Parents of Oxford HS shooter charged with 4 counts of involuntary manslaughter -charging documents Manhunt underway to locate the parents -update US Marshals Fugitive TaskForce
I might be getting ahead of my skis (so it’s okay to be skeptical) Oakland County Prosecutor charging the parents might be a landmark event. Or at a minimum one to watch closely
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Updated December 3, 2921 9:40PM
This is about a fresh as fresh can get - last month I walked you through some of the statics and scope and reach of the US Marshal Fugitive TaskForce, see September 2021 article
See the February 2021 US Marshal Fugitive Apprehension Data/Fact Sheet:
Total fugitives arrested/cleared by U.S. Marshals Service 77,469 — of which Federal fugitives 24,389
Average fugitives arrested per day (based on 250 operational days) 310…
About two hours ago the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department posted the following BOLO on their Facebook page
As standard practice let’s not forget about the four children, Hana St. Juliana, 14; Madisyn Baldwin, 17; Tate Myre, 16; and Justin Shilling, 17. —these children and the victims families are going through immeasurable grief. In the horrific aftermath of the deadly shooting at Oxford High School, earlier this week. A disturbed student (who was charged as an adult) brought a semi-automatic handgun to school, whereby he murdered four fellow students and injured seven
“Enough is Enough” -Oakland County Prosecutor
Today the Oakland County Prosecutor announced the MI Schedule Shooting suspect’s parents have been charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter. During the press conference Oakland County Prosecutor, Karen McDonald walked through some of the evidence that her office has already recovered. But first remember this now viral video? Well as previously hinted to but today the Oakland County Prosecutor stated (as a matter of fact) that the shooter had posed as law enforcement trying to gain entry into a barricaded classroom - ht to @ImmaculateLoo because she sent me the video and I was like, hold on —both the Prosecutor and Sheriff stated the shooter tried to gain entry into a barricaded classroom. So now rewatch that video, it is absolutely terrifying to watch and I’m glad these students opted to use the window “he said ‘Bro’ …yeah I’m not letting him in” -but on December 1, 2021 around 3:30PM stated unequivocally that “the suspect never knocked on the door…it was one of our plainclothes detectives…
My point is #BreakingNews can change minute by minute. And it’s best to wait for the facts to come out. But even after today’s press conference there are still lingering questions if the suspect knocked on any barricaded classroom doors. Because the Prosecutor said he did…
Michigan Involuntary Manslaughter Law
To understand what the State of Michigan’s “gross criminal negligence resulting in a homicide” (also known as involuntary manslaughter)
Michigan Penal Code 750.321 Manslaughter. Sec. 321.
Manslaughter—Any person who shall commit the crime of manslaughter shall be guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment in the state prison, not more than 15 years or by fine of not more than 7,500 dollars, or both, at the discretion of the court.
Typically a prosecutor will ask themselves the following questions as it relates to involuntary versus voluntary manslaughter..
A death occurred as a result of the defendant’s actions.
The defendant’s actions were inherently dangerous to others.
The defendant knew or should have realized the actions would be a threat to the lives of others.
Involuntary Manslaughter Generally
Involuntary manslaughter (also called criminally negligent manslaughter) occurs when a person is accidentally killed due to someone else's criminal negligence, or when someone is killed during another crime, where the intent was not to cause bodily injury or death. Unlike a murder charge, involuntary manslaughter means that a person had no intention of killing another, but due to their careless or reckless actions caused the death of a human being.
Prosecutor’s current Evidence
In making the decision to charge the MI-Oxford HS-Shooter (sorry but I refuse to use the shooter’s name)
“While the shooter was the one who entered the high school and pulled the trigger, there are other individuals who contributed to the events on November 30 and it is my intention to hold them accountable as well…It’s imperative we prevent this from happening again. No other parent or community should have to live through this nightmare." @OCPOMcDonald
The 9mm Sig Sauer pistol recovered after the shooting, investigators confirmed it was purchased by James Crumbley (shooter’s father) in the presence of his son at a local firearms store on Black Friday.
James Crumbly “purchased the gun as a Christmas gift”
After purchasing the gun, the shooter went took to social media around that date to post images of a semi-automatic handgun with the caption "just got my new beauty today ❤️ sig sauer 9mm any questions I will answer,"
the following day (November 27, 2021) after the Shooter posted on his social media account, his mother, Jennifer Crumbley then posted on social media "mom and son day testing out his new Christmas present."
the day BEFORE the shooting, the prosecutor stated:
..A teacher at Oxford High School observed Ethan Crumbley searching for ammunition while in class the day before the shooting and reported it to school officials. Jennifer Crumbley was contacted by voicemail reporting the “inappropriate internet search” by her son.
The school followed up with an email and received no reply.
Investigators found evidence that Jennifer Crumbley texted son on that day saying: “LOL, I’m not mad at you. You have to learn not to get caught.”
On November 30 2021, the morning of the shooting, Ethan Crumbley’s teacher found an alarming note on his desk that she took a picture of…
The note contained a drawing of a semi-automatic handgun pointed at the words “The thoughts won’t stop. Help me.”
In another section of the note was a drawing of a bullet with the words “blood everywhere” above the drawing.
Between the drawing of the bullet and the gun was a picture of a person which appeared to have been shot twice (in the head) and further depicted prolific bleeding from the gun shot wounds. The prosecutor said. “Below that is a drawing of a laughing emoj…Further down the drawing are the words ‘My life is useless’ and to the right of that are the words ‘The world is dead’…”
When the school shooting became public, Jennifer Crumbley texted her son at 1:22PM: “Ethan, don’t do it.”
