Michigan prosecutors are seeking a minimum of 10 years in prison for the parents of school shooter Ethan Crumbley, alleging they have shown a lack of remorse. James and Jennifer Crumbley were convicted of involuntary manslaughter for their role in their son’s mass shooting at Oxford High School in November 2021. Ethan, who was 15 at the time, killed four classmates and injured seven others. The prosecutors are asking for sentences of 10 to 15 years for both parents, citing threats made by James Crumbley towards the prosecuting attorney and Jennifer’s request to serve her sentence under house arrest.
James Crumbley’s lack of remorse and blaming others for the tragedy are highlighted in court documents, with prosecutors noting his threatening behavior towards the prosecutor and gestures made towards the prosecution during the trial. In a pre-sentence investigation report, Crumbley expressed regret for the events but maintained his innocence, stating he followed gun safety protocols and that Ethan appeared stable. Jennifer Crumbley also expressed regret in her pre-sentence report but defended her actions, stating she wouldn’t have done anything differently knowing what she knows now.
Prosecutors point to Jennifer Crumbley’s lack of remorse, as evidenced by her statements both during her trial and in jail calls. She maintained that she would not have done anything differently, despite admitting that she would have acted differently with the information she has now. Jennifer Crumbley requested to serve her sentence under house arrest in her attorney’s home, a proposal that prosecutors argue is insufficient given the severity of the tragedy caused by the parents’ negligence. The parents are scheduled to be sentenced on Tuesday.
The Crumbleys have been in custody since their arrest in December 2021 following a manhunt after the school shooting. In court documents, prosecutors highlight the gross negligence of the parents in allowing their son access to a gun and ignoring signs of his deteriorating mental health. The parents were found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in separate trials this year. James Crumbley’s trial revealed that he had purchased the gun used in the shooting just days before and did not secure it properly. Text messages from Ethan indicated he had sought help from his parents for his mental health struggles, which were disregarded.
The prosecution’s sentencing memorandums detail the parents’ responses to their culpability in the tragedy. While James Crumbley expressed regret, he also maintained his innocence and blamed others for the events. Jennifer Crumbley also expressed regret but defended her actions, stating she would not have acted differently at the time. Prosecutors argue that the proposed sentences of 10 to 15 years are necessary to reflect the severity of the tragedy and the parents’ negligence. The case has garnered national attention for the parents’ lack of remorse and the devastating impact of the school shooting on the victims and their families.
