OXFORD, Mich. – Accused Oxford High School shooter Ethan Crumbley is being held without bond at the Oakland County Jail alongside his parents James and Jennifer Crumbley, who have yet to post their $500,000 bond.
A tumultuous Friday developed into a wild goose chase for the parents who never showed for scheduled arraignment on involuntary manslaughter charges. Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald announced four counts of involuntary manslaughter against the parents but before the pair could get arraigned on the charges, law enforcement lost track of them.
The disappearing act ignited a nationwide search that went on for hours as the duo went into hiding after missing their 4 p.m. Friday arraignment. Their attorney insisted that the two were not on the run only to have the Detroit police called to a warehouse early Saturday morning where both parents were found hiding out on the city’s east side.
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The couple was finally arraigned later Saturday (Dec. 4) morning and both received the $500,000 bond. The prosecutor said the Crumbley parents are responsible for giving Ethan, 15, a semi-automatic handgun and ignoring his cries for help indicated by a violent school drawing he sketched in class shortly before the shooting inside Oxford High School.
The array of gunfire killed students Madisyn Baldwin, Tate Myre, Hana St. Juliana, and Justin Shilling while injuring six other students and a teacher. One student remains hospitalized as of Monday (Dec. 6) afternoon.
Ethan Crumbley is charged with the following:
- One count of terrorism causing death
- Four counts of first-degree murder
- Seven counts of assault with intent to murder
- 12 counts of possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony
He was charged as an adult and was transferred from a juvenile detention facility to the Oakland County Jail. He is being held without bond and is scheduled to return to court for a probable cause conference Dec. 13 and a preliminary examination on Dec. 20.
The Crumbleys did not tell school officials that they gave their son a gun. The parents insisted their son return to class, where shots were fired moments later.
The parents are charged with the following:
Each of the parents are facing the following four charges:
- Count 1: Involuntary manslaughter, maximum $7,500 fine and 15 years in prison for the death of 17-year-old Madisyn Baldwin
- Count 2: Involuntary manslaughter, maximum $7,500 fine and 15 years in prison for the death of 16-year-old Tate Myre
- Count 3: Involuntary manslaughter, maximum $7,500 fine and 15 years in prison for the death of 14-year-old Hana St. Juliana
- Count 4: Involuntary manslaughter, maximum $7,500 fine and 15 years in prison for the death of 17-year-old Justin Shilling
You can watch the entire arraignment here.
In total, Jennifer Crumbley and James Crumbley each face a maximum prison sentence of 60 years and maximum fines of $30,000 if convicted on all four counts of involuntary manslaughter. New charges could ensue for the parents as the case is processed.
James and Jennifer Crumbley are scheduled to return to court Dec. 14 for their probable cause conference and Dec. 22 for a preliminary examination hearing.