At 1:37 p.m. James Crumbley called 911 reporting a gun was missing from his house and he believed his son may be the shooter.
The Prosecutor stated that as part of the “investigation…revealed that gun was stored, unlocked in a drawer in the parent’s bedroom”
“Both James and Jennifer Crumbley failed to ask if their son had his gun with him or where his gun was located, and failed to inspect his backpack for the presence of the gun, which he had with him," McDonald said.
To prove the parents are guilty of involuntary manslaughter
Their actions or lack thereof Cause a death or grave injury to another
the parents were Grossly Negligent, they impermissibly purchased the gun for their son as a “Christmas Gift”, they knew their son had homicidal ideations (depicted in his drawings),
the parents knew their son’s “intent” and they didn’t nothing to intervene or appropriate action taken by reasonable people.
Prosecutor allege that there’s something more serious with the shooter.
Meeting at school with the shooter & his parents, the school administrator and parents “failed to ask what’s in the backpack, parents failed to search” —I get it that some are angry with the School Administration. And hindsight is always 2020 why was the shooter allowed to return to school? The Prosecutor stated that “the parents resisted removing their son from the school”…on the day of the shooting and after the meeting. As the charging documents state -each of the four counts are for the following children whom the shooter murdered:
Hana St. Juliana, 14;
Madisyn Baldwin, 17;
Tate Myre, 16; and
Justin Shilling, 17.
grossly negligent manner, to wit storing his or her firearm and it ammunition so to allow access of the firearm and ammunition by his or her minor child or the grossly negligent failure to perform the following legal-duty ,to wit failure to exercise reasonable care to control his or her minor child so to prevent him from intentionally harming others or from so conducing himself and creating an unreasonable risk of bodily injury to others, knowing that he or she has the ability to control his or her child and knowing of the necessity and opportunity to do so. And contrary to MCL750.321.(750.321.C]
FELONY: 15Years and/or a $7,500.00.DNA to be taken upon arrest. A consecutive sentence may be imposed under MCL76.36 for a death that resulted from operating a vehicle, vessel, ORV, snowmobile, aircraft or locomotive.
James & Jennifer Crumbley past criminal convictions
According to the Duval County, Florida Clerk of Court records show he was arrested for DUI in 2005, then driving on a suspended license. See Final Judgement via my Scribd Account, Page 1 of 3 found here and page 2 of 3 found here - additionally in 2005 Jennifer Lynn (Snowden) Crumbley was also arrested and charged with a DUI, see November 2005 Final Judgement
I took the liberty of uploading the various court filings concerning the Crumbleys to my Scribd Account because I understand how hard it can to be track down previous criminal filings.
A manhunt to locate James & Jennifer Crumbley
Yesterday the Attorney representing James and Jennifer Crumbley assured the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office that the two would turn themselves in (in advance of the Noon Press Conference) -it appears Mom & Dad are in the wind…
“Our detectives and fugitive apprehension team and the U.S. Marshall service and the FBI — all of us are in concert looking for them," deputies moved "to arrest the parents," but their attorney told authorities that they "are now unresponsive," Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard and later added: "I’m confident we’ll find these two…We would have liked to have been given a bit of advance notice that a warrant was coming and had set up on them or done something electronically… It is what it is, and we’re going to find them."
Fugitive Manhunt now underway for James & Jennifer Crumbley
Thusly a fugitive warrant has been issued for both James and Jennifer Crumbley —their Attorney previously stated that she would coordinate the Crumbleys self surrendering in the early morning of December 2, 2021 - then after the Oakland County Office of Prosecutor’s press conference —the Crumbleys attorneys stated that she hasn’t talked to her clients in at least 24 hours and that she would work to have the Crumbleys turn themselves into the Sheriff’s department by 2PM today… after 3:15PM a Fugitive Warrant was issued and now the Oakland County Sheriff, Michigan State Police, FBI and US Marshals (fugitive task force) are now in an active nationwide manhunt for the Crumbleys, read more here
“Our last conversation with the attorney was that she had been trying to reach them by phone and text, and they were not responding,” he said.
McCabe said Fugitive Apprehension Team officers were out searching for the couple as of mid-afternoon Friday. The Crumbleys own a 2021 black Kia Seltos with the license plate DQG5203 and a 2019 white Kia Soul Station Wagon with the license plate DZH8994, according to the sheriff's office and Secretary of State records.
And not that this matters but I ran a few searches and it is exceedingly rare for parents to be charged with “involuntary manslaughter” because their child went on a murderous rampage. Thus far in a nationwide search I’ve only located <6 cases where the parents were also criminally charged. If you think that the prosecutor is “being political” then I regret to inform you that is not at all true. The Prosecutor and her team of investigators clearly found probable cause to charge the parents. And hypothetically speaking I would absolutely watch this case closely because this could very well be a landmark case. -Filey
And your daily dose of salt water zen…
Thank you so much for this! What kind of Mom tells her child she isn't mad just learn not to get caught? Then they want him back in school? I cannot imagine! Let them find them swiftly! The docs and your clarification are greatly appreciated! This is definitely one to watch, could be a gamechanger.
So thrilled the parents got charged. If you have an underage child and providing that kid a deadly weapon while knowing your kid has deep psychological issues, then yes, you are responsible for the action of your kid. This is common sense and should be the norm for gun violence committed by kids. I had hoped Rittenhouse parents/mom would have been held to that standard, too.