An Oakland County judge denied new trials for the parents of Oxford school shooter Ethan Crumbley, concluding that the couple each had fair trials beforehand.
The decision comes despite prosecutors intentionally withholding from the defend secret agreements it struck with two key witnesses who testified against them. When Oakland County Circuit Judge Cheryl Matthews decided on June 11, 2025, he expressed concern with the prosecution not disclosing the agreements.
Oxford Shooter's Parents Denied New Trials
While the judge added that the lack of disclosure by the prosecution, which is mandatory, was disturbing, he concluded that their actions did not "rise to the level" to justify new trials. He emphasized that given the significant evidence against the shooter's parents, they still would have likely been convicted.
The Crubmleys made headlines last year after a jury held the parents responsible for the Oxford High School shooting massacre on Nov. 30, 2021. The attack was carried out by their 15-year-old son, according to the Detroit Free Press.
The couple had been trying to get their involuntary manslaughter convictions dismissed or get new trials. For a long time, Oakland prosecutors argued that they engaged in no misconduct, adding that the Crumbleys were convicted fairly.
Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald made history when she held the first parents in America criminally liable for a mass shooting that their child committed. She also praised the judge for her decision in the case.
A Tragic School Shooting
The development comes as the Crumbleys are serving 10-year prison sentences after being convicted in their original trial. They had no knowledge of their teenage son planning to carry out a mass shooting at Oxford High School in 2021, the Associated Press reported.
However, the parents were accused of failing to lock a firearm at home as well as ignoring their son's mental health needs, which many believe contributed to him committing the heinous act. They did not take their son home on the day of the shooting when school officials confronted them with his drawing of a gun, blood, and dark messages.
Following the judge's decision to not give the Crumbleys new trials, McDonald said that the case has always been about justice for the victims. They were identified as Madisyn Baldwin, Tate Myre, Hana St. Juliana, Justin Shilling, and several others.
The prosecutor added that Matthews' ruling made it clear that no issue that the defense raised would have affected the outcome of the trial or the jury's verdict, as per CBS News.
