Parents of Michigan school shooter receive historic sentences of 10 to 15 years

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(PONTIAC, Mich.) — Jennifer and James Crumbley, the parents of Oxford High School mass shooter Ethan Crumbley, were sentenced to 10 to 15 years Tuesday after each was found guilty of four counts of involuntary manslaughter in separate trials earlier this year.

Giving a statement in court Tuesday, Jennifer Crumbley sought to walk back her testimony during trial when she said she would not have done anything differently.

James Crumbley, who wiped away tears at several points during his statement, asked to be sentenced in a “fair and just way,” asking for time served.

“You know that what my son did, I was not aware of,” he said.

The trials were a rare case of parents facing criminal charges, and possible jail time, over their role in a shooting carried out by their child. They could face up to 15 years in prison for each count, but prosecutors are asking for 10 to 15 years total for each parent, according to a sentencing memo filed by prosecutors last week.

“No sentence this Court can administer will fix the damage caused by the Oxford High School shooting on November 30, 2021,” prosecutors wrote in requesting the sentence for Jennifer Crumbley. “As the jury found, defendant’s gross negligence was a cause of this damage; she knew of the danger to another, it was reasonably foreseeable her son would shoot someone, but she failed to exercise even the smallest measure of ordinary care.”

Michigan’s sentencing guidelines call for a maximum punishment of about seven years in jail, a sentence prosecutors say is not strong enough.

“Considering the guidelines, what those guidelines do and do not account for, and the objectives of sentencing, the severity of the circumstances in this case and defendant’s total lack of remorse warrant a sentence that exceeds the applicable guidelines range,” prosecutors continued. “A sentence of 10 to 15 years’ imprisonment is proportionate to these offenses and this offender.”

The same exact request was sent in regards to James Crumbley.

Jennifer Crumbley’s attorneys are asking that she be sentenced to time served and house arrest, according to the defense’s sentencing memo. James Crumbley’s lawyers asked for 28 months of prison — the amount of time he has already spent locked up — with credit for time served as well as the maximum period of supervised release.

Prosecutors came down especially hard on James Crumbley in their ask for a sentence longer than the sentencing guidelines, pointing to threats he made over the phone from jail toward District Attorney Karen McDonald and an instance of gesturing with his middle finger toward a prosecutor during the trial.

“Defendant’s shameless lack of remorse in asking for time served as an appropriate sentence is a slap in the face to the severity of tragedy caused by his gross negligence, to the victims and their families, and to the applicable law that is premised on the concept of proportionate sentencing,” prosecutors wrote.

James Crumbley also apologized to the victims during his statement in court Tuesday.

“I really want the families of Madisyn Baldwin, Hana St. Juliana, Tate Myre and Justin Shilling to know how truly sorry I am and how devastated I was when I heard what happened to them. I have cried for you and the loss of your children more times than I can count,” James Crumbley said Tuesday.

The judge will make a decision in the coming weeks over whether to impose a no contact order on the Crumbleys and the shooter. James Crumbley and his son will not be housed in the same facility at any time, according to Judge Cheryl Matthews.

According to James Crumbley, he hasn’t spoken to his son since the shooting and to his wife since they were arrested on Dec. 3.

Ethan Crumbley, who was only 15 years old at the time of the shooting, has been sentenced to life in prison without parole for the shooting that killed four students.

He pleaded guilty to 24 charges, including first-degree premeditated murder and terrorism causing death in 2021.

The parents had ignored several warning signs in the days leading up to the shooting, and had just bought their son the weapon he used in the shooting, according to prosecutors. The prosecution argued that the parents failed to secure the weapon and limit their son’s access to it.

Prosecutors argued that James Crumbley failed to use a cable lock, trigger lock or store the gun in a locked safe, any one of which could have prevented the shooting. Prosecutor Karen McDonald even demonstrated installing a cable lock for the jury during closing arguments, saying it takes “less than 10 seconds.”

Oxford High School officials had called the parents to the school the morning of the shooting after disturbing drawings were found on their son’s math test and he had made statements to a counselor suggesting he was considering suicide, prosecutors said.

School officials testified that the parents said they needed to return to work and could not stay home with their son, and if he left he would need to walk home and remain alone until they finished work. School officials, concerned for the Ethan Crumbley, allowed him to remain in school.

