The Crumbleys Go to Prison
In 2021, Ethan Crumbley murdered four students and injured seven others at his local high school. Prior to the massacre, he had created disturbing hand-drawn images foreshadowing the impending violence. The school, concerned about these drawings, called a meeting with his parents to discuss the matter. The meeting lasted 12 minutes as the parents grew hostile but they failed to disclose that they had recently purchased a handgun for their troubled son. As a result of their actions, Ethan's parents have now been convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 10 to 15 years in prison.
Some gun rights activists have deemed the trial to be a Second Amendment violation that pushes the country one step closer to a total gun ban. I tend to think the jury got it right. Let me explain why:
In this case, I thing the conviction and sentence were correct too. The evidence showed clearly that the boy had been telling his parents about his mental health issues, they knew about his disturbing drawings, yet they went and bought him a gun and refused to take action on the very day he committed the crimes. To me, they were complicit thus the consequences were appropriate.
I live 15 minutes from Oxford. In this case, I agree with the sentence.
1) The parents marginally hid the gun in a drawer, unlocked. Not secured at all.
2) Much anecdotal evidence of chronic parental neglect. When they lived in nearby Clarkston, when Ethan was 6, neighbors called CPS for neglect, and nothing was done. On the counseling office visit, dad’s DoorDash route, and mom’s real estate marketing job, were more important than getting him help right away. Mom seemed to care more about their horses than their kid. List goes on and on.
3) Parents ran and hid instead of turning themselves in - there was a manhunt for them.
4) Both parents have serious attitude issues; blame everyone but themselves. Mom was asked during trial if she would do anything differently, and said no (she backpedaled on that before sentencing). Dad unwisely vented how he was going to get the prosecutor, while in jail talking to his sister, on a monitored phone line.
5) Sadly, the backpack was not searched by the counseling office. The gun, ammo and the journal with plans were all in there. It’s an imperfect world. This event has been analyzed by Guidepost Solutions in detail. Now, it’s all clear backpacks , and many other safety measures. But, if the parents had taken him home as requested, this doesn’t happen - at least on November 30, 2021.
I simultaneously feel bad for this kid’s upbringing, while at the same time totally agreeing with his life without parole sentence. The parents were asked to get him help, but a DoorDash route and a real estate marketing job were more important.