Jennifer Crumbley, the mother of the Oxford High School mass shooter, Ethan Crumbley, took the stand for the first time on Thursday in her historic criminal trial. Facing involuntary manslaughter charges, she addressed allegations that she ignored warning signs and failed to take action before her son’s deadly attack on November 30, 2021.
Jennifer Crumbley portrayed her family’s life as ordinary during her testimony, countering the prosecution’s narrative of neglectful parenting. Her attorney, Shannon Smith, showed photos of the Crumbleys on family vacations, engaging in various activities such as camping, apple picking, and visiting Sleeping Bear Dunes and Florida. The defense aimed to highlight the family’s normalcy and challenge the prosecution’s depiction of Jennifer Crumbley as a neglectful parent.
In response to allegations that she refused to bring her son home from school after being summoned over a violent drawing he had made, Jennifer Crumbley denied ever refusing to take him home. She told the jury that if he had wanted to go home, she would have taken him. The violent drawing, depicting a gun and the message “The thoughts won’t stop. Help me,” was created by Ethan Crumbley just hours before he carried out the shooting.
Throughout the trial, prosecutors have argued that Jennifer Crumbley ignored warning signs and red flags regarding her son’s mental health. They presented evidence suggesting that Ethan Crumbley had expressed anxiety, depression, and other concerning behavior, which the mother allegedly overlooked. Jennifer Crumbley, however, testified that while her son struggled with grades and occasionally expressed anxiety, she never felt he needed immediate mental health treatment.
The night before the shooting, the Crumbley family had argued with Ethan about his failing geometry grades. They informed him that if his grades did not improve, he would not be allowed to visit the shooting range, a hobby he enjoyed. The next day, he created the disturbing drawing at school. Jennifer Crumbley testified that she initially thought her son was acting out due to the argument, but after seeing the original drawing, she became concerned.
The defense presented text messages as part of Jennifer Crumbley’s testimony, focusing on messages about her son’s claims of the house being haunted and seeing a demon. She explained that these texts were part of a joking culture in their family and did not raise concerns for her. Additionally, she discussed instances when her son texted about strange occurrences in the house, emphasizing that these were playful actions and not serious concerns.
Jennifer Crumbley also revealed that she drained her son’s bank account after the shooting, explaining that her father advised getting cash in case their bank accounts were frozen. She and her husband withdrew money, and she testified that they fled their house, stayed at a hotel, and got new phones after learning about potential charges. The prosecution presented banking records showing these withdrawals.
The emotional testimony included Jennifer Crumbley expressing regret and sorrow over her son’s actions. She wept as the lead investigator described the wounds suffered by the victims. When asked about her feelings as a parent, she stated, “That’s what blew my mind. That was the hardest thing I had to stomach — was that my child harmed and killed people.”
Jennifer Crumbley returns to the stand for cross-examination by the prosecution on Friday morning. The trial continues as the court examines the events leading up to the tragic school shooting and assesses the culpability of the parents.