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Prosecutor shows evidence that Crumbleys ignored red flags of son's behavior prior to Oxford shooting
On Tuesday in court Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald presented a school phone call to the parents of Ethan Crumbley one day before the shooting as well as disturbing phone text messages.
OXFORD, Mich. (FOX 2) - James and Jennifer Crumbley, the parents of accused Oxford High School shooter Ethan Crumbley, will return to court Tuesday for a pre-trial hearing.
The couple was ordered to stand trial last month after a two-day preliminary examination. Both James and Jennifer Crumbley are facing involuntary manslaughter charges stemming from the fatal attack their son is accused of carrying out at his high school on Nov. 30, 2021.
Related: Prosecutors say Ethan Crumbley 'adored' Hitler, tortured animals
Why are James and Jennifer Crumbley facing charges?
Numerous pieces of evidence were presented during the preliminary exam that suggested that James and Jennifer Crumbley failed to address concerns regarding Ethan Crumbley's mental health. The couple is also accused of buying a gun for the 15-year-old.
According to authorities, Jennifer Crumbley made an Instagram post that said she was at a gun range shooting a weapon that was her son's Christmas present days before the Oxford High School shooting.
Read: Prosecutors say Ethan Crumbley's parents ignored signs of violence for months
During the preliminary exam, text messages between Jennifer Crumbley and Ethan Crumbley were presented.
These texts showed that for months before the shooting, the teen would text his mother about hallucinations he was having while home alone. On multiple occasions, she didn't acknowledge these messages.
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Text exchange between Ethan and Jennifer Crumbley on Nov. 29
The prosecutor Oakland County Prosecutor introduced a text exchange between Ethan and Jennifer Crumbley during a preliminary hearing on Tuesday regarding ammunition that Ethan had researched the day before the Oxford High School shooting.
Text messages between Ethan Crumbley and a close friend also revealed a look into the teen's relationship with his parents.
In an exchange on April 5, 2021, prosecutors described "quite a bit" of discussion about his mental state in which Ethan Crumbley told his friend he was "f----- up," experiencing hallucinations, and had asked his parents for help.
"Now my mom thinks I take drugs," one text read, according to the prosecutor. "She thinks that’s the reason why I’m so mad and sad all the time, and she doesn't worry about my mental health. They make me feel like I’m the problem."
Another text from Ethan Crumbley to his friend indicated that he had asked his father, James, "to take me to the doctor but he just gave me some pills and told me to suck it up," the prosecutor read during the hearing.
At one point, Ethan told his friend in a text: "I need help. I was thinking of calling 911 so I could go to the hospital but then my parents would be really pissed," according to the exchange read in court.
Read: Ethan Crumbley told friend parents 'make me feel like I’m the problem'
During the exam, Oxford High School counselor Shawn Hopkins also testified about James and Jennifer Crumbley.
Hopkins said he spoke with Ethan Crumbley after concerning drawings and words were found on an assignment the day of the school shooting.
Hopkins said he "was concerned about suicidal ideation" and contacted Ethan Crumbley's parents to meet with them.
Jennifer and James Crumbley were shown the note and advised that Hopkins was concerned for his well-being. Hopkins testified that he didn’t recall Jennifer speaking to her son during the estimated 15-minute meeting and that James looked over the math assignment with Ethan and told him, "you have people you can talk to."
More: How Ethan could be used by prosecution and defense
The counselor testified that he told the couple Ethan needed mental health support "as soon as possible, today if possible." But he noted that Jennifer said she had to return to work that day and it wouldn’t be possible within that timeframe.
"I was taken aback by that," the counselor testified. He added that he then told the parents, "I want him seen within 48 hours. I’ll be following up."
What did James and Jennifer Crumbley do after the Oxford shooting?
In court, a 911 call made by James Crumbley was played. In the call, he told the dispatcher that his gun was missing and he thought his son may be the school shooter.
Witnesses, including Jennifer Crumbley's boss and co-workers, testified that she said she needed to leave work because there had been a shooting at her son's school.
About 20 minutes after leaving work, her boss Andrew Smith said she texted him, "The gun is gone and so are the bullets."
Kira Pennock, a horse farm owner, said Jennifer Crumbley messaged her about an hour after the school shooting to say she wouldn't make it to a training session that day. When Pennock asked if Ethan Crumbley was OK, Jennifer Crumbely didn't reply. However, Pennock testified that Jennifer Crumbley messaged her a couple of hours later to say that she needed to sell her horses.
After charges were issued against James and Jennifer Crumbley, the pair disappeared and a manhunt began. They were arrested early Dec. 4, 2021, in a Detroit building after someone spotted their vehicle and called 911.
Attorneys for the couple said they had left the area for their safety.
What's next for James and Jennifer Crumbley?
During the pre-trial hearing, the defense will have the chance to address any issues with the case before it goes to trial.
There can also be motions regarding evidence.
Plea negotiations may also be discussed.
What's next for Ethan Crumbley?
Ethan Crumbley waived his preliminary hearing, so his case will go to trial.
He is currently being held in the Oakland County Jail awaiting trial, as a date hasn't been set.
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Prosecutor: School shooter suspect Ethan Crumbley planned to stalk, rape classmate
Oakland County prosecutors pointed to disturbing journal entries, videos and texts showing why accused Oxford shooter Ethan Crumbley needs to stay locked up in the jail rather than be moved to the juvenile facility.