Monday, December 2, 2024 

PONTIAC, Mich. – In response to today’s appellate filings in the case of Jennifer Crumbley, and the press release issued by her attorney, see below statements from Oakland County Prosecutor Karen D. McDonald and Chief Assistant David Williams. 

 

In response to the statement in the press release that ‘parents everywhere should be worried about this case’. 

Statement from Prosecutor Karen McDonald: 

“Parents everywhere are worried. But they are not worried about being prosecuted, they are worried about their kids being shot at school. James and Jennifer Crumbley are the rare, grossly negligent exception, and twenty-four jurors unanimously agreed they are responsible for the deaths of Hana, Madisyn, Tate, and Justin. Holding them accountable for their role is one important step in making our schools safer.”

In response to the arguments in Defendant’s Motion regarding witness testimony. 

Statement from Chief Assistant David Williams: 

“No witnesses were given anything for their testimony, and there was no immunity – these witnesses testified without any promises or protection whatsoever. The Michigan Court of Appeals has already reviewed the legal issues raised by Jennifer Crumbley and rejected them. Where there are egregious facts like these – where two parents ignored the obvious signs that their son was in crisis, bought him a gun and failed to secure it, and then failed to disclose the existence of the gun or take their son home when he drew out his plans, including writing “blood everywhere” with a picture of a gun and a body with bleeding bullet wounds, they can and should be prosecuted. ”

 

For ease of reference please see the attached opinion from the Michigan Court of Appeals, noting the statement on page 16 that reads: 

“Defendants’ actions and inactions were inexorably intertwined with EC’s actions, i.e., with the intervening cause. This connection exists not simply because of the parent-child relationship but also because of the facts showing that defendants were actively involved in EC’s mental state remaining untreated, that they provided him with the weapon used to kill the victims, and that they refused to remove him from the situation that led directly to the shootings.”

###

CONTACT: ocpomedia@oakgov.com