Oxford High School Shooter, Ethan Crumbley Files to Appeal Life Sentence

An appeal was filed to challenge the life sentence of convicted Oxford High School shooter, Ethan Crumbley, after pleading guilty to 34 charges on October 24, 2022 including four counts of first-degree murder and one count of terrorism, according to an announcement on last Friday, June 7, 2024 by the Michigan Appellate Defender Office.

Ethan, now 18, is currently serving his prison sentence in protective housing due to his notoriety at an all-male facility in Manistee County.

The appeal requests a trial court review based on new evidence and asks the Court to grant a “constitutional sentence” appropriate for a 15-year old child.  Appellate lawyers argue that a life sentence “for a child is unconscionable.”
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The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Miller v. Alabama (2012) that life sentences for minors were “cruel and unusual punishment,” in accordance with the 8th Amendment, but did allow for sentencing juvenile offenders to life when the child is proven to be incorrigible.

Images: Michigan Department of Corrections (2024)

​Ethan Crumbley was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole commonly known as an LWOP sentence on December 8, 2023 after killing four students and injuring seven others including a teacher on November 30, 2021 when he opened fire at Oxford High School.

His parents, James and Jennifer Crumbley, were later prosecuted and sentenced to 10 – 15 years in separate trials after being charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter due to their failure to secure the weapon used in the shooting and ignoring their son’s mental health needs.
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James and Jennifer Crumbley have also filed an Intent to Appeal claiming wrongful convictions. 

Representatives of the Defender’s Office indicate that Ethan may not have been fully aware of the consequences when he pleaded guilty and emphasize that children can change. 

They intend to present new evidence about the challenges Ethan faced in childhood and will produce seven witnesses who can attest to his struggles, his mother’s alcohol abuse during pregnancy, and the impact of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder on the social and emotional development and functioning of children whose maturation may present younger than their chronological age.

​The Fetal Alcohol Syndrome defense was also used in trial for the Parkland Florida Massacre but is not recognized in the Diagnostic Statistical Manual (DSM) of mental health disorders by the American Psychological Association (APA).

The defense team also wants to present expert testimony from a mental health professional experienced in pointing out circumstances indicative of the probability of psychopathologies in evaluating a life without parole sentence.

​Implicating the inadequacy of mental health testimony for the defense during trial.

Appellate lawyers also motioned the sentencing court on May 10th for the presentencing reports of James and Jennifer Crumbley arguing that the documents contain mitigating information about the parent’s drinking habits, psychological issues, history of brushes with the law and family life which could potentially reduce Ethan’s life sentence.

They further asked the Court to release the documents under a protective order which would prohibit public access.

That request was denied by Judge Cheryl Matthews of Oakland County Circuit Court in agreeance with the parent’s objections.

Jennifer Crumbley’s attorney responded arguing the reports are “privileged and confidential” and the refusal to waive that statutory privilege allowing disclosure of the report.

The attorney of James Crumbley argued that Ethan is “able-bodied” and “capable of advising his counsel” directly regarding his childhood, parents and home environment.

Similarly, Ethan, by and through his attorneys denied his parent’s access and use of his medical records during trial and refused to testify on their behalf.

Ethan’s new attorneys purport that his childhood and family life had not been thoroughly investigated prior to his sentence in December 2023.

During Ethan’s guilty plea, he admitted to the intent to terrorize the school and community and witness the sufferings of his victims and their families as asserted in his manifesto.

At sentencing, Ethan stated his parents nor the school were to blame and were unaware of his intentions.  He also asked the judge to give the victims the justice they deserve.
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Oakland County prosecutors have not responded for comment.

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Related Article:
Ethan Crumbley Seeks To Appeal His Sentence

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