Michigan school shooter's parents sentenced to at least 10 years in prison

In an Oakland County courtroom Tuesday, Judge Cheryl Matthews sentenced James and Jennifer Crumbley to between 10 and 15 years in prison.

The parents of the Oxford High School shooter had been tried separately and each convicted of four counts of involuntary manslaughter for ignoring warning signs that their son was planning a shooting and for providing him with the gun and ammunition he used.

Michigan Public criminal justice reporter Briana Rice was in the courtroom and joined Doug Tribou on Morning Edition.

Some of the parents of the students who died during the Oxford High School shooting spoke to reporters after the shooter's parents were sentenced.

Steven St. Juliana, the father of Hana St. Juliana, who was 14 when she was murdered, wanted to see the parents receive the max sentence of 10-15 years in prison for failing to take steps that could have prevented the killing of four students in 2021.

“The remorse that they were showing has nothing to do with taking accountability for their actions. I'm sure they were sad people lost their lives. I'm sure they're sad their son is in jail,” St. Juliana said. “I'm sure that they're sad that they're in jail. That's not what's important. What was important is for them to recognize that they made mistakes. You know, not once did they say ‘Yes, I really wish I would have locked the gun up, regardless if it was the law at the time or not. A common sense reaction.”

James and Jennifer Crumbley offered the families apologies before they were sentenced, but both insisted they had no idea what his son was planning.

“I cannot express how much I wish that I would have known what was going on with him or what was going to happen. Because I absolutely would have done a lot of things differently,” James Crumbley said.

“I know we did our best,” Jennifer Crumbley told the judge of their parenting.

“Your child can make a fatal decision,” she warned other parents, “not just with a gun but a knife, a vehicle, intentionally or unintentionally. If there’s anything the general public can take away from this it’s that this could happen to you too.”

St. Juliana said he hopes the sentencing shows parents that they need to own weapons responsibly.

“Ultimately the responsibility was in their hands,” said Craig Shilling, while wearing a hoodie with the image of his son Justin Shilling on his chest. “They are the parents. They are the ones that control their son. And they have the power to do what needs to be done. And they didn't do that. They were the only ones that could have.”

Shilling thought the sentence was fair and would’ve been fine with more time for James and Jenifer Crumbley.

Nicole Beausoleil, the mother of Madisyn Baldwin, talked about her victim impact statement, where she broke down in tears..

“I was really showing the differences of what a mom was doing versus what somebody else was trying to do to cover up what they were doing,” Beausoleil said. “I really wanted to get it out there as a mom that, you know, you don't have the choice to look away. And I felt like a lot of the times during this trial, they were able to look away.”

Prosecutor Karen McDonald said she was grateful for the sentence. “I'm thankful for the victims. I think it brings, never closure, but some acknowledgment.”

Prosecutor Marc Keast called the Crumbley parents' closing statements before they were sentenced “disappointing”.

“I thought they were additional examples of lack of remorse and blaming others,”Keast said. “What the victims are really hoping to hear was accountability. And I thought that was lacking.”

PONTIAC, Mich. (AP) — The parents of a Michigan school shooter were each sentenced to at least 10 years in prison Tuesday for failing to take steps that could have prevented the killing of four students in 2021.

Jennifer and James Crumbley are the first parents convicted in a U.S. mass school shooting. They were found guilty of involuntary manslaughter after prosecutors presented evidence of an unsecured gun at home and indifference toward the teen’s mental health.

The shooter drew dark images of a gun, a bullet and a wounded man on a math assignment, accompanied by despondent phrases. Staff at Oxford High School did not demand that he go home but were surprised when the Crumbleys didn’t volunteer it during a brief meeting.

Later that day, on Nov. 30, 2021, the 15-year-old pulled a handgun from his backpack and began shooting at the school. The shooter, now 17, is serving a life sentence for murder and other crimes.

Before sentencing, family members of the students killed in the shooting asked a judge to sentence the parents to 10 years, condemning them as failures whose selfishness led to four deaths and a community tragedy.

“The blood of our children is on your hands, too,” said Craig Shilling, wearing a hoodie with the image of son Justin Shilling on his chest.

Nicole Beausoleil, the mother of Madisyn Baldwin, recalled simple things she enjoyed doing for her daughter, such as scheduling an oil change for her car or helping choose senior year classes.

“While you were purchasing a gun for your son and leaving it unlocked, I was helping her finish her college essays,” Beausoleil told James and Jennifer Crumbley.

Five deputies in the courtroom stood watch over the Crumbleys and more lined the walls. They are the first parents convicted in a U.S. mass school shooting.

Prosecutors said “tragically simple actions” by both parents could have stopped the catastrophe.

