Closing arguments conclude in trial of Jennifer Crumbley, mother of Oxford High School shooter
(CBS DETROIT) - The trial of Jennifer Crumbley, the mother of the Oxford High School shooter, continued Friday after the mother took the stand for the first time.
Prosecutors are trying to hold Jennifer Crumbley responsible in part for her son's actions in the Oxford High School shooting where he killed four students, Justin Shilling, Madisyn Baldwin, Tate Myre, and Hana St. Juliana, and injured seven other people on Nov. 30, 2021.
Closing arguments in trial of Jennifer Crumbley
Jennifer Crumbley's cross-examination ended Friday, and closing arguments began.
Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald began her closing argument Friday and said it wasn't easy to watch the trial and hear about how the four students were killed in the Oxford High School shooting.
McDonald spoke about the facts of the case and explained involuntary manslaughter and gross negligence, and what it means for a defendant to be found guilty of these crimes.
McDonald's closing arguments lasted just over 75 minutes.
"We have proven beyond a reasonable doubt that she [Jennifer Crumbley] is guilty of four counts of involuntary manslaughter," McDonald said. "It's a rare case. It takes some really egregious facts. It takes the unthinkable, and she has done the unthinkable, and because of that, four kids have died."
Jennifer Crumbley's attorney, Shannon Smith, delivered her closing arguments following McDonald's and spoke for more than 90 minutes.
"I am asking each of you to vote that Mrs. Crumbley is not guilty because she is not guilty and because a not guilty verdict is the only fair and just result in this case," Smith said.
McDonald followed Smith's closing arguments with a rebuttal.
After closing arguments, Judge Cheryl Matthews instructed the jury to return at 9 a.m. on Monday for deliberation instructions.
Dispute over text messages exchanged between Jennifer Crumbley and attorney about turning self in
On Friday, the trial began with a dispute over text messages between Jennifer Crumbley and her defense attorney, Shannon Smith, before the mother was found in a Detroit studio space.
Chief Assistant Prosecutor David Williams said that because Jennifer Crumbley testified that she was waiting to turn herself in based on the advice of her attorney, then attorney-client privilege would be waived, and the court should be able to view these messages.
Smith said that she had no idea Jennifer Crumbley would say this and asked for it to be struck from the record.
Oakland County Judge Cheryl Matthews said that wasn't going to happen.
Matthews reviewed the text messages and gave a copy of them to the prosecution to review.
Jennifer Crumbley's cross-examination
Jennifer Crumbley took the stand Friday for her cross-examination after Matthews determined that the text messages between the mother and her lawyer could be used in court.
The prosecution asked questions about her horses, and she agreed that it was an expensive and time-consuming hobby.
They also discussed her affair with Brian Meloche and brought up "Adult Friend Finder," an app that she and Meloche used to set up meetings with other people. The mother said they never met with anyone from the app but agreed to the fact that she did message people to set up meetings.
Jennifer Crumbley was also asked about phone calls she made while in custody, and she didn't mention her son until 14 calls later.
The messages sent between Jennifer Crumbley and her attorney were read in court.
At 7:02 p.m. on Dec. 3, Smith texted the mother about getting her and James Crumbley from the studio in the morning.
"We do not think it will help to make a statement that you're coming back now or that it will be tomorrow a.m. We can say that we told everyone you were coming back, and as of tomorrow a.m., you were back," Smith said.
Recap of sixth day of testimony in Jennifer Crumbley's trial
On Thursday, she testified that her son never asked for help for his mental health and that she never felt like he needed professional help, which contradicts what her son wrote in his journal.
In addition, Jennifer Crumbley testified about text messages the shooter sent her about seeing demons, but she said she had thought her son was just messing around.
The mother was also questioned about the gun she used in the shooting, and Jennifer Crumbley testified that her husband was in charge of storing the gun because she didn't feel comfortable doing that.
She said the gun had been secured in her home and that she didn't know where the key to the cable lock was kept. The mother also said she didn't believe her son knew where the key was kept either.
James Crumbley's trial begins in March. The shooter was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
