Where are Ethan Crumbley's parents? James and Jennifer Crumbley skip town, search on
In a very rare move, prosecutors have decided to charge James and Jennifer Crumbley after their son Ethan shot and killed four students at Oxford High School, Michigan. The couple has been slapped with four charges of involuntary manslaughter each, with authorities noting they played an important role in the events leading up to the brutal shooting.
As we earlier reported, James bought the gun at a Black Friday sale just days before the shooting. The teen then showed off the gun in his social media posts, and possibly also brought it to a meeting with administrators before the attack. That meeting was the second time in two days Ethan was called in, reportedly about his behavior. On December 3, along with the charges, Oakland County prosecutor Karen McDonald also described the key role The Crumbley's played in what transpired.
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But so far, there's been no sign of the Crumbleys, meaning prosecutors haven't been able to arraign them as arranged with their lawyers. According to reports, the couple has skipped town and is now on the run.
Where are the Crumbleys?
Earlier, there were reports that the two had gone missing, but those were slammed by their lawyers- Shannon Smith and Mariell Lehman. Smith and Lehman put out a statement saying, "The Crumbleys left town on the night of the tragic shooting for their own safety. They are not fleeing from law enforcement despite recent comments in media reports." They added that the Crumbleys were "returning to the area to be arraigned."
It appears there was some miscommunication between Crumbley's lawyers and the prosecutor's office. McDonald held a press conference on December 3 to announce the charges, and since the couple wasn't in town, they sought the help of the Oakland County Fugitive Apprehension Team and US Marshal Service. Hours later, Smith and Lehman put out the statement, and said, "Instead of communicating with us, the prosecutor held a press conference."
But, it appears the Crumbley's may have indeed vanished. The prosecutors and lawyers reached an agreement in the morning, but by 2:00 PM, there was no sign of them. Their arraignment was set for 4:00 PM, which the Crumbleys missed. "Our last conversation with the attorney was that she had been trying to reach them by phone and text, and they were not responding," Oakland County Undersheriff Mike McCabe said at the time.
Sheriff Michael Bouchard also weighed in, telling reporters, "We have our Fugitive Apprehension Team, the FBI and the U.S. Marshals Service, and others actively looking for them and have every expectation we’ll have them in custody soon. The action of fleeing and ignoring their attorney certainly adds weight to the charges. They cannot run from their part in this tragedy."
It is believed the couple may be driving a black 2021 Kia Seltos SUV with license plate number DQG5203. They also own a 2019 white Kia Soul with the license plate DZH8994. They are facing four counts of involuntary manslaughter each, and face up to 15 years in prison if convicted. Ethan is being held on a host of charges, including terrorism, and the possibility of life in prison.