The shooting occurred that afternoon.

In a back and forth between Matthews and Jennifer Crumbley’s attorney Shannon Smith on Tuesday, the judge pushed back against the defense’s argument that Jennifer Crumbley did not know anything about the gun and was not responsible for securing it. The judge pointed to texts she sent her husband regarding the gun and how much it costs, and her posting a picture of the gun as her son’s Christmas present.

Jennifer Crumbley’s trial largely focused on how she spent her time in the weeks and months leading up to the shooting, implying that she failed to act on warning signs or get help for her son. Her former employer testified on the stand that she could have left work the day of the shooting — after her meeting with school officials — to care for her son or said she could have brought her son with her to work if necessary.

A man she was having an affair with in the months before the shooting also testified, with prosecutors questioning him about how the two spent their time and about their communications before and after the shooting.

Jennifer Crumbley also took the stand in her own defense, and was grilled by prosecutors over her extramarital affairs and relationship with her son.

ABC News’ Whitney Lloyd contributed to this report. 

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Baby found dead on Los Angeles highway linked to family’s murder-suicide, police say

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(LOS ANGELES, Calif.) — The death of a baby found Monday on a highway has been linked to a possible murder-suicide in Los Angeles, police told ABC News.

Early Monday morning, the body of a 6-month-old girl was found on the 405 Freeway. A 9-year-old girl was found on the shoulder, alive but injured, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

Shortly after, a woman — who police identified as the two children’s mother — crashed her car into a tree in Redondo Beach. She was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

A few hours later, the father’s body was found stabbed to death in an apartment in Woodland Hills.

Police said they believe the incident was a domestic violence murder-suicide, saying the mother is thought to have killed the father during an argument, left the two children on the highway and then crashed into a tree.

It is not yet clear whether the children were thrown out of the car or dropped off there, nor if the baby was already dead or died later on the highway, according to police.

Police are not yet certain whether the crash that killed the mother was intentional or not.

Officials have not yet publicly identified the family.

The 9-year-old girl, who is believed to be a witness to the murder, was hospitalized for her injuries and is now in safe custody, police said.

Neighbors told Los Angeles ABC station KABC they heard an argument coming from the apartment the night before, and saw blood in the area the next morning.

“Their door was wide open, there was blood on the floor leading into their apartment, and then a trail of it in the hallway leading up to the elevator and I saw some blood on the wall,” a 26-year-old woman told KABC.

The woman’s father called 911, she said, who told them to check inside the apartment, where they found the man dead.

“He was deceased, he was facedown on the floor,” she said. “And there was a lot of blood.”

ABC News’ Alex Stone contributed to this report.

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DJ Cassidy’s ‘Pass The Mic Live!’ headed to Vegas with Ja Rule, Fat Joe, Slick Rick & Doug E. Fresh

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DJ Cassidy‘s Pass the Mic is headed to Sin City. The series-turned-live performance event will be playing for three weeks at Las Vegas’ Bakkt Theater at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in the summer.

Set for July 5, 6, 12, 13, 19 and 20, the residency will feature performances from Ja Rule, Fat Joe, Slick Rick and Doug E. Fresh, with special guests appearing weekly. As was done on his Pass the Mic television show, “DJ Cassidy will ‘Pass the Mic Live’ on stage to each artist through his groundbreaking format, taking audiences on an unprecedented musical journey, redefining the art of collaboration and celebration,” says a press release.

“Just as Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford and Joey Bishop united in Las Vegas to form the Rat Pack, one of the greatest shows of all time, Ja Rule, Fat Joe, Slick Rick, Doug E. Fresh, and I will unite to create an experience that will go down in Las Vegas history,”  DJ Cassidy says in a statement. “In the great tradition of Liberace, Elvis Presley, Wayne Newton, and Siegfried & Roy, we will redefine showmanship in ways The Strip hasn’t witnessed since the days of The Sands and The International.”

Cassidy adds that “every night will be a unique one time only event, black tie (optional) of course.”

General tickets go on sale starting Saturday, April 13, at 10 a.m. PT via Ticketmaster.com, with presales starting Wednesday, April 10, at 10 a.m. PT. All presales will end on Friday, April 12, at 10 p.m. PT.

