By: Adam Beam 2/6/2024
The mother of the Oxford High School shooter, who claimed the lives of four individuals, has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter.
Jennifer Crumbley, 45, sat before a packed courtroom on Tuesday when the 12-person jury returned with the verdict after 12 hours of deliberation. Crumbley was on trial for what the prosecution believed was "gross negligence" that resulted in her 15-year-old son Ethan killing four students and wounding six others.
This includes being the one who purchased the firearm for her son as well as failing to get him a proper mental health evaluation leading up to the events of November 30, 2021.
Crumbley's attorney, Shannon Smith, argued on Friday, "This clearly was not foreseeable to Mrs. Crumbley because there's no one in the world, including Mrs. Crumbley, who would've let a school shooting happen and let what happened on November 30 take place." She continued, "Not only ruining the lives of so many families and victims and taking the lives of four young people, but also ruining her own son's life and ripping his life right from her as well. She would be the first person on the planet who would have never let that happen in a million years."
Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald countered during the closing arguments, “It takes the unthinkable, and she has done the unthinkable, and because of that, four kids have died.”
Crumbley took to the witness stand on Thursday and testified, "I've asked myself if I would've done anything differently and I wouldn't have."
Jennifer Crumbley could face up to 15 years in prison, and her sentencing hearing has been set for April 9.