(WWJ) — In separate trials earlier this year James and Jennifer Crumbley were convicted of involuntary manslaughter in connection with their son murdering four students at Oxford High School in 2021.
The Crumbleys are the first parents in U.S. history to be held criminally responsible for a school shooting carried out by their child.
On Tuesday the parents are set to be sentenced, with each facing up to 15 years in prison. On a new Daily J podcast, WWJ’s Zach Clark takes a look at what can be expected in one of the final chapters of this landmark legal case.
“When you have a 15-year-old who may have very well exhibited some issues of mental instability, that should put the parents on notice. And I think that that’s the whole point of even bringing these charges,” WWJ Legal Analyst Charlie Langton said.
Ethan Crumbley, 15 years old at the time, opened fire inside Oxford High School on Nov. 30, 2021, killing Madisyn Baldwin, Justin Shilling, Tate Myre and Hana St. Juliana and wounding six other students and a teacher.
Langton says the prosecutor in the case is asking for the parents to get 10-15 years in prison. They are expected to get time served for the nearly two years they’ve spent behind bars since being arrested hiding in a Detroit art studio.
Tuesday’s sentencing hearing could take several hours, with family members of victims expected to deliver impact statements.
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