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Jelly Roll brings ‘American Idol’ “Halfway to Hell”

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Jelly Roll brought his latest single, “Halfway to Hell,” to Monday’s episode of American Idol.

Donning an all-black outfit, Jelly took the stage at the show’s taping in Hawaii to perform his soaring number, which he co-wrote with Matt Jenkins, Jesse Frasure and Jessie Jo Dillon

After his performance, Jelly chatted with host Ryan Seacrest about what mentoring season 22’s top 24 contestants meant to him.

“I came here thinking I was going to be able to bless a bunch of young artists, and man, did I end up getting blessed,” Jelly reflected. “I think I come from a place where I spent so long destroying that now I just want to build up. It was so hard to change my life, and every one of these kids have a chance right now, tonight, to change their life if these people out there vote.”

“Halfway to Hell” is now approaching the top 10 of the country charts. You can find it on Jelly’s latest album, Whitsitt Chapel.

Jelly will hit the road this fall on his Beautifully Broken Tour, which kicks off August 27 in Salt Lake City, Utah. For tickets and a full list of dates, visit Jelly’s website.

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Ozzy Osbourne launching ’The Madhouse Chronicles’ show with Billy Morrison

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Ozzy Osbourne‘s expanding his podcast repertoire.

With the return of The Osbournes Podcast in full swing, the Prince of Darkness has announced a new show called The Madhouse Chronicles, co-hosted by his longtime friend, Billy Idol guitarist Billy Morrison.

“Tune in to see me react to the craziest internet clips and chat about our favorite topics, including Drugs, Aliens, Rock n’ Roll and so much more,” Ozzy writes in a Facebook post.

An accompanying teaser clip hints at a discussion about Black Sabbath.

“Are you happy with the arc of the legend of Black Sabbath?” Morrison asks, to which Ozzy replies, “No.”

The Madhouse Chronicles premieres in April. For more info, stay tuned to OsbourneMediaHouse.com.

Meanwhile, you can hear Ozzy collaborate with Morrison on the new song “Crack Cocaine.” It’ll appear on Morrison’s upcoming album, The Morrison Project, due out April 19.

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‘Dune: Part Two’ sets digital and Blu-ray/DVD release dates

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Warner Bros. announced that its blockbuster Dune: Part Two will be coming to HD Digital on Tuesday, April 16.

The follow-up to the Oscar-winning film from director Denis Villeneuve will be available for purchase for $29.99 or a 48-hour rental for $24.99 via the usual digital platforms, including Amazon Prime Video, AppleTV and Fandango at Home.

The film will be released on 4K UHD, Blu-ray and standard definition DVD on May 14, with the respective prices of around $29.99, $24.99 and $19.99.

The home video release of the film will be packed with special features, as have been Villeneuve’s previous movies, including the original Dune film and Blade Runner 2049

The special features for the film starring Timothée ChalametZendaya, Austin Butler and Florence Pugh, among many others, will include a look at how filmmakers pulled off the film’s epic sandworm riding sequence, how cast members studied the movie’s native language Chakobsa and more.

Dune: Part Two has made more than $665 million worldwide since it opened in theaters on March 1.

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Watch the first trailer for the new Beach Boys documentary

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We are getting our first look at the upcoming documentary about The Beach Boys. 

The first trailer for the doc has just been released, featuring archival interviews and footage of the band along with new interview clips from Beach Boy Mike Love, producer Don Was, Ryan Tedder and Janelle Monáe. It also touches on The Beach Boys’ rivalry with The Beatles, Brian Wilson’s conflicts with his father and more.

The Beach Boys, directed by Frank Marshall and Thom Zimny, will also include all-new interviews from Wilson and bandmates Al JardineDavid Marks and Bruce Johnston, as well as former Beach Boy Blondie Chaplin. It will also feature audio from Ricky Fataar, another former member, plus appearances by late members Carl and Dennis Wilson.

The Beach Boys will stream exclusively on Disney+ starting May 24. The official soundtrack to the documentary will also be available on streaming services the same day.

Disney is the parent company of ABC News.

