Parents Of Accused Oxford Shooter Lose Bid To Reduce Bail

PONTIAC, MI — The parents of accused Oxford High School shooter Ethan Crumbley were denied a bond reduction in court on Friday. Lawyers for James and Jennifer Crumbley were seeking to reduce their bond from $500,000 each to $100,000 each.

Prosecutors argued that the two would pose a flight risk if the court reduced their bond, because all their ties are living in Florida. They said relatives in Florida were selling James and Jennifer Crumbley's home and horses, and placing all their household items into storage.

Prosecutors also said that the couple were attempting to flee charges by withdrawing substantial amounts of money from their accounts and hiding in an art studio in Detroit. Once police located them, prosecutors said, the couple refused to allow police into the warehouse and were captured hiding under a mattress.

James and Jennifer Crumbley had $6,600 in cash, 10 credit cards and four cell phones with numbers unknown to law enforcement, prosecutors said.

The defense argued the couple did not pose a flight risk and agreed to have them wear a GPS tracker if they were released from jail. The defense also said the couple was selling their home for safety reasons because their address was published online, and that it had nothing to do with being flight risk.

The defense also argued the gun authorities said their son used in the school shooting was secured in an unknown location to their son. Furthermore, they said James and Jennifer Crumbley had no knowledge of their son keeping a dead baby bird's head in the family home.

Prosecutors have outlined detailed descriptions indicating the couple was well aware of their son's depression and motives.

During Friday's court hearing, prosecutors said Ethan Crumbley often texted his mom about "demons" and "ghosts" he was seeing in the house. They also said he videotaped himself torturing animals, making Molotov cocktails at home, and once texted a friend "it's time to shoot up the school, JK," prosecutors said.

Jennifer and James Crumbley were each charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter in connection to the deadly Oxford High School shooting. They were arrested in Detroit on Dec.3 after prosecutors reported them missing for several hours. Their bond remains set at $500,000 each.

Their next court date will be a preliminary exam scheduled for Feb. 8.

Ethan Crumbley was also in court Friday and waived his preliminary exam and will be sent straight to trial.

Crumbley is accused of killing four students and wounding seven other people at Oxford High School on Nov. 30. He was charged with 24 counts, including first-degree murder and terrorism in connection to the shooting.

His lawyer reportedly said he could plead guilty to the shooting.