Prosecutors detail troubling allegations, call for bail to remain high for Ethan Crumbley’s parents – The Oakland Press

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An Oakland County judge ruled Friday that the bond remains at $ 500,000 each for the parents of accused school shooter Ethan Crumbley, charged with four counts of manslaughter in connection with the Nov. 30 incident at the High School. Oxford which left four dead and seven others injured.

During the bail hearing in District Court 52-3, Judge Julie Nicholson sided with prosecutors who claim James and Jennifer Crumbley are abscond risks with no real connection to the community, and a denied the request of defense lawyers Mariell Lehman and Shannon Smith to lower the bond. to $ 100,000 in cash / bail in hopes the couple can be released from the Oakland County Jail.

In denying the change in bail, Nicholson reiterated statements by Oakland County District Attorney Karen McDonald and Assistant District Attorney Marc Keast, who told court the Crumbleys had several family members in Florida who have been supporting them since. their arrest and that they were in hiding. authorities after the announcement of the charges against them, ignoring phone calls from their lawyers – rather than surrender.

Nicholson also cited prosecution statements that the couple attempted to cover up their vehicle found near the Detroit artists’ studio where they were arrested in the wee hours of the morning of December 4. They were reportedly found squatting behind a mattress and had approximately $ 6,600. cash, several credit cards and two “burner” cell phones in their possession at the time.

After Ethan Crumbley’s arrest, his parents “emptied” his $ 3,000 bank account, McDonald said.

Screenshot of bail hearing via Zoom for James and Jennifer Crumbley, pictured with Judge Julie Nicholson, defense attorneys Shannon Smith and Mariell Lehman, Assistant District Attorney Marc Keast and Oakland County District Attorney Karen McDonald. (Aileen Wingblad / MediaNews Group)

The prosecution further contends that members of the Crumbleys’ family prepared the couple’s Oxford home for sale, put their possession into storage and attempted to sell their horses – alleging that these are actions consistent with an intention to flee. And according to McDonald, the Crumbleys’ employment situation has no bearing on their retention if they are released on bail: James Crumbley recently worked for DoorDash and Jennifer Crumbley lost her job after being arrested, McDonald said. .

Ethan Crumbley

The case against Crumbley’s parents is based on allegations that they were “grossly negligent” in the storage of the Sig Sauer 9mm handgun used in the mass shooting – a gun they allegedly bought for their son, Ethan, days before he allegedly opened fire. at school.

‘Severely troubled’

Prosecutors further say parents ignored disturbing signs that Ethan Crumbley was “gravely troubled” and fascinated by guns and behaved violently before the shooting. Evidence for the teenager’s cell phone includes multiple texts from Ethan Crumbley to Jennifer Crumbley since last March, where he feared “a demon, ghost or someone else” was inside. the family home while there alone, Keast said, adding that Jennifer Crumbley hasn’t always responded.

It is also claimed that the Crumbley parents did not address the torture and killing of animals by Ethan Crumbley – which he filmed in the family home – and that he kept a bird’s head in a jar in his room for six months, created Molotov cocktails at the residence and had a “conspicuous” notebook at home that “showed guns on almost every page.”

“His only real passion in life was guns,” Keast said.

Before Nicholson made his decision, defense attorneys for the Crumbleys told the court that the prosecution had made “false, misleading and irrational” statements, and that both “are not flight hazards and do not were no risk of flight “. Lehman maintains that James and Jennifer Crumbley left their home and spent a few nights in a hotel before taking refuge in the artists’ studio in Detroit due to death threats after the shooting, and their home address being readily available to the public . Lehman also said the Crumbleys were unaware of their son’s alleged animal torture, and cited Ethan Crumbley’s diary where he said his father “hid” the gun – ignoring account of prosecutors’ allegations that it was easily accessible to the teenager.

Under Michigan law, a manslaughter charge can be prosecuted if prosecutors believe someone contributed to a situation of high damage or death. If found guilty, the Crumbley couple could face up to 15 years in prison on each count.

James and Jennifer Crumbley will return to court on February 8 for a preliminary examination in which Nicholson will review the evidence presented and determine whether the case will go to Oakland County Circuit Court. Meanwhile, the case against Ethan Crumbley went to higher court after he waived his right to a preliminary examination.

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