PONTIAC, Mich. (AP) — A jury has been selected in the trial of a Michigan woman facing involuntary manslaughter charges in connection with the school shooting committed by her teenage son. The prosecution argues that Jennifer Crumbley bears some responsibility for the deaths of four students at Oxford High School in 2021, alleging that she failed to address her 15-year-old son’s mental health needs and made a gun accessible at home.
Jennifer Crumbley, 45, is not accused of being aware of her son’s plans, but prosecutors claim that she and her husband, James Crumbley, were grossly negligent. This case marks the first time parents have been charged in a mass school shooting.
Jury selection took place in Oakland County court, 40 miles (65 kilometers) north of Detroit. The judge and lawyers spent hours speaking to prospective jurors, probing for any strong opinions about the tragedy, guns, parental responsibility, and other themes that will surface during the trial. Judge Cheryl Matthews emphasized that “sympathy” should have no role in the determination of guilt or innocence.
The defense maintains that the parents could not have foreseen the murders. Opening statements are scheduled for Thursday. In December, Ethan, 17, was sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to murder, terrorism, and other crimes. James Crumbley, 47, is set to face a separate trial in March.
The Crumbleys have been in jail for over two years awaiting trial, unable to afford a $500,000 bond. Involuntary manslaughter in Michigan carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.