Mid-afternoon Wednesday, on the second day of jury selection, a juror panel was seated for Jennifer Crumbley’s trial in Oakland County Circuit Court.
Opening statements are expected to be presented Thursday morning.
Jennifer Crumbley, the mother of Oxford school shooter Ethan Crumbley, is charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter for the four murders her son committed when he opened fire in Oxford High School on Nov. 30, 2021. Prosecutors say she is liable for the deaths due to gross negligence, alleging she provided access to the handgun believed to have been used in the mass shootings — which also left seven others wounded by gunfire — and didn’t properly address his mental health needs.
Killed were Madisyn Baldwin, 17, Tate Myre, 16, Justin Shilling, 17, and Hana St. Juliana, 14.
This is the first time in the United States that a parent has been charged in connection with a school shooting committed by their child.
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Jennifer Crumbley’s husband, James Crumbley — Ethan Crumbley’s father — faces the same four charges. His trial is scheduled for March. Judge Cheryl Matthews will preside over both trials.
As reported by ClickonDetroit, Jennifer Crumbley’s jury consists of 10 women and seven men — which gives a cushion of five alternate jurors. Twelve will ultimately decide on her guilt or innocence.
Involuntary manslaughter is punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $7,500 fine. For now, Jennifer Crumbley and James Crumbley are held in the Oakland County Jail with bond set at $500,000 each. They’re prohibited from having contact with each other.
Ethan Crumbley, 17, is serving a sentence of life in prison for the 24 crimes he committed in the mass shooting when he was 15 years old. He pleaded guilty to all of the charges in 2022. As previously reported by The Oakland Press, his attorneys with the State Appellate Defender Office have notified the court that he plans to appeal and they will advise him to remain silent if called to testify during either of his parent’s trials.
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