In the court of public opinion, Jennifer Crumbley has faced severe condemnation. Accused and judged for raising a school shooter, for perceived coldness as a mother, and for personal life choices scrutinized under the harsh spotlight of public grief and anger, Crumbley’s image has been largely shaped by the prosecution’s narrative over two years. However, Jennifer Crumbley’s lawyer, Shannon Smith, alongside family members, is actively working to reshape this perception as they appeal to the judge for leniency during her sentencing for her role in the tragic 2021 Oxford High School shooting perpetrated by her son.
Jennifer and James Crumbley are in a unique and somber position as the first parents in America facing criminal responsibility for a school shooting committed by their child. They are scheduled to be sentenced on Tuesday following separate convictions on four counts of involuntary manslaughter – each count representing a young life lost in the horrific shooting.
In a notable and unconventional move, Jennifer Crumbley’s lawyer, Shannon Smith, has proposed an alternative to prison: allowing her client to reside in her guest house under electronic monitoring. This request underscores the defense’s argument that Jennifer Crumbley is not the figure painted by the prosecution and has already endured substantial suffering, including over two years of restrictive confinement and isolation from her son and husband.
“The pain endured by the victims and their families is immeasurable,” acknowledges Smith in her sentencing memo, while also emphasizing, “Mrs. Crumbley has also experienced significant suffering.”
Shannon Smith, Jennifer Crumbley’s Lawyer, Argues Client Has ‘Lost Everything’
Jennifer Crumbley’s lawyer, Shannon Smith, highlights the profound personal losses her client has suffered. The Oxford school shooting case has resulted in the loss of her family life, her home, her career, her reputation, and numerous friendships. Crucially, she has lost her son, Ethan Crumbley, who, at 15 years old, carried out the devastating attack. Ethan Crumbley pleaded guilty and is now serving a life sentence without parole.
“She has, in reality, lost everything,” asserts Smith, Jennifer Crumbley’s lawyer. “And she carries the heavy burden of knowing the unspeakable acts her son committed and constantly questioning every parenting decision she ever made.”
Smith further emphasizes the irreversible nature of the tragedy, stating, “Mrs. Crumbley’s son is, in reality, gone forever.”
Jennifer Crumbley’s lawyer contends that incarcerating his mother will not rectify the situation or offer any meaningful resolution. Smith argues for house arrest as a viable alternative, allowing Jennifer Crumbley to work remotely and ensuring no contact with the victims or their families.
“Further imprisonment serves no purpose in protecting society — Mrs. Crumbley poses no threat to the community,” Smith wrote, Jennifer Crumbley’s lawyer, adding, “Putting Mrs. Crumbley in prison will not deter similar offenses. No one desires a repeat of the events of November 30, 2021.”
Defense by Jennifer Crumbley Lawyer: Prosecution Narrative ‘Sexist and Misogynistic’
Contrasting sharply with the prosecution’s portrayal, Jennifer Crumbley’s lawyer and family insist she was a caring and engaged mother. They detail her involvement in her son’s life, from monitoring his academic performance and enrolling him in sports to sharing family trips and celebrating his artistic achievements on social media. They emphasize her role as the primary breadwinner, working multiple jobs to support her family.
“Criticizing Mrs. Crumbley for being ‘rarely home’ is a sexist and misogynistic attack on a mother,” argues Smith, Jennifer Crumbley’s lawyer. “It is not a criminal offense, nor would it logically lead to criminal behavior in a child, especially within a two-parent household where Mr. Crumbley primarily worked from home.” Smith also dismissed the prosecution’s assertion that Jennifer Crumbley showed a “complete lack of remorse,” calling it unfounded.
“The reality is that Mrs. Crumbley played a minimal role in this tragedy,” Smith stated in her sentencing memo, echoing her consistent defense: the Crumbleys’ situation could befall any American parent.
Ultimately, Jennifer Crumbley’s lawyer argues that the Crumbleys were victims of manipulation by their teenage son, who concealed his dark intentions from them and even from school authorities, revealing his plan only after committing the horrific act.
“Any perceived negligence on her part amounts to parenting errors that any parent could make,” Smith wrote. “The shooter manipulated his parents to purchase a firearm, meticulously planned the school shooting in secrecy, accessed the hidden weapon, brought it to school, deceived school officials about disturbing drawings, and then carried out his attack.”
Smith contends that while Jennifer Crumbley “obviously never shot or killed anyone,” the criticized actions or inactions are “easily actions any parent could take, especially when dealing with a child who has shown no prior signs of disciplinary or mental health issues, beyond typical teenage disagreements.”
However, an Oakland County jury reached a different conclusion, convicting her in February on four counts of involuntary manslaughter, determining that her actions and inactions contributed to the deaths of four students murdered by her son.
Jennifer and James Crumbley now await their sentencing before Oakland County Circuit Judge Cheryl Matthews, facing accountability for the deaths of Tate Myre, 16; Hana St. Juliana, 14; Madisyn Baldwin, 17, and Justin Shilling, 17.
The Oxford High School shooting claimed the lives of students Tate Myre, Hana St. Juliana, Madisyn Baldwin, and Justin Shilling.
