Pontiac, Michigan – The trial for Jennifer and James Crumbley, the parents of the Oxford High School shooter, is quickly approaching. However, it remains uncertain which parent will be tried first. The jury trial, scheduled to begin on January 23, 2023, in Oakland Circuit Court in Pontiac, was initially planned to be a joint trial. However, based on new evidence received from Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald’s office, the Crumbleys requested separate trials in November. Both parents face four counts of involuntary manslaughter for the deaths of four students at Oxford High School.
This case is groundbreaking as it is one of the first instances where parents are being held criminally responsible for a mass shooting committed by their child. Ethan Crumbley, their son, carried out the shooting in November 2021, resulting in the deaths of Tate Myre, Madisyn Baldwin, Hana St. Juliana, and Justin Shilling. Ethan was sentenced to life in prison without parole on December 8, 2023.
Judge Cheryl Matthews, prosecutors, and defense attorneys are currently working towards a decision on the trial format, but no final determination has been made yet. Oakland County Circuit Court Administrator Richard Lynch stated that the Crumbleys may be tried at the same time, separately, with either one or two juries, or one at a time with separate juries. Lynch anticipates that one defendant will be tried at a time to avoid potential conflicts.
The decision to proceed with separate trials was made by the Crumbleys’ attorneys, who discovered evidence suggesting a conflict of interest if they continued to jointly represent the couple. Jennifer Crumbley’s attorney, Shannon Smith, revealed that the evidence was obtained from law enforcement’s interviews with witnesses in Florida on October 31. Details regarding the witnesses or the nature of the evidence provided by McDonald’s office on November 2 were not disclosed.
During Jennifer Crumbley’s trial, her attorney is seeking to exclude three prosecution witnesses, including a teacher injured in the 2021 shooting. Smith argued that the horrors suffered by the victims during the shooting are undisputed, and they are willing to stipulate any important facts deemed relevant by the court. Prosecutors have added Molly Darnell, Kristy Gibson-Marshall, and Keegan Gregory to their witness list.
As the trial approaches, Jennifer Crumbley remains anxious, hoping that the legal proceedings will provide closure to the community and the victims’ families. If convicted, the Crumbleys could face up to 15 years in prison. Attorneys and prosecutors are currently restricted from speaking to the media about the case due to a gag order issued by Judge Cheryl Matthews.
In summary, the trial of Jennifer and James Crumbley, parents of the Oxford High School shooter, is fast approaching. The parents, both charged with involuntary manslaughter for the deaths of four students, requested separate trials due to new evidence. The court is currently working towards a decision on the trial format, and it is anticipated that one defendant will be tried at a time. The defense is seeking to exclude certain witnesses, arguing that their testimony is irrelevant to the charges. As the trial approaches, Jennifer Crumbley hopes for closure for the community and the victims’ families.