When James and Jennifer Crumbley were called to Oxford High School on Nov. 30 after a school counselor warned them their son might be suicidal, they did not greet their son, hug him or take him home when urged to get him mental health care immediately, according to the counselor.
"I have never had parents arrive to the school and not take their student home," said the counselor, Shawn Hopkins, who testified Thursday at an ongoing hearing to determine whether the case of the couple, who are charged with involuntary manslaughter in the massacre that killed four students north of Detroit, will go before a jury. "I was taken aback."
Hopkins arranged the meeting after being alerted to drawings Ethan had made on a math assignment that morning which depicted a gun and the words "the thoughts won't stop," "help me" and "blood everywhere."
The parents "were not friendly or showing care to their student" when they showed up, noted Hopkins, who said they left without hugging their son or saying goodbye. According to Hopkins, the Crumbleys told him they couldn't leave with Ethan because they had to return to work.
Their son allegedly opened fire on classmates just hours later.
...Some kids say they have serious issues that their parents refuse to acknowledge and aren't exaggerating, but this duo engaged in an especially toxic combination of enabling their kid who was open about being emotionally disturbed to have access to weapons while ignoring those pleas for help. It's like they were priming him for a tragic outcome.
25 Feb 2022, 2:59 pm
