Jennifer, James Crumbley convictions bad for parents everywhere | Letters to the Editor

On March 14, 2024, James Crumbley, father of the Oxford High School shooter, was found guilty of four counts of involuntary manslaughter in the deaths of Madisyn Baldwin, 17; Tate Myre, 16; Hana St. Juliana, 14; and Justin Shilling, 17, killed by his son. James Crumbley and his wife, Jennifer, are the first parents in America to be criminally charged after a school shooting. Jennifer Crumbley was found guilty last month. Both await sentencing. Their son, Ethan Crumbley, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life without parole. He is appealing the sentence. Submit a letter to the editor about the verdict or any other news of the day at freep.com/letters.

Maybe Crumbley verdict will wake parents up

Maybe this verdict along with his wife's will wake up parents to their responsibilities to their children and society. Too many parents want to be friends, not parents. All kids bend the rules, but not every parent buys a 15-year-old a gun and ignores obvious pleas for help.

Thadine Kazmer

Warren

Crumbley verdicts set a bad precedent

In the aftermath of the Oxford school shootings, the grief and hurt is beyond measure. Justice is required and was accomplished with the conviction of the perpetrator, Ethan Crumbley. Though maybe not the best parents, James and Jennifer Crumbley did not commit the crimes. Their two convictions set a terrible law precedent which may be twisted in the future in different cases. Responsibility lies with the individual. Parents, watch out. Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald saw this case as her shining political moment advancing her career and celebrity. Good for her. Bad for parents everywhere.

James Dantzer

Grosse Pointe Park

Parents should've done better

Ironically, it seems to me that if James and Jennifer Crumbley had put forth as much effort in raising their son as they have in trying to stay out of jail, the shooting would never have occurred.

Gregg Walker

Farmington Hills

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Crumbleys bought the gun

Jennifer and James Crumbley are guilty, period. It was about one thing and one thing only. They bought the gun. No gun, no murders. They knew their son was having severe issues. They did nothing to help. Horses, affairs, dysfunction. They are not alone. I believe the school administration is as guilty, no question. When do they go on trial?

Joe Polimeni

Birmingham

A conversation no parent wants to have

The James Crumbley trial was very interesting to watch. But the verdict was predictable. I watched the first trial with his wife. And when both verdicts were announced, I cried. I am a parent of four children. When the Oxford shooting happened, my 15-year-old child was still in middle school. One of the reasons why I personally cried was for those parents who lost their children because of Ethan Crumbley. I felt like his parents needed to be responsible for some part of his actions.

Justice for the Oxford school shooting will never really truly be served. We can’t bring those four innocent children back. But today, the parents of the murdered children, and the other victims who were shot during this horrific school shooting, can rest assured that the individuals who are responsible for the loss of their children will be in prison for a very long time.

Knowing that the killer is going to prison, and his parents are being held responsible for his actions, has to be bring some sort of justice. After the Oxford shooting, I had to sit my children down and have a very uncomfortable conversation about school violence. My mom had to have the same conversation with me during the Columbine shooting. I always hoped that I would never have to have that conversation with my children. No parent should ever have to have that conversation with their children.

Synthia Howard

Romulus

Now for sentencing

It should be 15 years per death of each victim.

Joanne H. Jeskey

Orchard Lake

Charges for parents were excessive

This verdict was expected, but I think it's more about vengeance than justice. Clearly the parents made several missteps, and deserve some accountability. However, I think it was a bit excessive for them to be charged with involuntary manslaughter in the first place.

There is an important factor I believe is being overlooked in this tragedy — the school's response. After the parents decided to leave their son in class, the school obliged. They did not object. This fact shows that they too, were not overly concerned or foresaw that this kid would become violent in class. Very few are talking about that. I understand the parents bought him a gun (poor choice) but this does not prove they knew their son would kill his classmates. It's unfortunate that so many lives were lost, and families destroyed, by something that could have been prevented. It's also upsetting that the school is not being held to the same standard of accountability. They played a role here, too.

Rosey White

Detroit

I tried to imagine being on the jury

I put myself on the jury throughout the trial and couldn’t make a definitive verdict until I read the conditions. Until I read "negligence." James Crumbley was negligent not only in this case, but throughout his son’s life.

In so many instances, he could have prevented the shootings, and the prosecutors proved that. They laid it out step by step, and I was eventually convinced that he was not only negligent, but reckless. I am left with a question, however.

Since James Crumbley drove his son to school that day, how was he not aware of his son finding the gun, taking it out of the case, loading it and leaving the case and empty box of ammunition on his bed? Pure negligence. It wasn’t a big house, and even with a hearing impairment he should have noticed the extra time his son was taking to get to the car. He was both negligent and reckless.

Sue Armelagos

Milan

Verdicts were overdue

The Crumbley guilty verdicts are just and long overdue. My hope is these two cases will make parents across the country realize that being a terrible parent does have its limits, and that they can be held criminally accountable for what their child does.

Robert Smith

Clinton Township

The verdict he deserved

He got what he deserved; the parents were totally irresponsible. The next step should be to have the ability to sue the gun stores and manufacturers. They only understand if it is about money. Sue the socks off them!

Felicia Cathey

Pinckney

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Maybe James, Jennifer Crumbley verdicts will wake parents up | Letters