On Saturday, a judge set a combined $1m bond for the parents of the Michigan teen charged with killing four students at Oxford High School after the couple plead not guilty.
On Nov. 30, the couple’s 15-year-old son, Ethan Crumbley, used a gun purchased by his father on Black Friday to open fire in the hallways of Oxford High School, killing four students.Â
The deadly shooting happened just hours after the teen’s parents were advised to take their son out of school to seek immediate counseling in regards to incidents where two different teachers caught their son searching for gun ammunition online and drawing disturbing images insinuating gun violence against others.
Against the advice given by the school’s administration, the couple refused to take their son out of school, and he was allowed to return back to class.
When the couple failed to appear in court on Friday to face four counts of involuntary manslaughter charges related to their involvement in the incident with their son, authorities issued an hours-long search in efforts to find them.
After a tip was given Friday afternoon, the Detroit Police Department was able to locate James and Jennifer Crumbley in the basement of a commercial building in Detroit, more than 40 miles away from their home in Oxford.
The couple was then arrested and taken into custody during the early hours of Dec. 4.
In a statement given by the couple’s attorneys, it is alleged that James and Jennifer Crumbley were not attempting to flee, but instead left town in regards to protecting their own safety.
“We understand that our clients were apprehended last night, although we fully intended to turn them in first thing this morning for arraignment, contrary to the misinformation that has been rampant in the media,” the statement began.
“Unfortunately, this case presents the most unimaginable tragedy for every single person involved, including every member of the community. While it’s human nature to want to find someone to blame or something to point to or something that gives us answers, the charges in this case are intended to make an example and send a message. The prosecution has very much cherry-picked and slanted specific facts to further their narrative to do that. We intend to fight this case in the courtroom and not in the court of public opinion. We know that in the end the entire story and truth will prevail.”
In an arraignment held via Zoom video on Dec. 4, both Jennifer and James Crumbley pleaded not guilty to their charges.
The couple is currently being held at the Oakland County Jail on a combined $1m bond.