Pontiac, Michigan – Following seven days of intense testimony, the jury in Jennifer Crumbley’s trial will begin deliberations on Monday. The decision they face is whether the mother of the Oxford school shooter is responsible for the deaths of four students killed by her son. This trial holds historic significance, as Crumbley is the first parent in America to be charged and tried in a mass school shooting.
The prosecution argues that she is responsible, while the defense maintains her innocence. Crumbley and her husband, James, were charged with involuntary manslaughter days after the tragic Nov. 30, 2021, massacre at Oxford High School. Their son, Ethan, who was 15 at the time, pleaded guilty to murdering his four classmates and is serving life in prison without parole.
Before the jury makes their decision, Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Cheryl Matthews will read jury instructions to the panel of 17 jurors, explaining the elements that must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt to convict someone of involuntary manslaughter. The final jury will be whittled down to 12 members after Matthews removes five alternate jurors.
At the heart of the case is the prosecution’s theory that the Crumbleys ignored signs that their son was struggling with mental health issues and, instead of getting him help, bought him a gun. The defense argues that they could not have foreseen their son’s actions that day, as they had no indication that he posed a threat to others.
The prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Crumbley caused the deaths of the victims, and that in doing so, she acted in a grossly negligent manner. The key point of contention is whether the parents reasonably knew that their son was capable of committing a mass shooting. The Crumbleys maintain that they could have never foreseen this tragic event and believe that the prosecution is “cherry-picking” details as part of a “witch hunt” to hold them responsible.
Throughout the trial, both sides presented evidence, including text messages and journal entries from Ethan, as well as testimony from school officials and counselors. The defense emphasized that the school officials did not believe Ethan was a threat, and the parents were following their advice in leaving him at school on the day of the shooting.
In their closing arguments, the prosecution urged the jurors to consider the actions of the Crumbleys in the counselor’s office on the day of the shooting, emphasizing that the smallest action could have prevented the tragic loss of life. The defense, on the other hand, reiterated that the parents could not have foreseen the shooting and argued that no one, including Mrs. Crumbley, could have expected such a devastating outcome.