Alleged James Crumbley Threats Will Be In Sentencing Memo: Prosecutor

PONTIAC, MI — Threats the father of the Oxford school shooter was accused of making toward the Oakland County prosecutor will be addressed in a sentencing memo for his recent manslaughter convictions, according to the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office.

The Oakland County Sheriff's Office is investigating the threats officials said James Crumbley made in a series of jailhouse phone calls. Prosecutors did not release specific details on the threats James was accused of making.

"To be clear, those threats were directly addressed to the prosecutor by name, telling her what was going to happen to her when he is released. Those threats are serious, and they also reflect a lack of remorse and a continued refusal to take accountability for his part in the deaths of Hana, Madisyn, Tate, and Justin," the prosecutor's office said in a statement.

Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald told WXYZ the threats James was accused of making did not deter her in fighting for the victims' families.

"He actually said that he hoped I was listening when he threatened me physically," McDonald told the news station. "One of the most disturbing threats was January of 2024, that was the same month, the first day of trial was set for one of the defendants. I consider that recent."

James also made statements claiming he wanted to ruin McDonald's life and that she better be scared, according to the Detroit Free Press, citing unnamed sources.

News of the threatening statements first came emerged during James' trial, when the Oakland County Sheriff's Office confirmed they were limiting his jail communications due to threatening statements. Prosecutors and defense lawyers then agreed to restrict James' jail communications.

James Crumbley, father of convicted Oxford High School shooter Ethan Crumbley, was found guilty of four counts of involuntary manslaughter last week. James' wife, Jennifer, was also convicted on the same charges back in February. They will be sentenced April 9. Both parents have been in the Oakland County Jail since December 2021.

Ethan Crumbley, who is now 17, was sentenced to life without parole last December after he admitted to the shooting.

The four students killed in the Nov. 30, 2021 shooting were 14-year-old Hana St. Juliana, 16-year-old Tate Myre, 17-year-old Madisyn Baldwin and 17-year-old Justin Shilling.