Crumbley Parents Want Separate Trials In Oxford HS Shooting: Lawyers

ROCHESTER HILLS, MI — After sticking together for two years, the parents of the Oxford school shooter are now asking for separate trials, according to court documents.

Lawyers for Jennifer and James Crumbley filed the request Monday, arguing separate trials are necessary to "avoid prejudice" and "promote fairness" in the case, according to court documents.

Their request for separate trials comes after at least two witnesses spoke to police in Florida, according to court documents.

Defense lawyers did not provide any details about the interviews, but said prosecutors "provided the police reports and audio recorded copies of the interviews to the defense" on Nov. 2, according to court documents.

The lawyers now say that evidence could create a potential conflict of interest, according to court documents.

Moreover, prosecutors said Jennifer was heard recently telling other inmates inside the Oakland County Jail that it's her husband's fault their son carried out the shooting.

Prosecutors said James Crumbley bought their son the handgun he used in the deadly attack as a Christmas present.

Prosecutors claim the couple ignored disturbing warning signs from their son leading up to the deadly shooting, and instead of getting him help, they bought him a gun. Prosecutors also said James Crumbley ignored his son's pleas for help with his mental health, telling him to "suck it up" when his son asked his him to take him to a doctor.

Defense lawyers argue the couple cannot be held accountable because they were not "directly involved" in the Oxford school shooting, and are not "responsible for the deaths of others."

The couple were each charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter in connection to the deadly Oxford school shooting. They are being held in the Oakland County Jail with a $500,000 bond each. If convicted, they face up to 15 years in prison.

Their trial was expected to start on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024, in Oakland County.

An independent report released earlier this week found multiple systematic failures leading up to the attack that left four students dead in November 2021. Although the report found that training and safety protocols actions by district officials did help save lives and keep students safe, there were certain areas where the district failed.

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

Ethan Crumbley, 17, pleaded guilty to 24 counts, including four counts of first-degree premeditated murder and terrorism, in connection to the Oxford school shooting in November 2021. He will be sentenced Dec. 8.