley, the 2021 Oxford High School shooter, a motion has been filed to dismiss three witnesses who were victims of the shooting.
The defense argues that the factual evidence these witnesses could present is "devastating, gruesome, and appalling," and could potentially "inflame the passions of a jury."
The Oakland County prosecutors in Michigan had added these three witnesses to Jennifer Crumbley's trial on December 28, based on their prior testimony in Ethan Crumbley's case. The defense team, however, contends that while their testimony was relevant in the shooter's trial, it would only serve to distract and confuse the jury in Mrs. Crumbley's case, where the focus should be on the offenses she is charged with.
James and Jennifer Crumbley, parents of Ethan Crumbley, are each facing four counts of involuntary manslaughter for their alleged roles in the November 30, 2021, shooting. The incident resulted in the deaths of four students: Tate Myre, Justin Shilling, Hana St. Juliana, and Madisyn Baldwin, all aged between 14 and 17, and left seven others injured.
The prosecution alleges that the Crumbleys purchased a firearm for their 15-year-old son as a Christmas gift and posted about it on Facebook. It is also claimed that the firearm was not secured inside their home. These cases are unprecedented in the country, not only due to the involuntary manslaughter charges filed against the parents in connection with the shooting, but also because Ethan Crumbley was charged with terrorism resulting in death in addition to murder charges.
The defense team for Jennifer Crumbley does not dispute the suffering of the victims but believes that the details of their experiences are irrelevant to the charges against Mrs. Crumbley.
Oakland County prosecutor Karen McDonald has stated that James and Jennifer Crumbley met with school administrators on the morning of the shooting to discuss violent drawings Ethan had made just hours before the deadly rampage. However, they dismissed these concerns and left without taking their son home.
Ethan Crumbley allegedly wrote "The thoughts won't stop, Help me," beneath a drawing of a gun, and "Blood everywhere" above a drawing of a bullet. Other handwritten words and phrases included, "My life is useless." Despite these alarming signs, the suspect was able to convince school officials that the drawings were for a "video game," and his parents "flatly refused" to take him home.
According to McDonald, Ethan Crumbley planned the shooting extensively and carried out his actions without showing remorse. He even put toilet paper in his ears to protect his hearing before the shooting, researched the kind of weapon he needed, and practiced at a shooting range.
The defense argues that Crumbley had shown signs of severe mental illness years prior to the shooting, and neither his parents nor school officials did anything to help him. They also argue that he has the potential to be rehabilitated, as he has participated in therapy every day and is taking medication by his own choice.
In a statement, Crumbley said, "We are all here because of me today. Because of what I did," adding that he "could not stop" himself. He also said his parents are not to blame because they "did not know," and he did not "tell them" what he planned to do.
On the day of the shooting, Jennifer Crumbley allegedly texted an acquaintance about her visit to her son's school and her horse lesson scheduled for later that day. She suggested that Ethan was going through a "hard time" after the death of their family dog, Tank, and "his friend going away to a treatment facility and who knows what else."
After the meeting, she suggested in another text that she might bring Ethan to the horse farm after school, saying, "He cant be left alone." She also allegedly texted her boss a photo of Ethan's disturbing drawing, saying, "I have to go to school. Counselor just called. This is what Im dealing with."
Upon learning that her son was the suspected shooter, Jennifer Crumbley texted her boss: "The gun is gone and so are the bullets," and "Omg Andy he's going to kill himself he must be the shooter." She also said, "Ethan did it."
Following the shooting, Michigan police could not immediately find James and Jennifer Crumbley at their home. They were missing for about a day before U.S. Marshals apprehended them.
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