Crumbleys Want Their Trial Moved Out Of Oakland County: Lawyers

ROCHESTER HILLS, MI — Jennifer and James Crumbley are seeking to have their trial moved out of Oakland County, arguing they won't receive a fair trial there, according to a court document.

Defense lawyers for the couple argued the deadly Oxford school shooting on Nov. 30 severely traumatized the entire community, including students, staff members, family members and employees throughout Oakland County. Therefore, residents of the county shouldn't make up the jury pool, the lawyers argued.

"The very widespread number of people impacted by the tragic school shooting throughout Oakland County make this case a unique set of circumstance," the court document said. "Further, residents of Oakland County have been uniquely subjected to extensive, sustained and pervasive negative coverage of Mr. and Mrs. Crumbley."

Defense lawyers also argued in the court filing the community has come to accept "widely believed" facts, even though there's no evidence to support them. For example, that the gun authorities said their son used to carry out the deadly attack was "unlocked" and that he had "free access" to it, according to the court filing.

Furthermore, the lawyers attacked prosecutors, specifically Oakland County prosecutor Karen McDonald, for resurfacing facts in interviews and news conferences that will probably be deemed "inadmissible for trial," the court filing said.

The lawyers also attacked media coverage of the trial, arguing perceptions in the media has "already convicted" the Crumbleys in the court of public opinion, "despite the fact that (Ethan Crumbley) solely and deliberately planned and committed premeditated murder."

McDonald responded by saying in a statement that her focus and attention has been on holding those responsible accountable.

"It is important for my office to be a transparent, reliable source of information to the public," McDonald said. "My office will not be distracted by motions that are legally and factually deficient, and we will be filing appropriate written responses with the court. Our trial team has never and will never mislead the court or the public. We intend to prove the allegations we’ve made against the Crumbleys beyond a reasonable doubt at trial."

Prosecutors charged the couple each with four counts of involuntary manslaughter in connection to the deadly Oxford school shooting on Nov. 30, when authorities accused their son of carrying out the deadly attack, killing four students and wounding seven other people.

Prosecutors also said the couple ignored disturbing warning signs from their son leading up to the deadly shooting, instead of seeking help for the troubled juvenile, they bought him a gun, which he used to carry out the attack.

An Oakland County judge denied the couple request to have their bond reduced from $500,000 each to $100,000 each. All three Crumbleys were separately housed in the Oakland County Jail.