More Damning Evidence Against Crumbley Parents Released By Prosecutors

MICHIGAN — Oakland County prosecutors released more damning evidence they say proves Jennifer and James Crumbley ignored disturbing warning signs from their son leading up to the deadly Oxford school shooting.

The Michigan Supreme Court is fielding an appeal from the couple to have the case thrown out after an Oakland County Judge ruled in March both parents can face trial on charges in connection to the deadly school shooting that left four students dead and seven other people wounded.

In a June 8 court filing, prosecutors said the couple was caught with a gun receipt, released a series of Facebook messages and transcripts of a recorded interview with Jennifer right after the shooting in November 2021, when prosecutors say she tried to "deflect responsibility."

Jennifer Crumbley Interview

In a recorded interview, prosecutors said Jennifer told the interviewer she hardly paid any attention to the drawings school officials said her son made on a math worksheet just hours before the shooting, saying she "didn’t even look at them closely."

School officials met with the parents and their son in an office where officials showed them the drawing that included a gun, a bleeding body, and the words "The thoughts won’t stop, help me," prosecutors said.

In the same interview, Jennifer said her "biggest fear was that he was gonna turn the gun on himself," prosecutors said in the court filing.

"Such fear only highlights the foreseeability of their son using the murder weapon, whether it be on himself or others," prosecutors said in the court filing.

Facebook Messages

Prosecutors also released a series of Facebook messages they say prove both parents knew their son was suffering from "mental distress" many months before the shooting.

On March 8, 2021, Jennifer told her husband, James, that she was "freaking out" because she couldn't reach their son after school, prosecutors said in the court filing.

Jennifer was mad at James because he didn't pick their son up after school, writing on Facebook, "I told you to pick him up because he’s upset and I don’t want him to do anything stupid, godamnit," prosecutors said in the court filing.

Gun Receipts

Prosecutors also said James took the receipt for the gun they bought for their son as they fled their home after the shooting. Officials said the couple's son used that gun in the deadly shooting.

"This receipt was on defendant’s person when defendants were apprehended," prosecutors said in the court filing. "Defendants’ flight and the taking of the receipt for the murder weapon during such flight provide an inference of their consciousness of guilt."

In addition, prosecutors also said gun range receipts and pictures of the family at shooting ranges show the couple knew their son had a fascination with guns.

Here's Where Things Stand

If Michigan Supreme Court justices decide to hear the appeal, they will listen to arguments from the defense and prosecutors. If the high court were to reverse the ruling, all charges in connection to the shooting against the couple would be dismissed, and the parents would be released from jail. If the court rejects the motion entirely, the couple goes to trial.

The defense argues the couple cannot be held responsible for the "independent acts" of their son, who pleaded guilty to killing four students at Oxford High School, while prosecutors claimed the parents ignored disturbing warning signs from their son leading up to the deadly shooting, and instead of getting him help, they bought him a gun.

The parents were each charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter in connection to the deadly school shooting, making them the first parents ever charged in connection to a school shooting.

The couple was placed separately in Oakland County Jail, each with a $500,000 bond. They have been denied a bond reduction numerous times. Their trial was originally expected to start on Jan. 17, 2023. A new date has not yet been scheduled.

The couple's son, Ethan Crumbley, 16, pleaded guilty to killing four students and wounding seven other people on Nov. 30, 2021, when he walked out of the boy's bathroom and began firing inside Oxford High School.

Ethan was placed in the Oakland County Jail, where he remains as he waits for a sentencing date. He will have a Miller hearing, where a judge will determine if Crumbley should face the rest of his in prison, on July 27. Prosecutors recently raised concerns about Ethan's behavior at the jail.