Delve into a harrowing exploration of parental negligence and involuntary manslaughter on "The Daily," featuring the thought-provoking insights of Michael Barbaro and guests Lisa Miller, Marc Keast, and others, as they dissect the case revolving around the mass shooter Ethan Crumbly. This poignant episode sheds light on the disturbing mental health decline of Ethan before the tragedy unfolded, revealing missed signals and a mother's chilling disregard for her son's desperate pleas for help.
The podcast scrutinizes Jennifer Crumbly's failing to respond to Ethan's alarming hallucinations, her nonchalant behavior towards unsettling incidents, and the pivotal role this may have played in the school shooting. Amid fraught legal debates on "foreseeability" and evidence interpretation, this episode compels listeners to consider the profound consequences of parental actions—or inaction—on "The Daily." With legal perspectives woven throughout, the conversation challenges audiences to contemplate the intricate intersection of law, morality, and family responsibility in the aftermath of unspeakable violence.
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Ethan Crumbly showed alarming signs of mental health deterioration prior to the school shooting. Through text messages, he expressed experiencing visions and believing in a demon at home. His emotional struggles were evident in his pleas for a doctor's appointment and taking pills as a dismissive response from his father. Despite Ethan's urgent appeals and apparent emotional outbursts, his parents did not provide him with the necessary mental health counseling. Jennifer Crumbly, his mother, even laughed off his requests for medical assistance, reflecting a failure to acknowledge and address Ethan's mental health needs.
Jennifer Crumbly's response to her son Ethan's mental health disruptions indicates negligence. While Ethan texted her about his hallucinations, she was absorbed with horse riding and did not reply for two days. She exhibited indifference to Ethan's bizarre behavior, referring to it as a joke about a "house ghost" at a meeting with school officials concerning a disturbing drawing. The prosecution criticizes her lack of engagement and warmth towards Ethan, especially in light of the serious concerns raised about his actions.
Jennifer Crumbly faces involuntary manslaughter charges because of negligence in recognizing and acting upon the red flags associated with Ethan’s behavior on the day of the shooting. Although Ethan's parents are charged, the legal challenge lies in proving their responsibility for their son's crime. Jennifer's lack of action regarding Ethan's drawing, which alluded to a gun, is a key factor in the prosecution's case. The notion of "foreseeability" is at the crux of the argument – that an ordinary person would have seen the potential threat and taken preventive measures. Despite the defense asserting that evidence is taken out of context and the availability of other intervention means that school officials did not pursue, the prosecution maintains that Jennifer's actions contributed to the failure to prevent the tragic event. Legal experts acknowledge the difficulty of holding parents accountable for their child's crimes, reflecting the legal and moral complexities at play.
1-Page Summary
The case of Ethan Crumbly reveals a troubling series of events surrounding his mental health leading up to a tragic school shooting.
Text messages portray a deeply distressed Ethan who experiences visions and believes that a demon is present in his home. These troubling accounts are supplemented by Ethan's own admissions to a friend that he is "falling apart." He reportedly struggles with sleep, suffers emotional outbursts, and feels as though he is deteriorating both mentally and physically to the point of considering dialing 911 on himself due to his dire state.
Ethan also expressed an urgent need to seek medical help, evident in his plea to his father for a doctor's visit. Unfortunately, his calls for help are met with a dismissive response—Ethan is given pills and curtly told to "suck it up."
The lack of parental support is further highlighted by Ethan's i ...
Mental Health of Teen Shooter Ethan Crumbly
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The prosecution portrays Jennifer Crumbly as a negligent parent who was preoccupied with her own interests instead of addressing her son Ethan's mental health issues.
Jennifer Crumbly is presented by the prosecution as a parent who had clear signs that her son, Ethan, was experiencing severe distress, yet she failed to prioritize his well-being. Despite receiving texts from Ethan about hallucinations and distress, Jennifer did not respond for two days. During this time, she was occupied with riding horses and taking pictures, which the prosecution uses to suggest she cared more for her horses than her son.
Furthermore, during a meeting at Ethan's school about his disturbing drawing, Jennifer displayed no warmth or concern, as observed by the guidance counselor. There was no evidence that she engaged in a warm family conversation with Ethan or showed any curiosity about his mood or the worksheet that had alarmed his teachers. When Ethan mentioned seeing demons, Jennifer dismissed the behavior as him just messing ...
Negligence of Ethan's Mother Jennifer Crumbly
As the community reels from the tragic school shooting carried out by Ethan Crumbly, his parents, including Jennifer Crumbly, face charges of involuntary manslaughter, raising questions about accountability and the challenges of prosecuting parents for their child’s crime.
The prosecution against Jennifer Crumbly is centered around negligence, particularly her failure to intervene when presented with warning signs on the day of the shooting. On that day, she failed to inquire about a disturbing drawing made by Ethan that included a gun, which resembled the one recently purchased by the family. Despite these warning signs, she chose to leave him at school rather than take action.
Legal analysts delving into this complex case point to the prosecution's attempt to prove "foreseeability" and "ordinary care." They argue that an ordinary person in Jennifer Crumbly's position would have recognized the potential danger her son posed and would have taken steps to prevent the impending tragedy. Yet, despite the jury finding Jennifer Crumbly guilty, Shannon Smith, the defense lawyer, implies that the charges are driven more by the community's desire for retribution than by Jennifer's actual culpability in her son's actions.
This case underscores the intricacy of holding parents criminally responsible for the actions of their children. In US law, a foundational principle is to hold individuals accountable for their actions. This raises the bar for the prosecution when the individual, in this instance Ethan Crumbly, has been charged and convicted as an adult for his c ...
Responsibility for School Shooting
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