US Marshals offer reward for info that leads to arrest of James, Jennifer Crumbley
[ Update, 2 a.m. Saturday:James and Jennifer Crumbley have been found and arrested in Detroit. ]
The search for James and Jennifer Crumbley has been taken over by the U.S. Marshals Service, authorities announced Friday evening.
Working with the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, marshals were continuing an hours-long manhunt for the parents of Ethan Crumbley, the 15-year-old student who is accused of the Oxford High School shooting that killed four fellow students and injured seven others. The search for the couple started hours after charges were pressed against them in connection with the incident.
Late Friday, the U.S. Marshals issued “Wanted” posters and offered rewards of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest of either Crumbley.
Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald announced four involuntary manslaughter charges each for the Crumbleys earlier Friday and they were expected to be arraigned by video Friday in 52-3 District Court in Rochester Hills. They did not show.
During a hearing that started about noon before Judge Julie Nicholson, a lieutenant with the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office said the parents were not in custody. The Oakland County Fugitive Team, along with several agencies, were searching for the couple as of Friday night.
“The action of fleeing and ignoring their attorney certainly adds weight to the charges,” Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said in a release. “They cannot run from their part in this tragedy.”
However, the Crumbleys’ attorneys, Shannon Smith and Mariell Lehman, said that despite reports, the couple is not on the run and will be returning to the area to be arraigned.
“The Crumbleys left town on the night of the tragic shooting for their own safety,” they said in a message to the Free Press:
“On Thursday night we contacted the Oakland County prosecutor to discuss this matter and to advise her that James and Jennifer Crumbley would be turning themselves in to be arraigned. Instead of communicating with us, the prosecutor held a press conference to announce charges.
“The Crumbleys left town on the night of the tragic shooting for their own safety. They are returning to the area to be arraigned. They are not fleeing from law enforcement despite recent comments in media reports.”
FBI officials in Detroit said Friday afternoon they were not involved in the search for the Crumbleys.
“However, we are prepared to provide any assistance requested by the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office,” a statement read.
Police released an alert to be on the lookout for the parents, who drive a 2021 black Kia Seltos SUV with the license plate DQG5203 and own a white Kia Soul station wagon with the plate DZH8994, according to Secretary of State records and the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office.
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