 

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Parents of Michigan shooting victims speak before James, Jennifer Crumbley sentenced for son’s attack

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(PONTIAC, Mich.) — The parents of several teenagers killed in a 2021 Michigan school shooting spoke in court Tuesday, asking the judge for the maximum sentence for the parents of school shooter Ethan Crumbley.

James and Jennifer Crumbley were found guilty of four counts of involuntary manslaughter in two separate trials, one count for each victim killed — Tate Myre, 16; Hana St. Juliana, 14; Madisyn Baldwin, 17, and Justin Shilling, 17.

Nicole Beausoleil, the mother of 17-year-old Baldwin, spoke first, describing her daughter and the heartbreak she has endured due to her loss, saying “it will hurt for an eternity.”

“You both took four beautiful children away from this world,” Beausoleil said, often holding back tears during the statement.

“You failed as parents,” she continued. “The punishment that you face will never be enough. It will never bring her back.”

Prosecutors are asking for 10 to 15 years in prison for each parent, well above the seven-year sentencing guideline in the case. Lawyers for the parents have argued for time served; each has been in prison since December 2021.

The parents of Shilling, who was 17 when he was killed, each spoke Tuesday.

“Justin was brave, spending his final moments protecting a fellow student,” Jill Soave, Shilling’s mother, said in court.

His father said he has struggled every day since his son was killed.

“We’re coming up on two and a half years and I can tell you that the wounds are still as fresh as they were that day,” Craig Shilling said.

“The blood of our children is on your hands, too,” Shilling told the Crumbleys.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

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Judge to hear Trump appeal of limited gag order in hush money case

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(NEW YORK) — A New York appellate court on Tuesday will hear former President Donald Trump’s appeal of a limited gag order imposed on him by the judge overseeing his hush money prosecution.

The filings are sealed so how Trump’s attorneys plan to argue isn’t known, but they have previously complained the gag order hamstrings the presumptive Republican nominee in both his political campaign and his legal defense.

The challenge is structured using an administrative petition against Judge Juan Merchan, who has barred Trump from attacking witnesses, prosecutors and court staff.

Merchan recently expanded the gag order to include his family members after Trump repeatedly attacked the judge’s daughter over her work for a Democratic political consulting firm.

Trump previously challenged a limited gag order in his civil fraud case using this same method. He won a temporary stay before the full appeals court upheld the gag order in that case.

Oral argument is scheduled for 11:30 a.m.

Trump last April pleaded not guilty to a 34-count indictment charging him with falsifying business records in connection with a hush money payment his then-attorney Michael Cohen made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels just days before the 2016 presidential election.

Jury selection for the trial is currently scheduled to get underway April 15 in New York City.

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Idaho man arrested for planning attacks on churches in support of ISIS

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(COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho) — The Justice Department on Monday announced the arrest of a man they say planned to carry out attacks on churches in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, over the weekend after pledging support to the terror group ISIS.

Alexander Mercurio, 18, was arrested on Saturday on charges of attempting to provide material support to ISIS. Attorney General Merrick Garland and FBI Director Christopher Wray said in statement Monday that the FBI thwarted his plans to use knives, firearms and fire to carry out the attacks.

According to a criminal complaint unsealed Monday, the FBI’s case against Mercurio started when confidential sources working with the bureau found him expressing support for ISIS online.

The bureau later arranged for an informant to meet with him in person — and his conduct grew from pushing ISIS propaganda to allegedly planning to carry out a suicide attack on churches in Coeur d’Alene.

“His attack plan involved using flame-covered weapons, explosives, knives, a machete, a pipe, and ultimately firearms,” according to charging documents. “His plan grew more precise as he eventually identified the specific church and date on which he planned to attack.”

The plot allegedly crafted by Mercurio included plans to incapacitate his own father and restrain him so he could steal his guns “for maximum casualties in his attack.”

Prosecutors say the day before his attack, on Saturday, Mercurio pledged his allegiance to ISIS and stated his intention to die while killing others on their behalf.

He was taken into custody before he could harm his father and acquire his guns, prosecutors say — effectively thwarting his planned attack.

In a search of his house, law enforcement found “butane canisters, lighters, a pair of handcuffs, a knife, a pipe and a machete,” according to charging documents. They also found an ISIS flag in Mercurio’s bedroom.

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