Oxford, Michigan – The manslaughter trial for James Crumbley, the father of the Oxford High School shooter Ethan Crumbley, is scheduled to kick off with jury selection on Tuesday. James faces four counts of involuntary manslaughter, one for each of the four students tragically killed when Ethan, who was 15 at the time, carried out a shooting in November 2021. This trial follows closely on the heels of his wife, Jennifer Crumbley, who was recently found guilty on four counts of involuntary manslaughter, with her sentencing expected on April 9.
The Crumbley couple had initially been slated to face trial together, but the cases were separated in November. Their son, Ethan Crumbley, received a life sentence without the possibility of parole over the shooting incident, having pleaded guilty to various charges including first-degree premeditated murder and terrorism causing death in October 2022.
James Crumbley’s defense team sought to have his trial moved due to concerns regarding pretrial media coverage potentially influencing the impartiality of the jury, especially in light of his wife’s guilty verdict. Despite this plea being denied, the judge allowed the inclusion of their son’s journals and text messages as evidence in the trial, elements that played a pivotal role in Jennifer Crumbley’s trial.
The Crumbley parents’ trials represent a rare instance of both parents facing charges stemming from a shooting carried out by their child. During Jennifer Crumbley’s trial, she argued that the responsibility for securing the gun used in the shooting fell to James, emphasizing her lack of familiarity with firearms. The prosecution contended that the parents had failed to properly secure the gun or monitor their son’s access to it, highlighting that the gun safe’s combination lock was left at the factory preset of 0-0-0.
In Jennifer Crumbley’s trial, details emerged of a video showing Ethan handling one of James Crumbley’s firearms, accompanied by a message mentioning that his father had left it out. Testimony during the trial also focused on a meeting the Crumbleys had with school officials prior to the shooting, where concerns about Ethan’s violent drawings were raised but not acted upon.
While Jennifer Crumbley took the stand in her defense, it remains to be seen if James will follow suit. Revelations during her trial included her involvement in multiple affairs around the time of the shooting, adding further complexity to the already tragic situation.