Ethan Crumbley: Parents of Michigan School Gunman Sentenced to at Least 10 Years

The parents of a Michigan teenager who tragically lost their lives have each received sentences of 10 to 15 years in prison.

A seven-year sentence was suggested, however, prosecutors sought a longer term.

James and Jennifer Crumbley, the parents of a US school shooter, made a joint appearance at Tuesday’s sentencing hearing after months of absence.

Both expressed remorse for their son’s attack, while their lawyers advocated for a reduced prison sentence.

In a significant development, the juries in separate trials reached a verdict of involuntary manslaughter for both parents of shooter Ethan Crumbley earlier this year.

Judge Cheryl Matthews emphasised the importance of a strong sentence, stating that it was intended to discourage similar incidents in the future. She also noted that the parents’ inability to prevent the attack played a role in the decision.

“Parents are not expected to possess psychic abilities.” However, these convictions do not revolve around inadequate parenting. “They involve actions that could have potentially stopped a train from running out of control,” she informed the court.

“Numerous chances presented themselves, growing more insistent with each occurrence, yet they went unnoticed.”

The Crumbleys may be considered for parole once they have completed a decade behind bars. However, if their parole request is rejected, they cannot be detained for more than 15 years.

Prosecutors claimed that the couple ignored obvious indications of their son’s declining mental health. They also pointed out that the parents had purchased the firearm that Ethan Crumbley used in the 2021 incident.

A tragic incident unfolded at Oxford High School, where their son, at the age of 15, took the lives of four students using a semi-automatic handgun. Seven additional individuals sustained injuries in the shooting incident.

He has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

On Tuesday, the parents of the deceased students, who were all under the age of 17, delivered powerful victim impact statements in court.

Nicole Beausoleil, the mother of Madisyn Baldwin, a 17-year-old victim, directly addressed Ethan Crumbley’s parents.

“While you were buying a gun for your son and neglecting to secure it, I was assisting her in completing her college essay,” a tearful Ms. Beausoleil expressed.

“You made parenting a low priority,” she added. “And as a result, I have tragically lost my daughter.”

Jill Soave, the mother of another 17-year-old victim named Justin Shilling, was the second parent to address the audience. She mentioned that her experience was incredibly difficult to describe, filled with horror and trauma.

However, she directed her attention towards James and Jennifer Crumbley and strongly criticised them for their lack of action in preventing a tragedy that could have been avoided.

“If only they had taken action, any action, to alter the course of events,” she remarked.

In a separate trial for each parent, prosecutors alleged that the Crumbleys failed to heed warning signs regarding their son’s deteriorating mental health. They alleged that they were careless in purchasing a firearm and failing to store it appropriately.

The prosecutor’s sentencing recommendations were determined by the four separate counts of involuntary manslaughter, corresponding to each of the four students who tragically lost their lives.

During Tuesday’s sentencing, the prosecution highlighted James Crumbley’s complete absence of remorse as they presented a transcript of a call he made from jail, which was filled with profanity. During the call, it was claimed that James Crumbley had made death threats against the lead prosecutor in the case.

James Crumbley’s lawyers had a different perspective, asserting that their client simply expressed his frustration and used strong language that was fueled by anger and lacked respect.

The shooter’s father expressed deep remorse in a statement prior to the hearing and later admitted to the court that he would have made different choices if given the chance.

“It’s truly unfortunate that I was unaware of the situation or its outcome, as I would have made different choices if given the chance.”

Jennifer Crumbley expressed her own remorse to the families impacted.

“I stand today not to seek your forgiveness, as I understand it may be difficult to attain, but to sincerely apologise for the pain that has been inflicted,” she stated in court.

According to Mariell Lehman, the lawyer representing James Crumbley, there is no evidence suggesting that Ethan Crumbley’s father was aware of his son’s plans.

Defence attorneys also contended that there was no legal precedent for this case, and it was deemed inappropriate to hold the parents accountable for every individual that their son tragically took the lives off.

Prosecutors held a different perspective, just like the judge.

Amidst the tragic events at Oxford High School in Oxford, Michigan, the Crumbleys decided to abruptly end a school meeting regarding a concerning drawing their son had created. Rather than taking him home, they chose to continue with their work commitments.

Afterwards, school staff allowed him to return to class without inspecting his rucksack, which happened to hold the firearm his parents had bought.

An independent investigation published last year highlighted several shortcomings within the school system, including the controversial choice to readmit Ethan into the classroom.

As a response, the school district has committed to thoroughly examine and enhance its practices and policies.