Rochester Hills District Court scheduled a probable cause conference for James Crumbley and Jennifer Crumbley.
After warrants for their arrests, police said that the couple from Oxford, Michigan was found hiding in a Detroit commercial building on Dec. 4. They are being held on $500,000 each bond.
Probable cause conferences are typically procedural and include discussions between defense attorneys and prosecutors as well as a judge on bond or other matters.
Ethan Crumbley is the son of the couple and is being charged with murder, terroristic, and other offenses.
His probable cause conference was rescheduled from Monday to January 7 in order to allow his court-appointed attorney to review evidence, including witness statements, from the Nov. 30, shooting that also injured six students and a teacher.
James and Jennifer Crumbley were accused of failing to act on the tragic day despite being presented with a drawing of a chilling message and a chilling message — “blood all over” — which was found at the boy’s desk.
According to Karen McDonald, an Oakland County prosecutor, the Crumbleys committed “egregious” acts. These included buying a gun on Black Friday for Ethan Crumbley and keeping it at his disposal. They also refused to remove him from school after he was summoned.
At their arraignment, they did not plead guilty to the four counts of involuntary murder against them.
They were taken in a commercial building which housed artwork. Shannon Smith, the Crumbleys’ attorney had stated the day before that the couple had fled town earlier in the week “for safety” and that they would be returning to Oxford to face the charges.
James White, chief of Detroit Police, stated that the couple were “aided in entering the building” and that anyone who assisted them could face criminal charges.
Oxford High School has been shut down for 30 miles (50 km) since the shooting. Students from the school’s sport teams returned Monday to competition.
According to the district, it has spoken with mental health professionals and law enforcement officers about the return to athletics. The recommendation was to allow students and their community to interact with each other.
Others schools in the district were shut down Tuesday due to “an abundance of precaution,” according to the district. The closure was made after a threat was made via social media to its middle school. After the shooting at Oxford High, online threats were made against other Michigan schools. Schools have been closed elsewhere and there are charges.
Tuesday night will also mark the first meeting of the Oxford district’s school board since the shooting.