The couple had separate trials in Oakland County court, 40 miles (64 kilometers) north of Detroit. Jurors heard how the teen had drawn a gun, a bullet and a gunshot victim on a math assignment, accompanied by grim phrases: “The thoughts won't stop. Help me. My life is useless. Blood everywhere.”

The shooter told a counselor he was sad — a grandmother had died and his only friend suddenly had moved away — but said the drawing only reflected his interest in creating video games.

The Crumbleys attended a meeting at the school that lasted less than 15 minutes. They did not mention that the gun resembled one James Crumbley, 47, had purchased just four days earlier — a Sig Sauer 9 mm that the shooter had described on social media as his “beauty.”

His parents declined to take him home, choosing instead to return to work and accepting a list of mental health providers. School staff said the shoot could stay on campus. A counselor, Shawn Hopkins, said he believed it would be safer for the boy than possibly being alone at home.

No one, however, checked the shooter's backpack. He pulled the gun out later that day and killed four students — Tate Myre, Hana St. Juliana, Shilling and Baldwin — and wounded seven other people.

There was no trial testimony from specialists about the shooter's state of mind. But the judge, over defense objections, allowed the jury to see excerpts from his journal.

“I have zero help for my mental problems and it’s causing me to shoot up the ... school,” he wrote. “I want help but my parents don’t listen to me so I can’t get any help.”

Asked about the shooter reporting hallucinations months before the shooting, Jennifer Crumbley, 46, told jurors he was simply “messing around.”

At the close of James Crumbley's trial, the prosecutor demonstrated how a cable lock, found in a package at home, could have secured the gun.

“Ten seconds,” McDonald said, “of the easiest, simplest thing.”

GoFundMe

Nicole Beausoleil, mother to Madisyn Baldwin

"I would like to start with the person that matters the most. Madisyn. She was a kind soul. She always had a smile on her face. She lit up the room when she walked in.

Her laugh. I could listen to it all day. It was infectious. Her big sister skills were undeniable, and she took that role very seriously. Madisyn was smart, funny, loving, passionate, determined, and genuine. Her expectations were high and at times we needed to let her fault. She needed to be reminded that not everything is perfect, even if she wanted it to be. Madison had an influence that most never achieved. Sometimes I would listen to a poem she wrote or watched her create art with no tracing. Just pure talent. She would talk about college and what major she would like to do and what would be most helpful to society. The passion that she had for everything and everyone was remarkable. I would catch myself watching her and thinking to myself, "how lucky am I?" I'm the one that gets to be her mom. What did I do to deserve a perfect person? She will be the best thing to ever happen to me at such a young age myself. I grew up because of her. We grew together. I learned from her. I mattered because of her. From the moment she was born, I promised myself that I would be there no matter what. Through the falls, heartbreak, letdowns, and struggles, I would be there. I would listen, learn, and love every moment. I wouldn't miss a thing. I would always protect her.

On November 30, 2021, exactly 17 years, six months, and 13 days made me break my first promise and it will hurt for eternity. As her mom, I didn't protect her. "

Justin Shilling

Jill Soave, mother to Justin Shilling

"Your Honor, my trauma and devastation is hard to put to words, but I have done so in my letter to you. I would also like to mention Justin's brothers, Nathan and Clay. They are now forced to live a life without their beloved middle brother, Justin.

My son Justin was the least deserving of his fate. He was the best son that any mother could pray for. Justin was brave, spending his final moments protecting a fellow student. He was hard working, a lettered athlete, a top honor student. He was kind and inclusive to all. He was full of love and joy. His future was so very bright and full of possibilities. His passing has touched so many family members, friends, students, and the community in general. The ripple effects of both James and Jennifer's failures to act, have devastated us all. This tragedy was completely preventable. If only they had done something, Your Honor. Anything to shift the course of events on November 30th, that our four angels would be here today, and Justin would be getting ready to celebrate his 20th birthday on the 18th of this month."

Reina St. Juliana, sister of Hana St. Juliana

Twitter

"Our little brother had to learn how to write a eulogy for our sister before he even learned how to write essays. November 30, 2021, all our parents did was send us off to school. Yet the next time they see Hana is to recognize her lifeless body in the medical examiner's office. I met up with Hana and her friend from my school that day and we split ways to go back to class. I just looked back and smiled. I didn't say goodbye. I never got to say goodbye. I never got to remind her that I love her and she's my everything. The person I want to walk through life with side by side. I thought our future was a given. Of course she'd play her first high school basketball game that night. Get ready for all other school dances. Have her JV and varsity season for all the sports she played. Get her driver's license. Play her lacrosse season. Have a first date, prom, graduation. She never got a chance for any of that. She didn't even get her 15th, 16th, 17th, or 18th birthday. These are only some of the high school experiences she never got to have, but it is absolutely nothing compared to the rest of everything she had going for a future. That list is eternal. Hana's life had only started to begin. 12:51 p.m. November 30th, 2021. That was the moment I became aware of the fragility of our mortality."

