Michigan school shooter Ethan Crumbley’s parents, James and Jennifer Crumbley, have been sentenced to 10 to 15 years in prison each for manslaughter. This sentencing of the landmark case is a notable moment in legal history as they are the first parents to be held criminally responsible for a mass school shooting committed by their child.
The hearing, that took place in an Oakland County courtroom on Tuesday, was charged with emotion as families of the victims and the defendants grappled with the aftermath of the devastating incident that occurred on 30 November, 2021.
Four students had lost their lives and seven others were injured when Ethan Crumbley, then 15 years old, opened fire at Oxford High School.
Michigan Judge’s Statements and Evidence Produced
Addressing the court before the sentencing, Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Cheryl Matthews conveyed the gravity of the situation, stating, “These convictions are not about poor parenting. These convictions confirm repeated acts, or lack of acts, that could have halted an oncoming runaway train.” She emphasized the missed opportunities and negligence displayed by the Crumbleys, which ultimately contributed to the tragic outcome.
Prosecutors produced evidence during the trial to show that the parents were wilfully negligent in giving their son access to firearms and failing to recognize warning signs of his deteriorating mental health. Testimony revealed that James Crumbley bought his son his gun, a Sig Sauer 9mm, only a few days prior to the shooting, and Jennifer took Ethan to a shooting range soon after for target practice. Despite alarming indicators, including disturbing drawings, despondent phrases and concerning behaviour at school, the Crumbleys failed to take decisive action to address their son’s issues.
Statements by Victims’ Families and the Crumbleys
Victims’ families, including Nicole Beausoleil (mother of Madisyn Baldwin), Craig Shilling (father of Justin Shilling) and Steve St. Juliana (father of Hana St. Juliana), expressed their profound grief and anger towards the defendants, holding them accountable for their roles in the tragedy.
Beausoleil poignantly remarked, “Not only did your son kill my daughter, but you both did as well.” The sentiment echoed throughout the courtroom, highlighting the irreparable wounds inflicted by Ethan’s actions and his parents’ negligence.
Craig Shilling declared, “The blood of our children is on your hands.”
In their statements before the court, both James and Jennifer Crumbley expressed remorse for the pain caused by the shooting, with Jennifer acknowledging that she will be in her “own internal prison” for the rest of her life. James expressed profound regret, stating, “I cannot express how much I wish that I had known what was going on with him or what was going to happen, because I absolutely would have done a lot of things differently.”
Final Sentence
Prosecutors pushed for a significant prison sentence, arguing that the Crumbleys showed a chilling lack of remorse and failed to take responsibility for their actions. Defence attorneys, however, sought a more lenient sentence, citing the defendants’ remorse and the time they had already served in jail since their arrest. Ultimately, Judge Matthews handed down a sentence of 10 to 15 years for each parent, with credit for the time served.
