Trial of Jennifer Crumbley, mother of Oxford High School shooter, continues with fourth day of testimony
(CBS DETROIT) - The trial of Jennifer Crumbley, the mother of the Oxford High School shooter, continued Tuesday with the fourth day of testimony.
On Tuesday, the first person called to testify was the former Oxford High School dean of students, Nicholas Ejak.
No "reasonable suspicion" to search shooter's backpack
During his testimony, he discussed getting emails from teachers and meeting with the shooter and his parents on the morning of the shooting.
He said that he didn't have "reasonable suspicion" to search the shooter's backpack and also discussed Jennifer Crumbley's reaction to him and Shawn Hopkins, a school counselor, advising immediate mental health help for her son.
"We can't take him anywhere today; we have to go back to work," Jennifer Crumbley said.
Ejak said he found this odd because parents usually take the advice of mental health professionals.
Jennifer Crumbley's boss at real estate company testifies
Andrew Smith, the chief operating officer of a real estate company where Jennifer Crumbley was employed, testified Tuesday. Jennifer Crumbley worked as a marketing director for the company, and Smith was her supervisor.
Prosecutors asked Smith about his conversations with Jennifer Crumbley on Nov. 30, 2021, the day of the shooting.
Jennifer Crumbley had sent Smith a text message at about 10:05 a.m. that day with a photo of the violent drawings on the math assignment and told him that she had to go to the shooter's school to meet with his counselor but would be back by 11:30 or noon.
Former coworker Amanda Holland testifies on fourth day
Amanda Holland, a former coworker of Jennifer Crumbley who worked with her at the real estate company, testified Tuesday.
Holland testified that when speaking with Jennifer Crumbley the morning of the Oxford High School shooting, she told her the family had a fight the night before and that her son was locked out of the house.
Holland thought this was strange, but she said she didn't push for more information.
On Tuesday, Holland also said that Jennifer Crumbley told her that her son had been "hearing things" in the house.
Recap of the third day of testimony for Jennifer Crumbley's trial
On Monday, Jennifer Crumbley's attorney, Shannon Smith, started with an apology for offensive comments she had made in court on Friday.
Her comment was made when discussing Facebook messages between James and Jennifer Crumbley in 2021. Smith couldn't find the evidence she needed, and in frustration over being disorganized, she said, "I'm going to kill myself."
After that, three people testified.
Kira Pennock, who runs and owns a farm where the Crumbley family boarded their horses, testified first. Pennock received messages from Jennifer Crumbley on the day of the shooting, in which she received a photo of the violent drawings the shooter had made on his math assignment.
When she later found out about the shooting, her first thought was that Jennifer Crumbley's son was the shooter.
Next, Shawn Hopkins, a counselor at Oxford High School, testified.
He shared details about the emails he received from multiple teachers who were concerned about the shooter's behavior.
Hopkins said when he met with James and Jennifer Crumbley, he had recommended they get their son therapeutic help as soon as possible, and he said that if they hadn't done so in 48 hours, he would call Child Protective Services.
Oakland County Sherriff's Office Sgt. Joe Brian testified next, and a video from hours after the shooting was shown.
In the video, the Crumbleys were seen talking with investigators. Jennifer Crumbley spoke about how she texted her son at 12:21 p.m. asking if he was okay and said her son responded with, "I love you."
Jennifer Crumbley also talked about the school meeting during this police interview and said, "I really wish we would've taken him home."
They were brought into the room with their son near the end of the video, and when they were leaving that room, James Crumbley repeatedly said, "I love you," to his son.
Jennifer Crumbley charged with involuntary manslaughter
The shooter's parents are charged with involuntary manslaughter after their son killed four students, Justin Shilling, Madisyn Baldwin, Tate Myre, and Hana St. Juliana, and injured seven other people in the Nov. 30, 2021, shooting.
They are accused of buying their son a gun, which was used the day of the Oxford High School shooting, and not getting him the help he needed.
Their son was sentenced to life in prison without parole in December 2023.
The prosecution expects to call 20-25 people to testify in the trial.
The fifth day of testimony is scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday.