Prosecutors in Michigan will seek between 10 to 15 years of prison time for two parents whose son was responsible for a school shooting that killed four students at Oxford High School in 2021.
James and Jennifer Crumbley are the first parents in the U.S. to be held criminally liable for a school shooting. Both were found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in separate trials earlier this year.
According to a court filing by prosecutors on April 3, Ms. Crumbley, 46, showed a “chilling lack of remorse” for her role, while Mr. Crumbley, 47, “failed to exercise even the smallest measure of ordinary care” that could have prevented the tragic deaths.
Students Madisyn Baldwin, 17; Tate Myre, 16; Hana St. Juliana, 14; and Justin Shilling, 17, were killed in the shooting.
The maximum prison sentence imposed for the parents is 15 years per the four counts, each representing one of the students killed by their son Ethan.
The parents do not stand accused of having had knowledge of their son’s plan to murder the teenagers. However, prosecutors said they did not take adequate measures to lock up a gun at their home, which was used in the killings, in addition to having ignored warning signs relating to the mental health of their son.
The sentencing is set for April 9, which will determine whether the Crumbleys would be eligible for parole. The two and a half years the parents spent in the Oakland County jail will be counted as time served.
Both parents are reportedly hoping to avoid prison time, according to the filing by prosecutors. However, prosecutors argued that the parents’ cases called for sentences that exceeded the advisory guideline range, as the parents’ “gross negligence changed an entire community forever.”
“Such a proposed sentence is a slap in the face to the severity of tragedy caused by defendant’s gross negligence, the victims and their families,” assistant prosecutor Marc Keast said, referring to Ms. Crumbley.
Neither of the parents’ lawyers confirmed whether they would appeal the convictions.
The Crumbleys had visited the school on the day of the shooting to meet with teachers and school officials over a drawing their then 15-year-old son had made, depicting a gun and bullet, as well as a wounded figure. The drawing on a math assignment also included phrases such as “The thoughts won’t stop.” and “Help me.”
After the meeting at the school, the Crumbleys left the school without their son and returned to work. Just hours after, Ethan pulled a Sig Sauer 9mm handgun from his backpack and began shooting.
School officials reportedly advised the parents to seek medical help for Ethan’s mental health but did not comply with the school’s recommendation.
At the time, school staff was unaware that the gun used in the shooting was purchased by his father just days before and that it resembled the one in the drawing, trial testimony revealed.
Ethan is now serving a life sentence with no chance for parole. He pleaded guilty to murder and terrorism for his actions.
Additionally, according to his sentencing memo, Mr. Crumbley allegedly made multiple expletive-laden threats against prosecutor Karen McDonald.
In one call from jail before the trial, he said, “Karen McDonald, you’re going down.” In other calls, he threatened retribution.
“I am … on a rampage, Karen. Yes, Karen McDonald. You better be … scared,” he said on Jan. 3, according to Mr. Keast.
According to NBC, some sources confirmed that Mr. Crumbley allegedly told his sister during several phone calls that he was going to make it his goal in life to destroy Ms. McDonald. The judge later ruled that Mr. Crumbley should not have use of a phone or tablet while in jail.
The sentencing memo also shows that Mr. Crumbley believes he was wrongfully convicted.
“I feel horrible for what happened and would do anything to be able to go back in time and change it! But I can’t. And I had nothing to do with what happened,” James Crumbley wrote, according to the prosecution memo. “I don’t know why my son did what he did. HE is the only one who knows.”
The Crumbley’s attorneys did not comment further on the sentencing memorandum.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