Family of Jennifer Crumbley Seeks Leniency in Sentencing
Each involuntary manslaughter count carries a potential sentence of up to 15 years, although concurrent sentences are anticipated. The prosecution has requested sentences of 10 to 15 years for both parents, while both Jennifer and James Crumbley are requesting time served.
In an extensive 80-page sentencing memo, Jennifer Crumbley’s lawyer presented pleas for mercy from her mother, father, pastor, and other family members. They maintain she is not the neglectful mother depicted by the prosecution and media.
Jennifer Crumbley’s father, a retired schoolteacher, described his daughter’s devastation after the shooting, emphasizing that “Ethan was the focus of her life.” He wrote to the judge, “She was absolutely distraught…devastated that people were hurt and killed, scared and appalled by what Ethan did, worried about him, terrified by threats and the public’s outrage with her.” He noted the emotional and mental toll of her incarceration and asserted she has already “undeniably suffered and been punished.”
Jennifer Crumbley’s Mother Says Daughter Wishes ‘She Were the One Dead’
Jennifer Crumbley’s mother, also a former schoolteacher, echoed the plea for mercy, highlighting the family’s profound grief. “She has spent countless hours on the phone with us devastated, crying hysterically and wishing she were the one dead, not the children,” she wrote. She emphasized the especially heavy burden on Jennifer, given her own background in education.
“All of us still cannot reconcile with what Ethan did,” Jennifer Crumbley’s mother stated. “Jennifer, along with us, will never be the same. We will live heartbroken for the families, community, and the students and staff for the excruciating pain Ethan has caused.”
Her mother further addressed the prosecution’s narrative about the Crumbleys fleeing, explaining they withdrew money for safety advice from family, intending to turn themselves in with legal counsel.
Jennifer Crumbley’s parents also suggested she could reside with them in Florida under house arrest.
Jennifer Crumbley Lawyer: ‘Mrs. Crumbley Was Damned No Matter What’
In her sentencing memo, Jennifer Crumbley’s lawyer, Shannon Smith, reiterated key defense arguments from the trial. She maintained Jennifer Crumbley was unaware of her son’s mental struggles or plans for violence and criticized the prosecution’s portrayal of her client as fleeing and as a “horrible mother.”
Smith argued that Jennifer Crumbley’s reactions to the tragedy were unfairly scrutinized. “(T)he prosecution repeatedly characterized and continues to present Mrs. Crumbley as a selfish, callous, evil person and horrible mother,” Smith wrote. “Mrs. Crumbley was damned no matter what she did or did not do.”
She pointed out the criticism of Jennifer Crumbley’s emotional responses during the trial, stating, “The prosecution certainly tried to convey that Mrs. Crumbley did not care enough…that she did not cry enough…despite the fact that there really is no formula about how a mother of a school shooter would behave.” Smith noted the prosecution even objected when Jennifer Crumbley did cry during the trial.
Jennifer Crumbley’s lawyer also clarified her client’s trial testimony, where she stated she wouldn’t have changed anything, explaining this referred to her knowledge before the shooting.
Jennifer Crumbley’s Lawyer Clarifies Client’s Trial Testimony
Smith emphasized that with hindsight, Jennifer Crumbley acknowledges many things she would have done differently, a point Jennifer Crumbley herself made in a presentencing interview.
“With the information I have now, of course my answer would be hugely different. There are so many things that I would change if I could go back in time,” Jennifer Crumbley stated.
Jennifer Crumbley’s lawyer, Shannon Smith, argues that expressing grief for herself and her family does not diminish the suffering of the victims. “It is possible to be sad for the victims AND the Crumbleys,” Smith wrote. “While this situation is tragic for everyone involved, nothing can undo the events of November 30, 2021.”
Despite these arguments, two juries have sided with the prosecution’s view that the Crumbleys neglected a spiraling child, purchased him a gun instead of seeking help, and failed to disclose the weapon to the school.
“The prosecution has presented a narrative of righteousness and virtue, misleading the public and media from the outset,” Smith wrote, indicating that Jennifer Crumbley will appeal her conviction.
Jennifer Crumbley with her lawyer Shannon Smith during the trial.
Former Cellmate Describes Jennifer Crumbley’s Character in Jail
Among those supporting Jennifer Crumbley is her former cellmate, who shared a cell with her for 17 months. The former cellmate described Jennifer Crumbley as a supportive “mother figure” during a difficult time in jail.
According to her letter to the judge, Jennifer Crumbley welcomed her to the jail with kindness and support. Despite knowing the tragic circumstances of Jennifer Crumbley’s case, she witnessed Jennifer Crumbley’s compassion and empathy firsthand. She recounted instances of Jennifer Crumbley apologizing to inmates for her son’s actions and offering support to her cellmate through emotional distress and difficult situations.
The cellmate’s mother also wrote to the judge, expressing immense gratitude to Jennifer Crumbley for supporting her daughter, believing Jennifer Crumbley helped prevent her daughter from attempting suicide. Both women’s identities were kept private.
“Mrs. Crumbley was there for my daughter when I could not be,” the mother wrote. “If not for Mrs. Crumbley, I know my beautiful daughter would have tried to attempt suicide many times… I love her with all my heart.”
Contact Tresa Baldas: tbaldas@freepress.com.
