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Awaiting decisionPeople v. Crumbley (consolidated appeals)
Will the Michigan Court of Appeals uphold the Crumbleys' involuntary-manslaughter convictions?
Where the case stands
Direct appeals of both convictions are pending, consolidated in the Michigan Court of Appeals. The court denied Jennifer's motion to sever her appeal from her husband's in September 2025. No opinion has issued as of Sept. 7, 2026.
Background
Parents of the 2021 Oxford High School shooter. Jennifer was convicted Feb. 6, 2024, and James on March 14, 2024, each of four counts of involuntary manslaughter — the first American parents held criminally responsible for deaths caused by their child's school shooting. Both are serving 10-15 years.
Charges
- Four counts of involuntary manslaughter each (one per student killed at Oxford High School, Nov. 30, 2021)
The arguments
Prosecution/State: The parents ignored escalating warning signs, bought their son the handgun he used, and failed to secure it or take him home when confronted with his violent drawings the morning of the shooting — gross negligence causing the four deaths.
Defense: On appeal the defense challenges the novel expansion of involuntary-manslaughter liability to a shooter's parents, the causation chain through their son's intervening deliberate acts, and rulings and publicity that they say denied them fair trials.
The record
- Trial video. Both 2024 jury trials were fully televised and archived (Court TV / YouTube), including Jennifer Crumbley's own testimony.
- School meeting and text evidence. Trial exhibits included the morning-of school meeting about Ethan's drawing and the parents' texts and messages, central to the negligence theory.
The line-setting read at the time this market opened
Michigan's appellate courts affirm the large majority of jury convictions, but the legal theory here is novel and was closely divided among commentators — a genuine, if minority, chance of reversal on causation/duty grounds.
Awaiting decision — The Court of Appeals' opinion on the consolidated appeals — affirm, or grant either parent relief. The ruling is posted here, and on the board, the moment it's confirmed by two or more independent news organizations.
Sources
- WEMU — conviction challenge headed to Michigan COA
- ClickOnDetroit — severance denied, appeals stay consolidated
- Michigan Public — MSC denies release pending appeal
- Detroit News — appellate counsel on appeal delays
Public record
- Court TV trial archive — MI v. Jennifer Crumbley
- Court TV YouTube playlist — School Shooter Parents Trial
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