In a high-profile trial, prosecutors sought to establish that the mother of a Michigan school shooter had shown negligence towards her son's mental health, portraying her as an aloof parent more concerned with her horses than her teenage son's well-being. Jennifer Crumbley, 45, stands accused of involuntary manslaughter, marking the first instance where parents have faced charges in a mass school shooting in the United States. Her husband, James Crumbley, also faces trial on similar charges in March.

Evidence presented during the trial indicated that Jennifer Crumbley and her husband were engaged in horseback riding on multiple occasions, failing to respond to desperate text messages sent by their son, Ethan Crumbley, who reported experiencing hallucinations and claimed that their house was haunted. Ethan's messages about strange occurrences, which included clothes flying off shelves, were allegedly disregarded by his parents.

The prosecution's computer crimes expert, Ed Wagrowski, testified that these hallucinations could have been potential warning signs, emphasizing the parents' alleged indifference towards their son's mental state. In contrast, defense attorney Shannon Smith suggested that there could be plausible reasons for Jennifer Crumbley's delayed response or lack thereof, such as weak wireless service or the belief that Ethan was joking.

Another striking revelation was a message left by the school for Jennifer Crumbley, informing her that Ethan had searched for ammunition on his phone but was not in trouble. This message was left on the day before the tragic school shooting occurred. Prosecutors attempted to emphasize the stark contrast between Jennifer Crumbley's apparent negligence towards her son and her detailed messages concerning the treatment of her injured horse, Billy.

Ethan Crumbley had previously confided in a friend back in April 2021, stating that he was "mentally and physically dying" and had requested his father to take him to the doctor. However, he claimed that his plea was dismissed, with his father telling him to "suck it up." These details shed light on the alleged neglect that the teenager endured, further bolstering the prosecution's case against his parents.

It should be noted that Ethan Crumbley, now 17 years old, pleaded guilty to murder, terrorism, and other offenses in December and was sentenced to life in prison. As the trial continues, Jennifer Crumbley is expected to testify in the upcoming days. Defense attorney Shannon Smith intends to challenge some evidence by attempting to present Ethan Crumbley or his doctors as witnesses. However, Ethan's legal team has stated that he will invoke his right to remain silent, as well as maintain his right to privacy with regards to his mental health treatment.

The trial continues to shed light on the tragic events that unfolded at Oxford High School and raises important questions about parental responsibility and mental health support within the community.