Prosecutors in Michigan are pushing for a minimum of 10 years in prison for two parents who are set to become the first in the United States to be held accountable for a school shooting.
Jennifer Crumbley shown a “chilling lack of remorse” for her role, and James Crumbley “failed to exercise even the smallest measure of ordinary care” that could have prevented the deaths of four students at Oxford High School in 2021, authorities said in a court filing on Wednesday.
The Crumbleys, the parents of shooter Ethan Crumbley, were convicted of involuntary manslaughter in separate trials earlier this year. They were not accused of knowing their son’s plans. However, prosecutors claimed they failed to lock up a gun at home and ignored his mental health.
The maximum prison sentence for this felony is 15 years. The minimum term imposed by the judge on April 9 will be critical, as the Crumbleys will be available for parole consideration after that date. They will receive credit for about 2 1/2 years served in the Oakland County jail following their arrest.
Messages seeking response from defense lawyers were not returned immediately on Wednesday.
In their filing, prosecutors revealed that Jennifer Crumbley, 46, wishes to avoid prison and instead be fitted with an electronic tether and live with her attorney, Shannon Smith. They said James Crumbley, 47, is also hoping to be released.
“Such a proposed sentence is a slap in the face of the severity of the tragedy caused by defendant’s gross negligence, as well as the victims and their families,” assistant prosecutor Marc Keast said of Jennifer Crumbley.
On the day of the incident, the Crumbleys went to the school to talk about Ethan’s horrific drawings of a gun, a bullet, a wounded figure, and words like “The thoughts won’t stop.” “Help me.”
Instead of taking their son home, the Crumbleys left with a list of mental health contacts and went back to work. A few hours later, Ethan, then 15, took a Sig Sauer 9 mm handgun from his rucksack and started shooting.
The school officials did not demand the removal of Ethan from school. But they also didn’t know that James Crumbley had purchased the gun just four days earlier and that it resembled the one in the drawing, according to trial testimony.
Ethan, now 17, is facing life in jail with no possibility of parole after pleading guilty to murder and terrorism.
During James Crumbley’s trial, the judge prohibited him from using a phone or tablet while in jail. The sheriff’s department, in charge of the jail, reported that he had been making threats, but they did not release any details at the time.
Karen McDonald, the elected county prosecutor, received profanity-laced threats, according to Keast’s court declaration. He gave five examples.
“I’m on a rampage, Karen. Karen McDonald said yes. “You better be scared,” he said on January 3, according to Keast.