Twitter

Buck Myre, father of Tate Myre

"For our family, it's not time to celebrate. This tragedy has taking an incredible toll on our family. So our families are not going to give the Crumbley family a second of our time up here. It's time to turn our focus now. This is the low hanging fruit. Now it's time to turn our focus to Oxford schools who've played a role in this tragedy."

Who to know:

• The four counts of involuntary manslaughter for which both Jennifer and James Crumbley were found guilty of earlier this year 14-year-old Hana St. Juliana, 16-year-old Tate Myre, 17-year-old Madisyn Baldwin, and 17-year-old Justin Shilling.
• Judge Cheryl Matthews
• Prosecution team: Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald and assistant Prosecutor Marc Keast
• Defense team: Defense attorney Shannon Smith represents Jennifer Crumbley, and defense attorney Mariell Lehman represents James Crumbley.

James Crumbley entered Judge Matthews' courtroom at 9:10 a.m., Jennifer Crumbley followed at 9:11 a.m.

Several family members of victims of the shooting were in the gallery.

Matthews clarified that there will be individualized sentencing for both parents, but in the interest of saving victims from having to come to two separate sentencing hearings, the victim impact statements will be made all at once.

Proceedings began with a focus on the Crumbleys’ alleged substance abuse, resulting in Matthews striking drug abuse for Jennifer Crumbley, but left for both parents "substance" and "alcohol abuse" for consideration.

Defense attorney Shannon Smith referred to several issues she had with the "incredibly biased" probation office's summary of the trial, which assistant Prosecutor Marc Keast disputed. Smith also expressed frustration with a no-contact clause, which would prevent Jennifer Crumbley from communicating with her husband and the shooter during her sentence. Smith argued that, as a family, they have a right to be able to communicate with one another.

Judge Matthews also clarified that if both James Crumbley and the shooter are in prison, they will technically be categorized as "enemies" so that they will not be in the same facility together.

Speaking for the prosecution, Keast said they want the parents to be treated like any other defendant would be, and since they are co-defendants and related to the shooter, communication should not be allowed due to the nature of the crime. According to the probation representative, there wasn't a precedent for this type of situation, so it was included at her own discretion. After hearing all this, Matthews didn't believe there was a reason for the non-contact order, to which Keast asked the issue to be brought up at a later time. Prosecution will respond by April 16, and the defense will have until April 23 to respond to the defense's response.

Following this, Smith then argued that her client's crimes were not changed based on how many people were killed in the shooting, saying it was in the shooter's hands how many were killed when he made the decision to fire shots at his classmates.

Lehman also objected to the scoring, saying “This is not a case where there were four separate grossly negligent acts alleged. There were four counts for the four deaths of the students.”

She added, “In this case, it is arguably one grossly negligent act that resulted in four deaths.”

Keast said four children were murdered and that's why the parents were convicted of four counts. He claimed there is "zero support" for the argument from the defense.

Matthews ruled in favor of the prosecution, agreeing that the scoring was done correctly.

Following this, Smith argued about some incorrect portrayals of flight by her client, arguing that the media reported those inaccuracies and the prosecution ran with that narrative. Matthews said she couldn't control the media and that the Crumbleys "brought this circus to Detroit."

Lehman then brought up that James Crumbley was scored 15 points for allegedly threatening physical harm to Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald, and argued that the score should be 0 because there were no threats of physical harm.

According to Keast, James Crumbley knew his jail calls were recorded and because she was actively prosecuting the case, McDonald would hear them. Matthews said the threats could be played or read in court, but Keast read portions of them aloud instead. Matthew again agreed with the prosecution that the variable was scored correctly.

The court then took a break before the start of victim impact statements.

PONTIAC, Mich. (AP) — The parents of a Michigan school shooter are asking a judge to keep them out of prison as they face sentencing for their role in an attack that killed four students in 2021.

Jennifer and James Crumbley are scheduled to appear in court Tuesday for the close of a pioneering case: They are the first parents convicted in a U.S. mass school shooting.

The Crumbleys did not know their son was planning the shooting at Oxford High School. But prosecutors said the parents failed to safely store a gun and could have prevented the shooting by removing the 15-year-old from school when confronted with his dark drawing that day.

Prosecutors are seeking at least 10 years in prison for involuntary manslaughter.

Defense attorney Shannon Smith said Jennifer Crumbley is “not a threat to the community.” Smith said she is even willing to put Jennifer Crumbley up in a guest house at her property, outfitted with an electronic tether.

“Putting Mrs. Crumbley in prison does nothing to further deter others from committing like offenses,” Smith said in a court filing. “There is no person who would want the events of Nov. 30, 2021, to repeat themselves.”

