PONTIAC, Mich. – The mother of one of the victims in the Oxford High School shooting in November 2021 expressed satisfaction with the verdict against Jennifer Crumbley, the mother of the shooter. Nicole Beausoleil, the mother of Madisyn Baldwin, described the verdict as a historic moment, stating that it holds parents accountable for their children’s actions. Crumbley was found guilty of four counts of manslaughter, one for each of the students killed in the shooting.
The landmark decision marks the first time in the United States that a parent has been held criminally responsible for a mass shooting committed by their child. Beausoleil stated that the verdict establishes a new precedent in the justice system and expressed gratitude for the jury’s careful consideration of the evidence.
Beausoleil also thanked the public for their support and remembrance of the victims of the tragedy, and she expressed determination to uphold her daughter’s legacy. Jennifer Crumbley faces a prison sentence of up to 15 years for each count of manslaughter. Meanwhile, her husband, James Crumbley, also faces charges of involuntary manslaughter and is set to stand trial next month.
Their son, Ethan Crumbley, who was 17 at the time of the shooting, pleaded guilty as an adult to murder and terrorism charges. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. A juror foreperson in the trial revealed that the jury was moved by evidence showing that Jennifer Crumbley had failed to safely secure the gun used in the shooting and by journal entries made by Ethan.
The sentencing of Jennifer Crumbley is scheduled for April 9. The mother of Madisyn Baldwin stressed the importance of accountability and expressed hope that the verdict would bring some semblance of justice to the families affected by the tragedy at Oxford High School.