Crumbley Parents Get New Trial Date

ROCHESTER HILLS, MI — A new trial date has been set for Jennifer and James Crumbley just a day after their last chance to dismiss charges was rejected by a Michigan court, according to court documents.

The trial is expected to start on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024, in Oakland County, according to court documents.

The new date comes less than 24 hours after the Michigan Supreme Court refused to listen to defense lawyers who argued the couple should not be held responsible for the "independent acts" of their son, Ethan Crumbley, who pleaded guilty to killing four students at Oxford High School.

Their trial will also start nearly two months after their son will be sentenced to prison on Dec. 8. Oakland County Judge Kwame Rowe ruled that Ethan Crumbley was eligible to be sentenced to life in prison last week.

Defense lawyers also argued 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."

Prosecutors, on the other hand, argued the charges are not overstepping, 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.

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 in January 2023 before the lengthy appeals process.

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.