The manslaughter trial for James Crumbley, the father of Oxford High School shooter Ethan Crumbley, is set to begin Tuesday with jury selection.
James Crumbley is charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter, one for each of the four students killed when Ethan, then 15 years old, opened fire in November 2021.
James Crumbley’s trial comes just weeks after his wife, Jennifer Crumbley, was found guilty of four counts of involuntary manslaughter for her role in the shooting. Her sentencing is scheduled for April 9.
The two parents had been set to face trial together, but a judge separated the cases in November.
Ethan Crumbley was sentenced to life in prison without parole over the shooting. He pleaded guilty to 24 charges, including first-degree premeditated murder and terrorism causing death, in October 2022.
Attorneys for James Crumbley filed a motion to move his trial arguing that pretrial media coverage would seriously impact the court’s ability to find an impartial jury, especially after his wife was found guilty, but that request was denied. In another blow to his defense, a judge last week allowed his son’s journals and text messages to be included in the trial. Both played a prominent role in Jennifer Crumbley’s trial.
