James and Jennifer Crumbley, parents of Oxford High School shooter, sentenced to 10-15 years
(CBS DETROIT) - James and Jennifer Crumbley, the parents of the Oxford High School shooter, were sentenced to 10-15 years in prison after being found guilty of involuntary manslaughter.
The parents will receive credit for 858 days served.
In the historic case, the parents were the first in the U.S. to be held responsible for their roles in the shooting where their son killed four students and injured seven other people in the Oxford High School shooting on Nov. 30, 2021.
This comes after the separate trials of James and Jennifer Crumbley, where they were both convicted of involuntary manslaughter.
They were each charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter for the deaths of the four students, Justin Shilling, Madisyn Baldwin, Tate Myre, and Hana St. Juliana.
The prosecution argued that the shooting was preventable and that James and Jennifer Crumbley ignored their son's mental health needs and bought him the gun that was used in the shooting.
Their son was sentenced to life in prison without parole in December 2023.
"If it were not for the actions of James and Jennifer Crumbley, the shooter would have never had access to the gun he used to take four innocent lives inside Oxford High School. We owed it to the victims and their families to pursue the maximum penalty," said Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald. "Nothing will bring their children back, but the Judge recognized the suffering these defendants caused, and she acknowledged the victims and their families. The sentence today provides the highest level of accountability under the law, and that's appropriate.
"These prosecutions will not stop gun violence. We owe it to Justin, Hana, Madisyn, and Tate to address the underlying causes of gun violence and prevent future shootings. I am committed to continuing that work."
Victim impact statements, James and Jennifer Crumbley speak
Nicole Beausoleil, the mother of Madisyn Baldwin, was the first person to give her victim impact statement during the sentencing.
Beausoleil addressed how Jennifer Crumbley said she wouldn't do anything different regarding the events leading up to the shooting during her trial.
"You said you wouldn't do anything different, well that really says what type of parent you are, because there's a lot of things I would do differently," said Beausoleil. "But the one thing I would have wanted to be different was to take that bullet that day so she could continue to live the life she deserved."
She requested Matthews enforce the maximum sentence for the parents.
"Your Honor, I request that the maximum sentence be enforced as it will never come close to the life sentence I was given. The life sentence I didn't ask for, but a choice that was made for me, a life that I will suffer because of their neglect."
Next Jill Soave, the mother of Justin Shilling, gave her statement. She talked about how kind and hardworking Justin was, and how he spent his final moments protecting another student.
"If only your Honor, they would have taken their son to get counseling instead of buying him a gun," said Soave. "... I wouldn't be standing here today." She also asked Matthews for the maximum sentence allowed.
Craig Shilling, Justin's dad, went next. He discussed how every aspect of his life has been affected by the tragedy and how he tried to capture every fact during their trials.
"The cold truth that shows that they did nothing to address the obvious signs of a deteriorating mental state of mind clearly present within their son and of course, the very hard truth that shows that they provided their son with exactly what he wanted to use to do what he did, and failed miserably to secure it," said Craig Shilling. Shilling also told the judge he believes they need to get the maximum amount of time available.
Reina St. Juliana, the older sister of Hana St. Juliana, gave her impact statement after Craig Shilling. She said she saw her sister earlier that day, but they parted ways with a smile, and she never got to say goodbye.
"The fact is no matter what you try to make yourself believe Jennifer, you did fail as a parent, both of you," said Reina St. Juliana."
She said that they are still a danger to society because even after two years, they are unable to admit their wrongdoings. Reina St. Juliana also talked about how much she looked up to Hana and said going forward without her is something she may not be able to fully navigate.
Their father, Steve St. Juliana, said he's mostly a private person, and having to "pour his heart out again, is irritating."
"They chose to stay quiet, they chose to ignore the warning signs, and now, as we've heard through all the objections, they continue to choose to blame everyone but themselves," said Steve. St. Juliana"
"I will never think back fondly on her high school and college graduations, I will never walk down the aisle as she begins the journey of starting her own family, I am forever denied the chance to hold her or her future children in my arms," said Steve St. Juliana.
Buck Myre, the father of Tate Myre, said, it's time to put the focus on the Oxford School District. He said the response to the shooting was horrible, and it is time to drive real change.
After Buck Myre, Jennifer Crumbley spoke. She discussed how on the stand during her trial, that she was horrified to learn that her answer about not doing anything differently, was misunderstood.
She said her son seemed so normal, and she didn't have a reason to do anything differently. In hindsight, she says her answer would be different, and if she knew her son was capable of crimes like this, then her answer would've been different.
The trials of James and Jennifer Crumbley
Jennifer Crumbley was found guilty of four counts of involuntary manslaughter on Feb. 6. The jury deliberated for 11 hours after a week-long trial to determine the mother's role in the shooting.
James Crumbley was also found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in a separate trial on March 14.
