Jennifer Crumbley, the mother of the Oxford High School shooter, is making a legal push to have her conviction of involuntary manslaughter overturned, an appeal that brings under scrutiny the ways the case was handled by the prosecution. In February, Crumbley was convicted on four counts related to the November 2021 shooting in which her son fatally shot four classmates. Her husband, James Crumbley, was also convicted, and both were sentenced to 10-15 years in prison. Their case marked a precedent in the U.S., being the first instance where parents were held criminally responsible for a school shooting committed by their child.
In a filing made public today, Crumbley's attorney Michael Dezsi claimed the trial contained "legal errors" and alleged that the prosecution withheld evidence. Specifically, Dezsi points to "secret deals" made with school witnesses, as reported by WWJ Newsradio, which were not disclosed to Crumbley's defense team nor the jury. Dezsi's motion indicates this omission casts doubt on the unbiased nature of the testimonies provided by Oxford counselor Shawn Hopkins and former Dean of Students Nick Ejak.
Furthermore, the motion argues that the conviction was based on conflicting theories of culpability and that the jury instructions were flawed, suggesting jurors could convict without unanimous agreement on which theory they believed in. Dezsi asserts, as sourced by FOX 2 Detroit, that these inconsistencies are a violation of Mrs. Crumbley’s due process rights under federal and state law.
In response, Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald, as per ClickOnDetroit, emphasized that parents' real concern should be the safety of their children at school, not the fear of prosecution. Chief Assistant David Williams also countered, stating, "No witnesses were given anything for their testimony, and there was no immunity – these witnesses testified without any promises or protection whatsoever." The Michigan Court of Appeals has reviewed and rejected the legal issues raised by Jennifer Crumbley.
As the next steps unfold, all eyes are on Oakland County Judge Kwame Rowe, who is set to review the appeal request. No hearings have been scheduled as of yet regarding the case. Meanwhile, Ethan Crumbley, the shooter convicted on murder and terrorism charges, is serving a life sentence without parole and is seeking to have his plea withdrawn.
