Testimony resumes in involuntary manslaughter trial for Jennifer Crumbley

Day three of testimony is underway Monday in the involuntary manslaughter trial for Jennifer Crumbley, the mother of Oxford High School shooter Ethan Crumbley.  

Prosecutors are claiming Jennifer and her husband, James Crumbley, could have helped stop their son from killing four classmates in 2021, if they had paid attention to his mental health instead of buying him the gun used in the massacre. 

Evidence presented in court last week showed Ethan told his parents about his mental health concerns, including hallucinations. But messages between the couple showed them downplaying it, with Jennifer sometimes waiting days before her next message to Ethan. 

Edward Wagrowski, a computer forensics expert who worked on the Oxford shooting investigation, testified on Friday, reading text messages Ethan sent to a friend detailing his mental struggle. 

“He then says, ‘like it’s at the point where I’m asking to go to the doctor.’ Then he says, “my Mom laughed when I told her,” Wagrowski read. 

But defense attorney Shannon Smith says the messages Ethan sent to a friend suggest Jennifer had no idea her son was spiraling downward. 

“Jennifer is texting her back, I wish we had some warnings. Something. Correct?” Smith asked Wagrowski, to which he replied: “Yeah the hallucinations, that could have been warnings…for seeing demons.” 

Authorities say they were not able to immediately locate the couple after the charges against them were filed in December. The Crumbleys were later arrested at a Detroit art studio, days after their attorney said they intended on turning themselves in to police. 

During his testimony, Wagrowski read Facebook messages Jennifer Crumbley had deleted that made it sound like they were purposely hiding at the time, including one that read “We’re on the run again. Helicopters. Not sure where to. I’ll message you.” 

Defense attorneys counter that the Crumbleys feared for their safety after it became public their son was the shooter, and were getting their affairs in order before surrendering to authorities. 

Jennifer is expected to take the stand in the days ahead. James Crumbley will stand trial on identical charge in March. The cases could set a national precedent for whether parents can be held criminally responsible for the actions of their child.