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School shooter's mom Jennifer Crumbley had 'tainted' trial, attorneys say in request to toss conviction
New attorneys for the mother of Oxford High School shooter Ethan Crumbley filed a motion on Monday for an acquittal and new trial, arguing that Jennifer Crumbley’s criminal trial in connection with the November 2021 shooting was “tainted from top to bottom.”
In a first-of-its-kind case, a Michigan jury in February convicted Jennifer on four counts of involuntary manslaughter for the shooting her son carried out on Nov. 30, 2021, killing Tate Myre, 16; Justin Shilling, 16; Hana St. Juliana, 14; and Madisyn Baldwin, 17, and injuring seven others. Her husband, James Crumbley, was later convicted on the same charges, setting a new precedent for parents of children who commit crimes.
“These proceedings were tainted from top to bottom and were borne out of prosecutorial overreach attempting to criminalize Mrs. Crumbley’s noncriminal conduct,” attorney Michael Dezsi wrote in the Monday filing. “Apart from the improper decision to charge, Mrs. Crumbley was denied a fair trial where the prosecution deliberately withheld from the defense key impeachment evidence and proceeded on Kafkaesque inconsistent legal theories that work a grave injustice on the law.”
Jennifer was sentenced to serve between 10 and 15 years in prison after an Oakland County courtroom heard evidence arguing the now-46-year-old neglected her son’s cries for help over the years leading up to the shooting.
MICHIGAN SCHOOL SHOOTER’S MOM WANTS HOUSE ARREST, BACKTRACKS ON REGRETS AND KILLER’S PARENTS FACE SENTENCINGS
Jennifer Crumbley becomes emotional after seeing video of her son walking through Oxford High School during the Nov. 30, 2021 shooting rampage in the courtroom of Oakland County Judge Cheryl Matthews on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024 in Pontiac, Mich. (Mandi Wright/Detroit Free Press via AP, Poo)
She and James also showed up at Oxford High on the same day Ethan shot people in the hallways to discuss violent images the then-15-year-old drew on a worksheet in class with school administrators, but they left and went back to work shortly afterward.
“Mrs. Crumbley’s constitutional rights were further violated by allowing the jury to convict her in the absence of a unanimous decision as to what crimes were committed. For these reasons, the court should grant a judgment of acquittal, or, in the alternative, a new trial,” Dezsi wrote.
MICHIGAN SCHOOL SHOOTER ETHAN CRUMBLEY SENTENCED TO LIFE AFTER ADDRESSING COURT: ‘I AM A REALLY BAD PERSON’
James and Jennifer Crumbley met with their son and school leaders the morning of the shooting after a teacher caught Ethan Crumbley drawing disturbing images in class. (Oakland County)
He argues in a nearly 700-page filing, in part, that prosecutors gave school counselor Sean Hopkins and former Dean of Students Nicholas Ejak cooperation agreements, or proffer agreements, to testify against Jennifer Crumbley without sharing information about those agreements with Jennifer’s defense. Dezsi argues that those agreements with the prosecutor’s office allowed Ejak and Hopkins to avoid criminal charges in the case.
An independent investigation into the shooting by Guidepost Solutions found that Ejak and Hopkins, “the two people with the most knowledge about the decision to allow the shooter to go back to class” after his meeting with his parents and school officials on the morning of Nov. 30, 2021, refused to cooperate with the investigation, Guidepost wrote.
JENNIFER CRUMBLEY TRIAL: MICHIGAN JURY FINDS SCHOOL SHOOTER’S MOM GUILTY OF INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER
Video showing Jennifer Crumbley, left, with her son Ethan Crumbley at a gun range on Nov. 27, 2021 for target practice, is shown in the courtroom during Jennifer Crumbley’s trial, Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024, in Pontiac, Mich. (Mandi Wright/Detroit Free Press via AP, Pool)
The investigation also found that “[i]n certain critical areas, individuals at every level of the district… failed to provide a safe and secure environment.”
Dezsi said in his motion for acquittal that Hopkins and Ejak were “in the proverbial hotseat hoping to avoid criminal prosecution for their acts and omissions related to the shooting.”
MICHIGAN SCHOOL SHOOTER’S MOTHER JENNIFER CRUMBLEY CALLED SON AN ‘OOPSIE BABY,’ WITNESS SAYS
“By cooperating with the prosecution, these witnesses were hoping to avoid prosecution such that they had bias, motive and personal interest to testify in a manner so as to shift responsibility toward Mrs. Crumbley and away from themselves,” the filing states.
