In a contentious legal battle that has captivated public attention, Jennifer Crumbley’s lawyer is vehemently contesting the prosecution’s portrayal of her client, advocating for a lenient sentence in the sentencing hearing. The case stems from the tragic 2021 Oxford High School shooting perpetrated by Crumbley’s son, Ethan, which resulted in four fatalities. Jennifer and her husband, James Crumbley, are facing sentencing as the first parents in the US to be held criminally responsible for a school shooting committed by their child.
Shannon Smith, Jennifer Crumbley’s defense attorney, is pushing back against what she describes as a biased and damaging narrative crafted by the prosecution over the past two years. This narrative, according to Smith, has unfairly painted Jennifer Crumbley as a neglectful and uncaring mother, focusing on aspects of her personal life – such as alleged alcohol consumption, an extramarital affair, and a passion for horses – to demonize her in the court of public opinion.
The defense is now making an impassioned plea for judicial mercy as Jennifer Crumbley faces sentencing for four counts of involuntary manslaughter, mirroring her husband’s conviction. In an unusual move highlighting the defense’s commitment to leniency, Smith has proposed that her client be allowed to reside in her guest house under house arrest, suggesting a tether to ensure compliance, as an alternative to imprisonment.
Smith argues that Jennifer Crumbley is not the callous figure depicted by the prosecution and has already endured significant suffering. She emphasizes the harsh conditions of Crumbley’s pre-sentencing detention, including 23-hour daily lockdown and complete isolation from her son and husband.
“The victims and their families have suffered beyond what words can explain,” Smith acknowledges in her sentencing memorandum. However, she insists, “Mrs. Crumbley has also suffered significantly.”
Defense Insists Jennifer Crumbley Has ‘Lost Everything’
According to the defense, Jennifer Crumbley has already paid a heavy price, losing her family, home, career, reputation, and many friendships. Most profoundly, she has lost her son, Ethan Crumbley, who pleaded guilty to the mass shooting and is serving a life sentence without parole.
“She in reality has lost everything,” Smith reiterates, emphasizing the immense emotional burden Jennifer Crumbley carries, “And she is saddled with extra baggage knowing the horrific acts her son did to others and always second guessing every choice she made as a parent.”
Smith further underscores the irreversible nature of the tragedy, stating, “Mrs. Crumbley’s son is, in reality, gone forever.”
The defense contends that incarcerating Jennifer Crumbley will not rectify the situation or enhance public safety. Smith asserts that her client poses no threat to the community and can effectively work remotely under house arrest, ensuring no contact with the victims or their families.
“Further prison time does nothing to protect society — Mrs. Crumbley is not a threat to the community,” Smith argues. “Putting Mrs. Crumbley in prison does nothing to further deter others from committing like offenses. There is no person who would want the events of November 30, 2021, to repeat themselves.”
‘Sexist and Misogynistic Attack on a Mother’ Claims Lawyer
Challenging the prosecution’s narrative of parental neglect, Jennifer Crumbley’s lawyer and family maintain that she was a caring and involved mother. They highlight her active participation in her son’s life, including monitoring his academic progress, enrolling him in sports, teaching him to ski, taking him on trips, and proudly showcasing his artwork on social media. Moreover, they point out that Jennifer Crumbley was the primary financial provider for the family, working two jobs to meet their needs.
Smith directly refutes the criticism leveled against Jennifer Crumbley for being “rarely home,” labeling it “a sexist and misogynistic attack on a mother.” She argues that such criticism is not only unwarranted but also irrelevant to the case, especially considering that the Crumbleys were a two-parent household, and James Crumbley primarily worked from home.
The defense also dismisses the prosecution’s claim that Jennifer Crumbley demonstrated a “complete lack of remorse,” arguing that her perceived minimization of her role is a misinterpretation.
“The fact of the matter is that Mrs. Crumbley did have a minimal role in the matter,” Smith asserts in her sentencing memo. She echoes the defense’s consistent argument: the Crumbley case represents a tragedy that could befall any parent in America.
Smith maintains that the Crumbleys were victims of manipulation by their teenage son, who concealed his dark intentions from them, as well as from school officials. She emphasizes that Ethan Crumbley only revealed his plans after unleashing the terror, which no one, according to Smith, foresaw.
“Any gross negligence on her part can only be found to be parenting mistakes that any parent could make,” Smith contends. “The shooter manipulated his parents to buy a gun, made detailed plans to commit a school shooting that he kept from his parents — even according to his own admission at his sentencing — found the hidden weapon where his father had stored it, stole the weapon, took it to school, was confronted about concerning drawings, liedeffectively enough to convince school officials it was really a non-issue, and chose to open fire on his classmates and teachers.”
Smith contends that the actions and inactions Jennifer Crumbley is being judged for are common parental oversights, “easily actions any parent could take, especially when dealing with a child who has never exhibited disciplinary issues or mental health issues to them, aside from typical arguments between parents and teenagers over little things like missing school assignments.”
Despite these arguments, an Oakland County jury convicted Jennifer Crumbley on four counts of involuntary manslaughter in February, concluding that her actions and inactions were causally linked to the deaths of the four students killed by her son.
Jennifer and James Crumbley are scheduled to receive their sentences from Oakland County Circuit Judge Cheryl Matthews on Tuesday. They face sentencing for their roles in the deaths of Tate Myre, 16; Hana St. Juliana, 14; Madisyn Baldwin, 17, and Justin Shilling, 17.
Family Rallies for Leniency in Jennifer Crumbley Sentencing
Each involuntary manslaughter count carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison, although concurrent sentences are anticipated. The prosecution has requested sentences of 10 to 15 years for both Crumbleys. In contrast, both defendants are seeking time served.
