Ethan Crumbley's mother has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the mass shooting carried out by her son in 2021.
James and Jennifer Crumbley stood accused of providing their son, Ethan, with easy access to a firearm and neglecting his mental health needs, leading to the deadly mass shooting at Oxford High School.
The tragic incident unfolded in November 2021, resulting in the loss of Madisyn Baldwin, Tate Myre, Hana St. Juliana, and Justin Shilling, while six students and a teacher were wounded.
Jennifer and James represent a rare instance of parents facing charges in connection with a school shooting perpetrated by their child.
Following approximately 11 hours of deliberation, the jury reached its guilty verdict after commencing on Monday morning. Sentencing for Jennifer is slated for April 9, per ABC News.
James Crumbley, who also faces four counts of involuntary manslaughter, will undergo a separate trial scheduled for March.
Speaking to an ABC News producer as she left the courtroom, the jury foreperson revealed that the verdict hinged on Jennifer Crumbley being the last adult with the gun.
During a trial spanning several days, prosecutors presented compelling evidence against the Crumbley parents, who had purchased the gun used in the shooting. They underscored the parents' failure to heed warning signs exhibited by their son prior to the attack.
School officials had summoned the Crumbley parents to the school on the morning of the shooting after discovering violent drawings he had produced. Despite the school's urging for immediate intervention and offering access to same-day mental health services, the parents opted to send him back to class.
In text messages sent after the shooting, Jennifer expressed to a man with whom she was having an affair, Brian Meloche, that the tragedy "could have been prevented" had the school not allowed Ethan to return to class.
In her defense, Jennifer maintained that she was a devoted mother doing her best, but prosecutors highlighted her affairs and time spent away from her son, suggesting negligence on her part.
Ethan, who was 15 at the time of the shooting, has already been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of four students and the injury of seven others at Oxford High School. He had pleaded guilty to 24 charges, including first-degree premeditated murder and terrorism causing death.
In response to the verdict, parents of the deceased students expressed relief and a sense of justice.
Steve St. Juliana, father of Hana St. Juliana, expressed initial shock followed by relief at the guilty verdict, emphasizing the importance of common sense in the jury's decision.
Craig Shilling, father of Justin Shilling, stressed the significance of accountability, hoping it would prompt societal change regarding the handling of school shootings.
Buck Myre, the father of Tate Myre, called for accountability for what he termed the "whole systemic failure" leading to the shooting, advocating for a comprehensive approach beyond addressing firearm access.