James Crumbley's Sister Testifies In Oxford Shooting Trial

PONTIAC, MI — James Crumbley's sister testified Wednesday morning that she didn't noticed anything concerning about his son in the months leading up to the deadly Oxford school shooting on Nov. 30, 2021.

Karen Crumbley, who lives in Florida, told the Pontiac courtroom she saw the Crumbley family multiple times in 2021, and that she didn't recall seeing or hearing anything concerning with the shooter, or that James expressed any concerns about his son’s behavior or mental health.

"If I saw anything (concerning), I would’ve addressed it," Karen said. "If I would’ve known anything, I would’ve talked to him. I would’ve took him home with me if there was any kind of inclination that anything was wrong."

Karen did, however, say that she would have found the math worksheet with the words "help me" and drawing of a gun that James' son drew just hours before the shooting as concerning during cross-examination.

Karen was the defense's only witness before they rested their case. Unlike his wife, Jennifer Crumbley, who was convicted on the same charges, James Crumbley will not testify in his defense.

• Related - Oxford Shooter Never Asked For Help, Mom Jennifer Crumbley Testifies

James Crumbley, 47, was charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the deadly Oxford school shooting. He faces up to 15 years in prison on each charge.

Prosecutors are trying to prove James committed gross negligence leading up to the shooting. They claim the James ignored disturbing warning signs from their son leading up to the deadly shooting, and instead of getting him help, bought him a gun.

Jurors will only need to believe one of two theories to declare Crumbley guilty: That James failed to perform a legal duty in parenting, or that he knew his son was a danger to others and failed to take the ordinary care steps to avoid injuring others.

Defense lawyers maintain he had no idea what his son was planning. Moreover, defense lawyers argued James cannot be held accountable because he was not "directly involved" in the Oxford school shooting, and are not "responsible for the deaths of others."

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 shooting were 14-year-old Hana St. Juliana, 16-year-old Tate Myre, 17-year-old Madisyn Baldwin and 17-year-old Justin Shilling.