Crumbley Parents Cannot Attend Son's Hearing, Oakland Co. Judge Rules

ROCHESTER HILLS, MI — An Oakland County judge rejected a request Wednesday from Jennifer and James Crumbley to attend their son's hearing that will determine if he will be eligible for parole.

Oakland County Circuit Judge Cheryl Matthews denied the couple's request without giving a reason.

Ethan Crumbley, 16, is scheduled for a Miller hearing on May 1, when Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Kwame Rowe will determine if the teen can be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. A Miller hearing is a pre-sentencing hearing required to occur when a juvenile faces a life sentence without parole.

Jennifer and James Crumbley said in the request that they remain "very concerned" about Ethan, and that attending the hearing "is of paramount importance" to them.

Prosecutors fired back at the notion, arguing the couple is only looking out for themselves, because they learned testimony during the Miller hearing "would be unfavorable to them."

"This is (the Crumbleys') attempt to confront and/or implore their son not to disclose the full circumstances of his upbringing," prosecutors wrote in a filing.

Ethan Crumbley, who was 15 at the time of the deadly shooting, admitted to killing four students and wounding seven other people at Oxford High School on Nov. 30. He pleaded guilty to 24 charges in connection to the deadly shooting. He faces life in prison without parole.

Jennifer and James Crumbley were each charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter in connection to the deadly school shooting that left four students dead and seven other people wounded. The parents face up to 15 years in prison if convicted of involuntary manslaughter.

Prosecutors said the couple ignored disturbing warning signs from their son leading up to the deadly Oxford school shooting, and instead of getting him help, they bought him a gun. The couple said they had no idea their son was planning the attack, and their defense lawyers argued they shouldn't be held responsible for the individual acts of their son.

A Michigan judge ruled last month the couple can face trial on charges in connection to the deadly Oxford school shooting. A trial date has not yet been scheduled.