Trembling father of boy, 16, killed by Michigan school shooter Ethan Crumbley tells sentencing hearing his MARRIAGE is on the brink as a result of the tragedy
The father of Tate Myre, who was killed by Michigan school shooter Ethan Crumbley, has said his marriage is on the brink of collapse as a result of the tragedy.
Buck Myre addressed the hearing for 17-year-old Crumbley, who will be sentenced later today plead guilty to killing four of his classmates.
The 17-year-old could be locked up without the possibility of parole, a sentence sought by prosecutors in Oakland County.
In an emotional statement during the sentencing hearing, Myre talked about how his family dealt with the death of his son, who was killed in the 2021 Oxford High School shooting.
Myre told the court: “Sheri and I are both walking around looking for Tate, I felt like something didn't feel right to me.”
The 17-year-old could be locked up without the possibility of parole, a sentence sought by prosecutors in Oakland County.
Myre continued, “We walk around and ask someone if they've seen Tate. We were called to the manager's office. We get the news that Tate was no longer with us.”
After a very long pause during which Myre gripped the podium and was visibly shaking, he continued: “What strikes me is what my wife said
“She put her head in her hands and said, 'Not my son.' We walk out of the room in shock, not really sure if what we heard was real and true.
“When we got home we were just zombies walking around, believe it or not, we cooked dinner that night.
“It's been quite a journey, I can tell you that, love is lacking in our family because there is no joy. When you have joy, it is easy to love.
“My wife and I are trying to figure out how to save our marriage and our family, and we haven't even done anything to each other.
“As we try to navigate these waters, we try to honor Tate. His father fights, his mother fights and his brothers fight.”
Speaking directly to Crumbley, Myre added: “We want you to rot in your cell for the rest of your life, what you stole from us is not replaceable.”
Crumbley previously pleaded guilty to all 24 charges in the 2021 Oxford High School shooting, including first-degree murder and terrorism.
Students Madisyn Baldwin, 17, Hana St. Juliana, 14, Tate Myre, 16, and Justin Shilling, 17, were killed in the rampage. Six students and a teacher were also injured.
Students Madisyn Baldwin, top right, Hana St. Juliana, bottom left, Tate Myre, top left, and Justin Shilling, bottom right, were killed in the rampage
Crumbley, who was 15 at the time of the shooting, will have a chance to speak in court and possibly explain why he believes he should be spared a life sentence.
Judge Kwamé Rowe could also impose a shorter sentence – from 25 to a minimum of 40 years – which would ultimately make him eligible for release by the state parole board.
Defense attorney Paulette Michel Loftin has argued that Crumbley deserves a chance at parole after his “sick brain” is repaired through counseling and rehabilitation.
But after listening expert testimonyRowe said in September that he had found only a “slim” chance that Crumbley could be rehabilitated behind bars.
In a diary, the shooter wrote about his desire to see students suffer and the likelihood that he would spend his life in prison. On the eve of the shooting, he made a video stating what he would do the next day.
Crumbley and his parents met with school staff the day of the shooting after a teacher noticed violent drawings. But no one checked his backpack for a gun and he was allowed to stay.
Like their son, Jennifer and James Crumbley are incarcerated in the county jail. They are awaiting trial for involuntary manslaughter, accused of making a gun accessible in the home and neglecting their son's mental health.
Jennifer Crumbley has asked a Michigan court to exclude evidence of her son's alleged abuse of baby birds from her own criminal case.
Crumbley's parents, James Robert Crumbley and Jennifer Lynn Crumbley, are awaiting trial on involuntary manslaughter charges.
Jennifer and James Crumbley are seen here in this February 2022 photo after they were charged
Fox reported that attorney Shannon Smith wrote in a motion Monday: “The 'bird evidence' is so extremely repugnant, sickening and appalling that its admission would certainly inflame the passions of a jury.”
'The jury will no doubt judge Mrs Crumbley for her son's horrific actions, which she knew nothing about.'
Court records show her son videotaped himself torturing and killing animals, including a bird.
Attorney Ven Johnson claims Crumbley kept the severed head of a bird in a jar and that he brought the head to school in a jar and placed it in the boy's bathroom.
Johnson claims in the federal filing that Oakland County School District staff ignored reports from students who saw the bird's head.
Prosecutors say Crumbley expressed “delight” at killing a family of baby birds and found “joy” in hearing them scream as they died.
According to Fox, the motion stated: “It is clear that the shooter mutilated baby birds on more than one occasion, sent a friend details of the bird mutilation, a video recording of himself doing so, and vile and disgusting videos of his actions has photographed.
“The evidence makes it clear that the shooter deliberately concealed all 'bird evidence' from his parents.”
James and Jennifer reportedly bought a gun for their son shortly before the school shooting, with his mother claiming it was a Christmas present.
A memorial for the four victims of Ethan Crumbley's high school shooting
A parent hugging a child after the active shooter situation at Oxford High School on November 30, 2021
Before the sentencing, Shilling's father Craig said CNN: 'Personally I think that if you do something like that, the same fate awaits you.
“You can't just pull the trigger on someone and walk away as if nothing happened.
“Actually, I don't think he will get what he deserves, but I feel like he will be punished to the fullest extent possible, but in my opinion that is not enough.”
Shilling's mother Jill Soave added, “I pray for life without parole. That would be the least amount of justice, you know, that I would consider for his actions.
'Nothing is enough. You know, he gets to live, and my son doesn't. So I will never feel satisfied as a parent, but that is the maximum punishment allowed by the law. So I pray that the judge will make that decision.”
In his final moments, Shilling had hidden in a bathroom with another student, Keegan Gregory, who witnessed Crumbley kill the student.
Prosecutors say Crumbley expressed 'delight' at killing a family of baby birds and found 'joy' in hearing them scream as they died
Chilling diary entries written by Crumbley include drawings of a gun held to a girl's head with the
On the day of the shooting, Crumbley and his parents had met with school staff after a teacher was bothered by drawings showing a bloodied body and a gun pointed at the words, “The thoughts won't stop.” Help me.'
School officials said Crumbley talked his way out of trouble by claiming the drawings were part of plans to make a video game.
After the meeting, Crumbley was allowed to stay at the school, about 40 miles north of Detroit, even though his backpack was not checked for weapons.
He later emerged from a bathroom with a gun and started shooting at fellow students.
Police say the first victim was Crumbley's freshman Phoebe Arthur, who was shot in the face but miraculously survived. A total of thirteen people were shot, four of whom were killed.
Prosecutors insisted that Crumbley's decisions cannot be mitigated by his young age or immaturity.