Jennifer Crumbley was convicted at trial for involuntary manslaughter, the first time parents have been charged in a U.S. mass school shooting. She and her husband were accused of contributing to the deaths at Oxford High School by neglecting the needs of their son, Ethan Crumbley, and making a gun accessible at home. (Mandi Wright/Detroit Free Press via AP, Pool)
Dezsi said in a Monday press release summarizing his request for an acquittal or new trial that Jennifer’s “right to a fair trial was further denied when the jury was instructed that it could convict Mrs. Crumbley even without a unanimous verdict.”
“There’s a reason why no parent in America has ever been held responsible for the criminal acts of their child in relation to a school shooting,” he said in the press release. “It is because Mrs. Crumbley committed no crime. This case should be concerning for parents everywhere.”
MICHIGAN MOM ON TRIAL FOR SON’S DEADLY SHOOTING MASSACRE RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT PARENT CULPABILITY IN SHOOTINGS
A judge agreed that the parents of a Michigan school shooter were trying to avoid police when they were holed up in a Detroit art studio before their arrest in 2021. James and Jennifer Crumbley were in court to face sentencing for involuntary manslaughter for their role in an attack that killed four students at Oxford High School in 2021. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Oakland County prosecutor Karen McDonald, who tried all three Crumbley cases, criticized Dezsi’s statement, saying “parents everywhere are worried,” but not “about being prosecuted.”
“[T]hey are worried about their kids being shot at school,” she said in a Monday statement responding to Dezsi’s press release. “James and Jennifer Crumbley are the rare, grossly negligent exception, and twenty-four jurors unanimously agreed they are responsible for the deaths of Hana, Madisyn, Tate, and Justin. Holding them accountable for their role is one important step in making our schools safer.”
OXFORD HIGH SCHOOL SHOOTER’S MOTHER ASKS TO DISMISS 3 WITNESSES, ‘GRUESOME’ EVIDENCE THAT COULD ANGER JURY
Ethan Crumbley, at age 15, walked into Oxford High School on the morning of Nov. 30, 2021, went to morning classes, met with the school counselor with his parents, and was sent back to class before he took a gun out of his backpack and killed 16-year-old Tate Myre, 16-year-old Justin Shilling, 14-year-old Hana St. Juliana and 17-year-old Madisyn Baldwin. (FOX 2 Detroit)
Chief Assistant David Williams said that “[n]o witnesses were given anything for their testimony, and there was no immunity – these witnesses testified without any promises or protection whatsoever.”
“The Michigan Court of Appeals has already reviewed the legal issues raised by Jennifer Crumbley and rejected them,” Williams said. “Where there are egregious facts like these – where two parents ignored the obvious signs that their son was in crisis, bought him a gun and failed to secure it, and then failed to disclose the existence of the gun or take their son home when he drew out his plans, including writing ‘blood everywhere’ with a picture of a gun and a body with bleeding bullet wounds, they can and should be prosecuted.”
MICHIGAN SCHOOL SHOOTER ETHAN CRUMBLEY’S FATHER CALLS HIM ‘PERFECT KID’ IN INTERVIEW WITH POLICE
James Crumbley was found guilty of four counts of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the deadly Nov. 30, 2021, Oxford High School shooting. (Mandi Wright/Detroit Free Press )
The prosecutor’s office noted on Monday that in March 2023, the Michigan Court of Appeals concluded that the Crumbleys’ “actions and inactions were inexorably intertwined with” Ethan’s actions.
“This connection exists not simply because of the parent-child relationship but also because of the facts showing that defendants were actively involved in EC’s mental state remaining untreated, that they provided him with the weapon used to kill the victims, and that they refused to remove him from the situation that led directly to the shootings,” the Appeals Court wrote at the time.
James and Ethan Crumbley are also separately appealing their convictions. James was also sentenced to 10 to 15 years in prison, and Ethan, who was a teenager at the time he pleaded guilty to his crimes, was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole.
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MUKWONAGO — Just two and a half years after launching her business, Emily Koltermann has transformed a simple idea into a growing Wisconsin brand found on the shelves of local supermarkets.
Koltermann, founder of Bulk Butter, created the company after searching for a healthier alternative to traditional sweet spreads.
“Bulk Butter is a lower sugar, better-for-you sweet treat,” she said. “We start with a natural peanut butter base and add in different fun inclusions. Think of your favorite treat or candy bar added to a jar of nut butter, minus all the added sugar plus additional protein.”
Unlike many commercial nut butters, Bulk Butter starts with natural peanut butter that contains no added sugar, salt, oils or emulsifiers. From there, Koltermann adds creative mix-ins that turn the spread into a dessert-inspired snack.
