Second day of Jennifer Crumbley's trial includes text messages, cross examination of forensic analyst
PONTIAC, Mich. (Fox 2) - Jennifer Crumbley's trial continued Friday with more testimony about her actions before and after the Oxford High School shooting. Jennifer is facing four counts of involuntary manslaughter, one count for each of the students her son killed on Nov. 30, 2021. Her husband, James, is also facing the same charges and will go to trial later this year.
Below is a timeline of the trial's highlights.
4:30 - Defense ends cross-examination + Prosecution resumes
The defense went through much of the communication that was testified to earlier in the day.
The prosecution asked the witness to contrast the messages that James and Jennifer Crumbley sent concerning their son compared to messages the two sent concerning their horse, which drew an objection from the defense.
The witness said about 70-80% of the messages were about their horses.
3:15 p.m. - Cross-examination resumes of forensic analyst
The next thread of text messages the defense is cross-examining the witness over is communication between James and Jennifer Crumbley. The messages were sent the day after the shooter had contacted his mom about hearing voices in the house.
In a three-string thread of texts, Jennifer is "voicing concern" over the shooter, the defense says. They include her saying she's freaking out and asking if he's home yet. "I don't want him to do anything stupid," she writes to James.
The assistant prosecutor objected to multiple questions posed by the defense when asking the witness about other text messages that had been exchanged between James and Jennifer Crumbley, but weren't shown during the trial.
The judge cautioned that no relevant information was being kept from the jury and didn't want defense making an argument that could be construed as such.
2:55 p.m. - Judge calls short break
1:46 p.m. - Defense begins cross-examination of forensic analyst
Text messages between Jennifer Crumbley and Kira Pennock, her friend, the defense entered into evidence included a screenshot from the defendant's social media about threats that were directed toward her.
They discuss plans to sell their horses and their home to pay for legal fees.
In another text to Pennock, she writes "I wish we had warnings.. Something."
Pennock later texted Jennifer to not come out to the barn over concerns about people that worked at the barn. She said if she did come, she should be escorted by police. The defense said that was an indication of safety concerns.
Jennifer Crumbley Facebook messages detail being on the run: 'We're f-cked'
At 7:31 a.m. Dec. 2, Jennifer sent: "We're on the run again. Helicopters."
1 p.m. - Court resumes with testimony from forensic analyst
Footage of the day of the shooting was played, which included the shooter exiting a car and heading into the school at the start of the day.
The next round of surveillance was at 10:39 a.m., which showed both parents entering the school after being called for a meeting to discuss the shooter's behavior with the counselor inside Oxford High School.
The counselor, Shawn Hopkins, had previously testified in an earlier hearing in 2022 about James and Jennifer's meeting with their son. He was one of the last people to see the shooter before he began the rampage.
A short text exchange afterwards between Jennifer and the shooter following the meeting in the counselor's office included the defendant telling her son he can tell them anything, and they won't judge.
The last text exchange between Jennifer Crumbley and the shooter before he went to the bathroom and armed himself.
About half an hour later, when an active shooter alert was sent to Oxford High School parents, Jennifer Crumbley is seen leaving her work. Call logs reveal she was on the phone with her husband. At the same time, she texts her son three times:
- I love you too
- You ok.?
- (Shooter's name) don't do it
Another text thread shows Jennifer realizing her son had obtained a gun and ammo from inside the home. She says she's worried her son is going to kill himself. A 911 call made by James Crumbley was then played in court. He says a gun that was kept at their home had gone missing and he's worried his son had taken it.
The prosecution also revealed text messages that Jennifer Crumbley had sent, including messages saying "I need a lawyer at substation" and "(shooter) did it)."
11:45 a.m - Court breaks for lunch
11:12 a.m. - "This time I am going to tell them about the voices"
More messages between the shooter and his parents, as well as communication between Jennifer Crumbley and the mother of the shooter's best friend were read during the trial.
The shooter's friend, whose name was redacted from evidence, was one of the few people the shooter enjoyed spending time with in 2021. He eventually moved away, leaving the shooter upset and alone, the messages read. His mom messaged the friend's mother that the shooter had been acting depressed and moody.
The messages also included saying the shooter struggled while taking online school.
Other messages between the shooter and his friend reveal disturbing thoughts the shooter was having, including that he was hearing people speaking to him, is paranoid, and wanted to call 911. He added his parents would be upset with him but wanted to tell them "about the voices."
"Like I am mentally and physically dying," the shooter texted his friend.
Jennifer Crumbley trial: How Oxford's mom responded to messages of demons, bullets
The Oxford shooter's son begged Jennifer Crumbley to text him back as he talke dabout seeing and hearing things, evidence shows.
10:47 a.m. - More debate over evidence
While the jury was out of the courtroom, another tense moment came up over evidence that included text messages about Jennifer Crumbley's drinking.
The defense is worried about references to Jennifer's drinking while her son is texting her about hallucinations he says he's having would give off the impression she's ignoring cries for help. Both sides have previously contested what counts as necessary for the case.
