Crumbleys Ask To Attend Son's Sentencing In Oxford School Shooting

ROCHESTER HILLS, MI — Jennifer and James Crumbley asked an Oakland County judge to let them attend their son's sentencing in December, according to reports.

"Clearly, this is the harshest sentence the court could give to the shooter and worries both Mr. and Mrs. Crumbley considerably," defense lawyers said, according to a Detroit Free Press report. "Mr. and Mrs. Crumbley’s concern for their son should be in no way perceived as 'selfish' or a lack of compassion and concern about what has happened to the shooter’s victims, the community, and all who have been affected by the awful tragedy."

Ethan Crumbley, 17, faces life in prison without the possibility of parole after pleading guilty to 24 counts, including four counts of first-degree premeditated murder and terrorism in the deadly shooting that happened on Nov. 30, 2021. He will be sentenced on Dec. 8.

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.

Jennifer and James Crumbley are expected to stand trial on charges in connection to the deadly Oxford school shooting on Jan. 23, 2024. They are the first parents charged in connection to a school shooting. It is believed the couple has had no contact with their son since the shooting.

The couple 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.

Defense lawyers tried to get the case against the couple thrown out, arguing the couple should 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, argued 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.

A Michigan Appeals Court ruled the charges were not overstep and the couple could face charges in connection to the shooting. Defense lawyers appealed that ruling, which the Michigan Supreme Court refused to hear.