Crumbley Parents Court Hearing Will Determine If They Stand Trial

OXFORD, MI — Can the parents of a school shooter be held responsible for the shooting deaths committed by their son?

That's the question justices on the Michigan Court of Appeals will answer when they hear arguments Tuesday regarding whether Jennifer and James Crumbley will stand trial for charges in connection to the deadly Oxford school shooting.

The court initially declined to hear the case after prosecutor's charged the couple each with four counts of involuntary manslaughter after authorities said their son shot four students to death and wounded seven other people at Oxford High School on Nov. 30, 2021.

But the Michigan Supreme Court intervened and order the court to hear arguments on whether there is enough evidence to bring charges against the couple. In other words, the high court wants an opinion from the lower court.

The couple's trial was originally scheduled for January before the state Supreme Court issued a stay on the case and sent it back to the Court of Appeals.

Jennifer and James Crumbley's lawyers argue the couple cannot be held responsible for the "independent acts" of their son, who pleaded guilty to killing four students at Oxford High School.

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

Prosecutors, on the other hand, argue the charges are not overstep and say they have evidence proving gross negligence by the parents. 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.

Evidence presented during the couple's preliminary exam hearings gave a glimpse into the couple's lives, which included heavy drinking and daily fights about money in front of their son.

But justices will have to answer if the parents were criminally negligent, as opposed to just determining if they were bad parents. A decision from the Michigan Court of Appeals is not likely Tuesday, but should come within the next few months.

Jennifer and James Crumbley were each charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter in connection to the deadly Oxford school shooting. The couple was placed separately in Oakland County Jail, each with a $500,000 bond. They were denied a bond reduction numerous times. Their trial was originally expected to start on Jan. 17, 2023.

The couple's son, Ethan Crumbley, 16, pleaded guilty to killing four students and wounding seven other people when he walked out of the boy's bathroom and began firing inside Oxford High School on Nov. 30, 2021. He was placed in the Oakland County Jail while he waits for a sentencing date.