Ethan Crumbley, the teenager who pleaded guilty to killing four students and injuring seven others at Oxford High School in 2021, is back in court as experts debate his mental health and whether he deserves life without parole.
Crumbley, who was 15 at the time of the shooting, confessed to all the charges against him, but his lawyers are arguing that he was suffering from mental illness and bad parenting that contributed to his violent actions.
What did the defense say about Ethan Crumbley Health?
The defense presented Dr. Colin King, a forensic psychologist, who testified that Crumbley had signs of major depressive disorder and psychosis before the shooting. He said that Crumbley was hearing voices, seeing demons, calling himself a demon, and telling his parents he needed help.
King also referred to a video that Crumbley recorded on the eve of the massacre, where he said, “I am the demon.” King said that this indicated a serious thought disorder and a lack of reality testing.
King performed several tests on Crumbley and met with him multiple times after the shooting. He said that Crumbley showed remorse, guilt, and sadness for what he did, and that he was not a psychopath or a sociopath.
King also blamed Crumbley’s parents, Jennifer Crumbley and James Crumbley, for neglecting their son’s mental health and providing him with easy access to a gun. He said that Crumbley’s parents ignored his pleas for help and his suicidal attempts, and that they failed to intervene when he showed signs of aggression and violence.
What did the prosecution say?
The prosecution challenged King’s findings and presented their own expert, Dr. Lisa Anacker, a forensic psychiatrist, who examined Crumbley and concluded that he was not mentally ill. She said that Crumbley did not display any unusual behavior or symptoms of psychosis during or after the shooting, and that he did not mention any demons, hallucinations, or delusions.
Anacker said that Crumbley was aware of what he was doing and that he planned the shooting in advance. She said that Crumbley wrote about his intentions in his journal, recorded a manifesto the night before, strategized who he would shoot first, and even plotted to stay alive so he could witness the suffering.
Anacker also said that Crumbley did not show any genuine remorse or empathy for his victims, and that he was manipulative and self-serving. She said that Crumbley was not influenced by his parents, but rather acted on his own free will and choice.
Anacker argued that Crumbley was not a suitable candidate for rehabilitation, and that he posed a high risk of reoffending and harming others. She said that Crumbley deserved life without parole, as he forfeited his right to be free again.
Crumbley Was Not Mentally Ill, But Calculating and Cruel
The prosecution team for Ethan Crumbley has disputed the defense’s claim that he was mentally ill or insane. They have presented evidence that Crumbley was not hallucinating or delusional when he carried out the shooting, and that he did not mention any demons, paranoia, or voices after his arrest. They have also pointed out that Crumbley planned the shooting in advance, wrote about it in his journal, strategized who he would target, and expressed his desire to witness the suffering.
Dr. Lisa Anacker, a forensic psychiatrist who examined Crumbley and reviewed his records, testified that Crumbley did not have any mental disorder that would impair his ability to understand the nature and consequences of his actions. She said that Crumbley’s video manifesto was not a sign of psychosis, but a way of expressing his anger and resentment. She also said that Crumbley’s suicide attempt was not a genuine attempt to end his life, but a manipulation tactic to get attention from his parents.
The prosecution team has asked the judge to reject the defense’s argument and to sentence Crumbley to life without parole. They have argued that Crumbley’s crime was so heinous and horrific that it warrants the maximum penalty. They have also argued that Crumbley poses a danger to society and that he has shown no remorse or empathy for his victims.
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What will the judge decide?
The judge in the case, Judge Julie Nicholson, will have to weigh the testimony of the experts and other factors, such as Ethan Crumbley’s age, background, and potential for change, before deciding whether to sentence him to life without parole or not.
This is a mandatory proceeding for juvenile killers who face life without parole, known as a Miller hearing, named after a Supreme Court case that ruled that such sentences are unconstitutional for minors, unless they are found to be irreparably corrupt or permanently incorrigible.
The judge is expected to issue a written ruling in the coming weeks, and then schedule a formal sentencing after that. The decision will be closely watched by the public, the media, and the families of the victims and the shooter, as it will determine the fate of one of the most notorious school shooters in American history.
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