ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. – James and Jennifer Crumbley will appear in court again on Thursday, Feb. 24, for day two of their preliminary examination hearing.
The judge has already admonished the couple for their displays of affection to each other.
“You’re not to have communication with each other. It’s disruptive and it’s disrespectful,” the judge said.
So far, prosecutors have tried to show that the parents were more concerned with the two horses they owned than their son’s “disturbing” behavior. Their son, Ethan Crumbley, is accused of opening fire at Oxford High School during school hours on Nov. 30, 2021, fatally striking four students and wounding seven other people.
James and Jennifer Crumbley did reportedly did acknowledge to their friends that their son was troubled. The parents even shared the violent drawing Ethan Crumbley made, which had teachers at Oxford High School demanding an in-person meeting.
Read: Prosecutors say suspected Oxford shooter tortured birds, admired Hitler, ‘enjoyed his dark side’
Jennifer Crumbley’s friend Keira Pennick was called to the stand on day one of the hearing. Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald probed Pennick about how Jennifer Crumbley spoke about her son.
“She did talk to you about her son being weird,” said McDonald.
“Yes,” said Pennick.
“And she did talk to you about the fact that he only had one friend,” McDonald said.
“Yes,” Pennick said.
More: ‘Ethan did it’: Witnesses testify at hearing for parents of suspected Oxford High School shooter
Prosecutors also showed videos of the gun they say the parents bought specifically for Ethan Crumbley, despite his problems. They also played the 911 call James Crumbley made the day of the shooting.
“I have a missing gun, and my son is at the school, and we had to meet with the counselor this morning,” said James Crumbley to 911 dispatch.
While James and Jennifer Crumbley will be in court Thursday in Rochester Hills, their son Ethan Crumbley was already in court this week as a judge considers moving him out of the Oakland County Jail to Children’s Village, a juvenile facility.
