Oxford School Shooting: Ethan Crumbley Won't Testify At Mom's Trial

ROCHESTER HILLS, MI — Oxford school shooter Ethan Crumbley will not testify during his mother's trial, Judge Cheryl A. Matthews told lawyers Friday.

Matthews said she will not allow Ethan to take the stand because she knows he will assert his Fifth Amendment rights. New lawyers for Ethan said he will use his right to remain silent as he appeals his life sentence without parole. Matthews noted that the appeal process will take a long time to decide.

Moreover, Matthews said the matter was decided in 2022 when Ethan's lawyer asserted privilege for her client. In other words, that information isn't new, and defense lawyers had the opportunity to appeal that decision a long time ago.

The issue came up as defense lawyer Shannon Smith argued that Ethan's text's he sent to a friend about asking his parents for mental health treatment should be blocked, because she won't be able to call Ethan to the stand for cross-examination.

"I agree with this court, there's no case law, and that's why I am asking this court to make the decision to not allow these statements, pursuant to the court rule because I have no way to defend them," Smith said.

Smith sought Ethan's testimony because he said that his parents did not know about his mental health struggles or that he was planning to shoot up the school during his Miller hearing last September.

Assistant Oakland County Prosecutor Marc Keast said the text messages are not testimonial and cross-examining them doesn’t apply.

Jennifer Crumbley's trial started Thursday inside an Oakland County courtroom. She and her husband James Crumbley were each charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the deadly Oxford school shooting committed by their son.

James' trial will start on March 5, according to court documents.

They are being held in the Oakland County Jail on $500,000 bond each. The couple's son was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in December for the deadly shooting.

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.