After a manhunt that lasted several hours, James and Jennifer Crumbley, parents of the accused 15-year-old Oxford High School killer, were found hiding in a Detroit basement early this morning. They gave themselves up without incident.
The couple disappeared after Democrat Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald appeared in a public press conference spectacle that the parents would be charged with 4 counts of involuntary manslaughter for their role in the deaths of four Oxford High School students.
“In my entire 44-year career, I have never, ever seen a prosecutor announce charges in a major case without the suspect being in custody first,” Oakland Undersheriff Mike McCabe told the Free Press.
“We don’t let people turn themselves in,” he said. “When a warrant is authorized by a judge, we go and get them.”
Fox 2 News reports- The two were taken to Oakland County Jail for processing after their arrest as fugitives by Detroit police on the city’s east side. They were found in the basement of a commercial building at 1111 Bellevue Street.
Detroit Police Chief James White said the pair appeared to look distressed as they were arrested – but were not armed and did not resist. White said the building was an art studio and that the two were allowed inside by someone.
“They didn’t break in. somebody let them in,” White said. “We don’t know the relationship yet. That’s active. That person could face charges.”
Both Crumbleys pled not guilty to all four charges of involuntary manslaughter- one for each high school student who was killed in the school shooting Tuesday.
James and Jennifer were each granted a $500,000 bond, which must be paid in full, and they will be required to wear a GPS tether if they make a bond.
Throughout the arraignment, James and Jennifer Crumbly appeared emotional. The Daily Beast reported on the arraignment – Jennifer cried as she said she understood the charges against her. James smiled, laughed, shook his head and raised his eyebrows at various points (12:00 – 12:22 minute mark). Meanwhile, defense lawyer Shannon Smith and prosecutor Karen McDonald squabbled over whether the pair had planned to turn themselves in at all.
Watch:
“These are not people that we can be assured are going to return to court on their own,” McDonald told the judge, prompting James Crumbley to laugh.
Defense Attorney Shannon Smith and Sheriff Mike Bouchard both blamed the grandstanding of Democrat Oakland County Prosecutor for the fiasco.
“We fully intended to turn them in first thing this morning for arraignment contrary to misinformation that has been rampant in the media,” Smith, who previously represented former Olympic physician Larry Nassar, told The Daily Beast on Saturday morning. “The prosecution has very much cherry-picked and slanted specific facts to further their narrative. We intend to fight this case in the courtroom not in the court of public opinion.”
Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard appeared furious that local prosecutors didn’t give them a heads-up about filing charges. When the media started reporting that it was imminent, Bouchard said his office immediately called Smith, who said she would arrange for the couple’s arrest—but she later told him the couple had stopped responding to her calls or texts.
To call it frustrating was “an understatement,” Bouchard told MSNBC.