Smith said “any gross negligence” were mistakes “that any parent could make.”

Mariell Lehman, a lawyer representing James Crumbley, said the nearly 2 1/2 years spent in jail since the couple's arrest is enough time in custody. His wife, too, has been in jail, both unable to post a $500,000 bond before trial.

James Crumbley “did not believe that there was reason to be concerned that his son was a threat to anyone,” Lehman said.

The shooter, now 17, pleaded guilty and is serving a life prison sentence.

Prosecutors said “tragically simple actions” by both parents could have stopped the catastrophe.

The couple had separate trials in Oakland County court, 40 miles (64 kilometers) north of Detroit. Jurors heard how the teen had drawn a gun, a bullet and a gunshot victim on a math assignment, accompanied by grim phrases: “The thoughts won't stop. Help me. My life is useless. Blood everywhere.”

The shooter told a counselor he was sad — a grandmother had died and his only friend suddenly had moved away — but said the drawing only reflected his interest in creating video games.

The Crumbleys attended a meeting at the school that lasted less than 15 minutes. They did not mention that the gun resembled one James Crumbley, 47, had purchased just four days earlier — a Sig Sauer 9 mm that the shooter had described on social media as his “beauty.”

His parents declined to take him home, choosing instead to return to work and accepting a list of mental health providers. School staff said the shooter could stay on campus. A counselor, Shawn Hopkins, said he believed it would be safer for the boy than possibly being alone at home.

No one, however, checked the shooter's backpack. He pulled the gun out later that day and killed four students — Tate Myre, Hana St. Juliana, Justin Shilling and Madisyn Baldwin — and wounded seven other people.

There was no trial testimony from specialists about the shooter's state of mind. But the judge, over defense objections, allowed the jury to see excerpts from his journal.

“I have zero help for my mental problems and it’s causing me to shoot up the ... school,” he wrote. “I want help but my parents don’t listen to me so I can’t get any help.”

Asked about the shooter reporting hallucinations months before the shooting, Jennifer Crumbley, 46, told jurors he was simply “messing around.”

At the close of James Crumbley's trial, prosecutor Karen McDonald demonstrated how a cable lock, found in a package at home, could have secured the gun.

“Ten seconds,” she said, “of the easiest, simplest thing.”

Prosecutors in Michigan are recommending at least 10 years in prison next week for two parents who are the first in the U.S. to be held criminally responsible for a school shooting.

Jennifer Crumbley showed a “chilling lack of remorse” for her role, and James Crumbley “failed to exercise even the smallest measure of ordinary care” that could have prevented the deaths of four students at Oxford High School in 2021, prosecutors said in a court filing Wednesday.

The Crumbleys, the parents of the shooter, were convicted of involuntary manslaughter at separate trials earlier this year. They were not accused of knowing their son's plan. But prosecutors said they failed to lock up a gun at home and ignored his mental health.

The maximum prison stay for the crime is 15 years. But the minimum sentence set by the judge on April 9 will be critical because the Crumbleys would be eligible for parole consideration after that time. They will get credit for about 2 1/2 years spent in the Oakland County jail since their arrest.

Messages seeking comment from defense lawyers were not immediately returned Wednesday.

In their filing, prosecutors disclosed that Jennifer Crumbley, 46, is hoping to avoid prison and instead be fitted with an electronic tether and live with her attorney, Shannon Smith. They said James Crumbley, 47, too, is hoping to be released.

“Such a proposed sentence is a slap in the face to the severity of tragedy caused by defendant’s gross negligence, the victims and their families,” assistant prosecutor Marc Keast said, referring to Jennifer Crumbley.

On the day of the shooting, the Crumbleys went to the school to discuss the shooter's morbid drawing of a gun, a bullet, a wounded figure and phrases such as, “The thoughts won’t stop. Help me.”

Instead of taking their son home, the Crumbleys left with a list of contacts for mental health services and returned to work. A few hours later, the shooter, who was 15 at the time, pulled a Sig Sauer 9 mm handgun from his backpack and began shooting.

School staff had not demanded that the shooter be removed from school. But they also didn’t know that James Crumbley had purchased the gun just four days earlier and that it resembled the one in the drawing, according to trial testimony.

The shooter, now 17, is serving life in prison with no chance for parole after pleading guilty to murder and terrorism.

During James Crumbley's trial, the judge barred his use of a phone and tablet while in jail. The sheriff's department, which operates the jail, said he had been making threats, though no details were publicly disclosed at the time.

In his court filing, Keast said profanity-laced threats were aimed at Karen McDonald, the elected county prosecutor. He offered five examples.

“I am ... on a rampage, Karen. Yes, Karen McDonald. You better be ... scared," he said on Jan. 3, according to Keast.