The specific text the defense wanted out was sent during a relevant string of messages.
"There's substantial evidence that has been excluded that shows the substance use of James and Jennifer - substantial," Assistant Prosecutor Marc Keast said. "We're not introducing any of that because of the court's ruling."
There were also images shown to the jury of both Jennifer and James Crumbley on horses, along with time stamps of when they were taken. Around the same time, the shooter is sending messages about a "demon" he's worried about in the house.
10:21 a.m. - Forensic analyst returns to stand
Following a short break called by the judge, Wagrowski returned to the stand to give more testimony. He'll answer more questions about evidence collected from the defendant's phones and social media accounts.
Among the evidence he discussed were text messages sent between the shooter and Jennifer Crumbley. They included messages from the shooter worrying about hearing someone in the house. There was also metadata collected from Jennifer's phone showing missed calls from the shooter.
Among the messages include hearing someone entering the house before saying "maybe it's just my (paranoia)."
9:50 a.m. - Jennifer Crumbley breaks down
For the second time this trial, the defendant looked visibly emotional after testimony describing the shooter's path on Nov. 30. The judge ordered a quick break soon after.
Wagrowski helped determine where the shooter's rampage started and then traced his steps. Growing emotional while describing each phase of the shooting, he began with the shooter exiting a bathroom before targeting a group of girls. He shot another at point-blank range, then shot a third in the hallway.
"He continues on down the hallway, walks past Tate (Myre), doesn't care to acknowledge the fact that that even happened," Wagrowski said through tears.
Jennifer Crumbley breaks down after hearing testimony about the shooter's path inside Oxford High School.
9:12 a.m. - Prosecution calls expert in cellphone forensics
Edward Wagrowski works with the Secret Service and specializes in cell phone analysis.
Wagrowski reviewed seven cell phones during the investigation; three from Jennifer, three from James, and one from the shooter. He also performed a forensic analysis of social media accounts of all three people.
He notes that both James and Jennifer Crumbley followed the shooter's Instagram account.
In recalling how he was spending the day before reports of the shooting, he said he was in his office at Pontiac when an off-duty sergeant phoned in there had been a shooting. Soon after, it was "all hands on deck," he testified.
"Being what is referred to in the business as a computer nerd, you just grab your stuff, your computer, your laptop, your laptop, what you think you might need, We had no idea what we were getting into," he said.
Oxford High School shooter won't testify at Jennifer Crumbley's trial
The Oxford High School shooter won't testify at the trial for his mother, Jennifer Crumbley.
8:52 a.m. - Judge enters court
Before the jury was seated, defense asked for a new ruling on potential witness testimony regarding the shooter, who has since waived his right to self-incrimination.
The judge said it was "disingenuous" for the defense to be surprised the shooter may plead the fifth despite her wanting to cross-examine him.
Day 1 recap
The trial opened Thursday with statements from both her defense and prosecution before several witnesses took the stand, including a teacher who was shot and an ATF agent who was at the scene.
Though the shooter has been sentenced to life in prison without parole, prosecutors have said the parents are partially to blame for the deaths of Madisyn Baldwin, Tate Myre, Justin Shilling, and Hana St. Juliana.
Jennifer Crumbley trial: Prosecutor gives opening statements
Assistant Prosecutor Marc Keast opened the trial by showing the faces of the four students killed by the defendant's son at Oxford High School in November 2021. "Jennifer Crumbley didn't pull the trigger that day, but she is responsible for those deaths," he said.
Prosecutors say the parents ignored their son's mental health concerns and bought him the firearm that he used during the school shooting. He was 15 at the time.
"Despite her knowledge of his deteriorating mental crisis, despite her knowledge of his growing social isolation, despite the fact that it’s illegal for a 15-year-old to walk into a gun store and walk out with a handgun by himself -- this gun was gifted," Oakland County Assistant Prosecutor Marc Keast said.
During day one of the trial, Jennifer's attorney Shannon Smith put the blame on James, arguing that Jennifer knew nothing about guns. Smith argued that despite evidence that Jennifer was at a gun range with her son, she did not know what she was doing and was not the one to buy the weapons.
The shooter did admit during his guilty plea in 2022 that he gave his father money to buy the handgun used at Oxford High School.
At times Thursday, the courtroom became heated as the defense and prosecution clashed.
Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald and Smith had a heated moment over emotional reactions in the courtroom.
McDonald accused the defense of not following Judge Matthews’ instructions to not show emotion during trial.
"You're concerned about the influence of the jury," she told Judge Cheryl Matthews. "I take no issue with it, but it was a difficult thing. It's difficult (not showing emotion). And we're doing it. And then to have not just the defendant, her lawyer, sit there sobbing…I think if that is the instruction, we are trying really hard to respect the court's instruction because I understand the reason for it."
Smith countered that she wasn’t sobbing, and said Crumbley was crying because it was the first time she’d seen the video shown in the courtroom. The video showed the scene after the shooting, including victims in the hallway.
"It’s horrific," Smith said. "That’s why we asked the court not to play it."