Jennifer Crumbley, convicted of involuntary manslaughter for her role in the deadly shooting carried out by her son at a Michigan high school, has requested to be released from prison while her appeal is ongoing.
Crumbley, along with her husband, was sentenced earlier this year to 10 to 15 years in prison. She is seeking bond with her attorney, Michael Dezsi, on the grounds that she poses no threat to public safety and has not committed any further crimes.
Dezsi contends that Crumbley should be granted bond, which would allow her to leave the Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility while attending court hearings as per ABC News.
“There’s no reason to keep her locked up,” he said. “She hasn’t hurt anyone, and she’s not a flight risk. This case is an overreach, blaming a parent for the problems of a whole nation.”
Jennifer and her husband, James Crumbley, received these sentences in April after being convicted of four counts of involuntary manslaughter, a rare case where parents faced criminal charges in connection with a shooting committed by their child.
Their son, Ethan Crumbley, was 15 years old when he opened fire at Oxford High School in 2021, killing four students. Ethan was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
Dezsi described the sentence as unfair, alleging the case was influenced by secret deals with two witnesses. He further argued that keeping Jennifer Crumbley in prison would set a negative precedent and reward unjust prosecutions.
“We’re not just standing up for her—we’re standing up for all Americans who could face this kind of situation someday,” he added.
The court has not yet ruled on whether Crumbley will be allowed to post bond. The Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office has not yet responded to requests for comment. Prosecutors have argued that the Crumbleys ignored multiple warning signs before the shooting, with both parents purchasing the firearm used by their son and failing to secure it or limit his access to it.