Ethan Crumbley, Oxford High School shooting suspect, allegedly described a plan “to rape and torture and eventually kill a female classmate,” an Oakland County prosecutor stated in a Michigan courtroom Tuesday.
Crumbley, 15 years old, is accused of shooting four student and injuring seven other Oxford High School students on Nov. 30, 2015. The victims include Tate Myre (16 years old), Hana St. Julia (14 years), Madisyn Baldwin (17 year) and Justin Shilling (17 year).
“In text messages to firms and in his diary, he outlined plans to stalk, beat, torture, and ultimately kill a female Classmate,” a prosecutor stated Tuesday. He also said that he had “delight” in killing a whole family of baby birds and “joy” hearing their squeal as the died.
Crumbley wrote in his journal that “When you die, you must be remembered for many years.” The prosecutor stated that Crumbley also wrote about the gun he used and the first victim he would have. He said that he would surrender to the police after the shooting, so that he could feel the pain and suffering that he caused.
She claimed that he spoke of his admiration for Jeffrey Dahmer and Adolf Hitler.
Tuesday’s hearing was to decide if the 15-year old boy should be moved to a juvenile facility or charged with and kept as an adult.
Prosecutors claimed that Crumbley had interests that were “well beyond the average 15-year old” before the school shooting, and that he should live with adults.
Paulette Loftin, Amy Hopp and Amy Hopp, his defense lawyers, claimed that Crumbley had shown signs of mental illness prior to the shooting. They also stated that he had requested a therapist from his parents. They also claimed that Crumbley could hear the other inmates from his cell, and that he would be more secure in a juvenile facility.
Crumbley pleaded guilty to the following 24 charges: first degree murder, and terroristic conduct in connection to the mass shooting. James Crumbley and Jennifer Crumbley are also facing four counts each of involuntary murder.
Karen McDonald, Oakland County prosecutor, revealed that Crumbley’s parents and school officials met to discuss the violent drawings he had made just hours before his fatal rampage.
During the meeting, the suspect at 15 was able convince his parents that the drawings were intended for a “videogame”. His parents “flatly rejected” the idea of taking their son home.
Loftin and Hopp stated in court filings that their client plans to use an insanity defence.
According to authorities, Ethan Crumbley was seen using a gun James Crumbley purchased on Black Friday, November 26, 2021. McDonald’s referenced a post on social media by Jennifer Crumbley claiming that she and James Crumbley bought the pistol for Christmas gifts.
