Mother of Oxford shooter asks judge to release her during appeals process

Attorneys for Jennifer Crumbley, the mother of Oxford High School shooter Ethan Crumbley, on Thursday asked a judge to release her from prison as she appeals her involuntary manslaughter convictions.

Jennifer Crumbley was convicted of four counts of involuntary manslaughter, along with her husband James Crumbley, because of her actions leading up to and following the mass shooting, which killed four students and injured six others and a teacher at the Michigan high school in 2021. 

Ethan Crumbley, who was 15 at the time, was charged as an adult and sentenced to life in prison without the chance of parole.

Jennifer Crumbley's attorney, Michael Deszi, filed a motion in the Oakland County Circuit Court on Thursday that argued his client was not a "flight risk" or a public danger.

"This case has been bungled starting with the prosecution's overreaching charge of involuntary manslaughter of a parent for the intentional criminal acts of her son who was charged and treated as an adult in the eyes of the law," Deszi wrote in the court filing, per CBS News.

“It would be grossly unfair and unjust to keep Mrs. Crumbley locked up for years while this matter proceeds slowly (likely for years) before the appellate courts."

He also accused prosecutors of arranging "secret agreements" with two witnesses, which helped lead to his client's conviction. Jennifer Crumbley has also asked the court to overturn the conviction or grant her a new trial.

Deszi also slammed his client's sentence, claiming that guidelines recommend a more lenient 43-86 months in prison instead of the 10-15 years sentence she received. She is expected to remain in prison through at least 2031, and as late as 2036.

David Williams, the Oakland County chief assistant prosecutor, slammed the request in a statement to CBS News, claiming Jennifer Crumbley was convicted because of her own actions and inactions instead of that of her son's.

"A jury of twelve individuals listened to testimony and reviewed countless pieces of evidence before they unanimously found her guilty as charged and she was sentenced by the judge accordingly," he said. "The legal issues raised by Jennifer Crumbley have already been heard and rejected by the Michigan Court of Appeals. She should remain in prison serving her sentence while this matter proceeds through the appellate courts."  

Jennifer and James Crumbleys' convictions were historic at the time, because they were the first parents to be convicted in relation to a son's mass shooting.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.