In an extensive 80-page sentencing memo, Jennifer Crumbley’s defense team, including her lawyer, mother, father, pastor, and other relatives, implore the judge to grant leniency. They reiterate that Jennifer Crumbley is not the neglectful mother portrayed by the prosecution and media.
“Contrary to how the prosecution and media depicted Jennifer, Ethan was the focus of her life,” her father, a retired schoolteacher, wrote in a letter to the judge. He emphasized his daughter’s profound distress following the shooting.
“She was 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,” her father stated, adding that he has maintained regular contact with his daughter throughout her incarceration. “I can hear in her voice how this has taken an emotional and mental toll on her health. She has undeniably suffered and been punished.”
Mother Claims Jennifer Crumbley Wishes ‘She Were the One Dead’
Jennifer Crumbley’s mother, also a former schoolteacher, echoed the plea for mercy, emphasizing the deep heartbreak experienced by her daughter and the entire family.
“She has spent countless hours on the phone with us devastated, crying hysterically and wishing she were the one dead, not the children,” her mother wrote, highlighting the particular impact of the tragedy 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 have to live the rest of our lives heartbroken for the families, community and for the students and staff for the excruciating pain Ethan has caused.”
Her mother also contested the prosecution’s narrative that the Crumbleys were attempting to flee after the shooting, explaining that the withdrawal of funds was for safety reasons, on the advice of her parents, until they turned themselves in with legal counsel.
Jennifer Crumbley’s parents have offered their Florida residence as a potential location for house arrest should the judge grant a lenient sentence.
‘Mrs. Crumbley was Damned No Matter What’ Argues Smith
In her sentencing memo, Smith reiterated key defense arguments from the trial, maintaining that Jennifer Crumbley had no prior knowledge of her son’s mental struggles or his plan to commit violence. She strongly criticized the prosecution’s handling of the case, accusing them of fabricating a narrative of flight and misrepresenting Jennifer Crumbley as a monstrous mother.
“(T)he prosecution repeatedly characterized and continues to present Mrs. Crumbley as a selfish, callous, evil person and horrible mother who ‘… prioritize[ed] her own convenience over the safety to everyone in the school that day,’ ” Smith wrote. “Mrs. Crumbley was damned no matter what she did or did not do.”
Smith highlighted the prosecution’s criticism of Jennifer Crumbley’s emotional response to the tragedy, arguing that her reactions were scrutinized “at every turn” during the trial.
“The prosecution certainly tried to convey that Mrs. Crumbley did not care enough about what was going on, that she did not cry enough, and that she did not behave the way a mother of a school shooter would behave — despite the fact that there really is no formula about how a mother of a school shooter would behave after such a shocking and disturbing event was committed by their child,” Smith argued. She pointed out the inconsistency, noting that when Jennifer Crumbley did express emotion during the trial, “when Mrs. Crumbley did cry, watching the videos of her son’s horrific actions for the first time, the prosecution objected that ‘she was crying.’ “
Smith clarified Jennifer Crumbley’s trial testimony, in which she stated she would not have changed anything in retrospect. Smith explained that this statement referred to her understanding prior to the shooting, asserting that she would not have acted differently based on the information she possessed at the time.
Lawyer: Shooter’s Mother Acknowledges Hindsight
However, Smith emphasized that with hindsight, Jennifer Crumbley recognizes numerous actions she would have taken differently, a sentiment Jennifer Crumbley herself expressed in a presentencing interview with state officials.
“At trial, when I was on the stand I was asked if I would have done anything differently, I testified that I would not have — and that is true without the benefit of of (sic) hindsight that I have now. 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 in the interview.
Smith argues that Jennifer Crumbley’s expressions of grief for herself and her family do not detract from the suffering of the victims.
“It is possible to be sad for the victims AND the Crumbleys,” Smith writes. “While this is a situation that has always been certain to end in disappointment for everyone, there is nothing that can rewind the events of November 30, 2021, which created irreparable damage, unimaginable loss and a nightmare that will continue for eternity.”
Despite the defense’s efforts, two juries have sided with the prosecution’s view that the Crumbleys neglected a child in distress, purchased him a firearm instead of seeking help, and failed to disclose the weapon to school authorities.
“The prosecution has put on a narrative that they are righteous and virtuous throughout this case. As they have done this, they have misled the public and the media from the beginning of this case and through trial,” Smith wrote, confirming that Jennifer Crumbley intends to appeal her conviction.
Former Cellmate Offers Glimpse into Jennifer Crumbley’s Jail Life
Adding an unexpected dimension to the defense’s plea, Jennifer Crumbley’s former cellmate submitted a letter to the judge, offering a contrasting perspective on her character.
“I loved Jenn from the moment we met,” the former cellmate wrote.
She described Jennifer Crumbley as a supportive and caring figure during their 17 months of shared incarceration. The cellmate recounted how Jennifer Crumbley welcomed her upon arrival at the Oakland County jail, providing her with a basket of snacks and necessities. Despite initial reservations due to the Oxford High tragedy, the cellmate came to see Jennifer Crumbley as a maternal figure who offered support and protection within the challenging jail environment. She recalled instances of inmates directing threats towards Jennifer Crumbley and Jennifer Crumbley’s tearful expressions of remorse for her son’s actions.
The former cellmate emphasized Jennifer Crumbley’s kindness and support, mentioning activities such as coloring together, cooking lessons, and emotional support during difficult times. The cellmate’s mother also wrote to the judge, expressing her gratitude to Jennifer Crumbley for looking after her daughter, believing that Jennifer Crumbley had saved her daughter’s life during their time in jail together.
“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.”
The sentencing of Jennifer Crumbley will be a pivotal moment in this landmark case, determining the extent to which parental responsibility will be held accountable in school shootings and reflecting the court’s consideration of the defense’s arguments for leniency amidst the profound tragedy.