“Our best seller is our Monster Cookie,” she said. “We start with just a natural peanut butter base, blend it with white chocolate and then add toppings to both the top and bottom to make for a better-for-you sweet treat.”
Koltermann said the idea was born during her years as a nationally competitive bodybuilder. While training, peanut butter remained a staple in her nutrition plan because of its healthy fats, even though many people mistakenly assume lower-calorie foods are always healthier.
Watch: Wisconsin entrepreneur builds success with Bulk Butter
From Bodybuilding to Business: Wisconsin Entrepreneur Builds Success with Bulk Butter
“A lot of people think that lower calories equate to better for you than higher calories,” she said. “But as a competitor, I had peanut butter in my plan all throughout prep. We need those healthy fats as individuals for energy, fuel and proper body function.”
After competitions, she would celebrate with a simple indulgence.
“I love peanut butter, so after competing, I would take a spoonful of peanut butter and dunk it into chocolate chips. That was my little sweet treat,” she said. “So, I thought, put it in a jar, and I kind of ran with it.”
At the time, Koltermann was balancing national bodybuilding competitions with a full-time corporate job but wanted something more fulfilling.
“I felt very unfulfilled in the corporate life, so I wanted to find something that was fulfilling while also being passionate about it,” she said.
Building the business meant long days and even longer evenings.
“I knew nothing about the whole business background, and I wanted to just jump in on something and go 10 toes to the ground,” she said. “I was working my 9-to-5 job. In the morning, I would go to the gym, train, get my cardio in, work from 9 to 5, and then after work I would go to farmers markets to launch my product.”
That hard work has paid off. What began as a farmers’ market venture has grown into a regional brand, with Bulk Butter now available in numerous local supermarkets across Wisconsin.
For Koltermann, the company’s success is rooted in offering something different.
“We wanted to find a product that was lower in sugar and didn’t have all the added oils that most nut butters do,” she said. “We took a twist on your natural nut butter and added fun inclusions. We’re very different from your standard nut butter.”
Bulk Butter: Nut Butter Treat | Handcrafted & Small-Batch
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There are few things that the Milwaukee Brewers haven’t done right so far in 2026.
Milwaukee has navigated difficult injuries all season and yet it is 49-29 and has the second-best record in baseball behind the Los Angeles Dodgers (52-29) heading into an important series against the Chicago Cubs. How many teams out there could accomplish this feat when guys like Andrew Vaughn Christian Yelich, Quinn Priester, Jackson Chourio, and Brandon Woodruff all missed significant time at various points in the season? These are legit, star-level pieces and the Brewers navigated the losses admirably.
Right now, all of them are healthy, except Priester. The young starter will miss the entire season. Now, Milwaukee is firing on all cylinders and yet it could be even better. Soon enough, Logan Henderson will be back. Also, the offense would arguably be even better if Vaughn was given more opportunities. Since May 4, Vaughn is only eighth on the team in plate appearances, per Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Despite this, Vaughn has done nothing but tear the cover off the ball. In 39 games, he has slashed .355/.444/.542 with a .987 OPS, two homers, 12 doubles, and 23 RBIs. That’s the type of production you need in the lineup every night, regardless.
The Brewers Need To Give Andrew Vaughn More Time
Brewers manager Pat Murphy acknowledged that Vaughn has had a weakness with some righties, as transcribed by Hogg.
“Heavy east-west sometimes is more troublesome for him,” Murphy said. “But for him this year you can look at it and go, ‘Yeah, against the two-seamer he’s been [worse]. But what about the times against the two-samer that he took it and got something else? You don’t get credit for being good against the two-seamer when you take it. You only get dinged when you swing at it.”
Still, this is a guy batting .355 since May 4. He’s obviously not perfect, but Milwaukee’s offense is better with him in it. Even if the club has to get creative. Jake Bauers has made his mark this season and needs playing time as well and both play first base, among others. Throughout Vaughn’s career, he has seen time at third base, second base, left field and right field, along with first base. Throughout the season to this point, there’s been chatter about how the Brewers haven’t had enough offense on the left side of the infield.
They recently promoted Cooper Pratt to play shortstop, so third base has been handled by David Hamilton and Joey Ortiz. Maybe a good idea could be trying to shift Vaughn to third base for the time being because they could then get his bat and Bauers’ bat in the lineup consistently. In that scenario, the Brewers could also consistently roll with an outfield of Chourio in left field, Garrett Mitchell in center field, and Sal Frelick in right field.
At the end of the day, the Brewers need Vaughn’s bat in the lineup every day. If you can bat .355 over a 39-game stretch, you deserve significant playing time.
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