Jennifer Crumbley Blames Husband For Oxford School Shooting: Reports

ROCHESTER HILLS, MI — The mother of the Oxford school shooter is blaming her husband for the deadly attack that killed four students and wounded seven others, according to multiple reports.

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

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

"James Crumbley should be aware of the fact that (his wife) Jennifer Crumbley has placed blame on him in jail communications," Assistant Oakland County Prosecutor Marc Keast wrote, according to the Detroit Free Press.

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." They also said prosecutors are trying to turn the parents against each other, according to a Detroit News report.

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.

Jennifer and James Crumbley, 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. Their trial is expected to start on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024, in Oakland County.

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.