First-ever trial of parents in US for child's school shooting may set legal precedent
6:04 AM EST, January 23, 2024
As "The Washington Post" reported, this is an unprecedented accusation. Jennifer Crumbley will become the first mother to be put on trial for the crimes of her son. Her husband, James, will be in the same situation on March 5th.
The Crumbleys' trials are expected to be groundbreaking legal proceedings. They may set a precedent for future cases involving accusations of gross parental neglect toward underage children who commit mass murders. Oakland County Prosecutor Karen D. McDonald made headlines in 2021 when she announced that charges were being filed against the parents.
The Crumbley parents admit they bought a gun for their son a few days before the shooting, which took place on November 30. However, they are not accused of having prior knowledge about their son's plan. Prosecutors argue that the parents enabled their son to access a lethal weapon, blatantly ignoring his mental health issues, which his teachers raised.
James and Jennifer Crumbley deny causing death by negligence. Notably, on the day of the shooting, the parents were called to the school to discuss graphic messages and images their son had drawn in a notebook, including a weapon and the words: "The thoughts won't stop. Help me." Prosecutor McDonald insists that the parents should have told the teachers they had recently bought a gun for their child.
Mother of shooter from Michigan put on trial
"The fact that a parent could read these distressing words and know about the gun access is unacceptable," McDonald said, labeling their actions as "criminal".
The parents are also being accused of negligence for not properly securing the firearm at home, an issue to be addressed during the trials. Michigan did not have laws about safe gun storage at the time, but it's now mandatory if a minor resides in the house. The Crumbleys could face up to 15 years in prison if found guilty.
They are partly deemed responsible for the deaths of Hana St. Juliana, 14, Tate Myre, 16, and 17-year-olds Madisyn Baldwin and Justin Shilling. Their actual killer, Ethan Crumbley, was sentenced to life in December without the possibility of early release. The teenager pleaded guilty to twenty charges, including four counts of first-degree murder, terrorism, and injuring seven others. On the day of his sentencing, he made a statement in which he described himself as a "horrible person".
