Experts in Crumbley parents' case say there are opportunities to intervene on the 'pathway to violence'

Pontiac — Two experts testified Friday that there are noticeable changes in a child's lifestyle that cannot be ignored and if acted on, can prevent tragedies like the Oxford High School shooting, but the lawyers representing the parents charged with involuntary manslaughter in the case say their testimony is not relevant and shouldn’t be allowed.

Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Cheryl considered proposed witnesses during Friday's hearing, which is the first since Ethan Crumbley pleaded guilty to 24 criminal charges in the Nov. 30 shooting. On Monday, he detailed how he obtained the weapon by saying he gave his father the money to buy the gun and that it wasn't locked the day of the shooting. The parents have maintained the gun was locked up.

About 40 people attended the hearing, under scrutiny by as many as 12 deputies at one point. Everyone sat quietly and respectfully as the two prosecution witnesses were quizzed about their credentials and views on whether school shootings are preventable if officials or parents detected something is wrong with their children and intervene to get them they help they need.

Dr. Jillian Peterson, an associate professor of criminology and criminal justice and director of the Forensic Psychology Program at Hamline University, testified research shows there "is a consistent pathway of mass shooting, that mass shooters have a slow build towards violence over time. They don't just snap and they give lots of warning signs." Peterson is also co-president of the Violence Project, a nonprofit, nonpartisan research center aimed at reducing violence in society through data and analysis to improve policy.

Peterson said the pathway often starts with early childhood trauma such as physical or sexual abuse and a chaotic household. This builds up over time to what she called a "crisis point." "During that crisis point their behavior is changing because they're acting differently and people around them are noticing that they're acting differently," Peterson said. Individuals also often "leak their plans," she said.

"Leakage refers to any communication of an intent to harm so they are having indicators of violence and showing those to people," she said.

Peterson also testified that a small act of kindness could change the pathway to violence. When asked if something small, like baking a pie, could prevent a school shooting, she replied, "Yes."

Dr. Dewey Cornell, a University of Virginia forensic psychologist whose research has focused on youth violence, school violence and threat assessment, also said there are opportunities to intervene on the pathway and that shooters don't just snap before carrying out a mass shooting, which is preventable.

The pathway to violence, Cornell said, "refers to the idea that mass shootings and targeted violence in general is not something that happens spontaneously or suddenly, that in fact, the individuals over a period of time engage in behaviors that make their intentions known to others, that there are stages along this pathway. And at those stages there's opportunities for intervention that prevent the violence taking place."

Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald previously argued in court filings that there was a “pathway to violence” provided to the shooter by his parents’ behavior.

Defense attorneys for James and Jennifer Crumbley, meanwhile, have described the area of study as “relatively novel," and argued “there is not consistency among research findings." On Friday, they argued expert testimony is not needed in this case. The couple are each facing involuntary manslaughter charges in the Nov. 30 shooting that killed four students and wounded seven others.

Mariell Lehman, attorney for James Crumbley, said Friday the defense is disputing the reliability of the experts' studies and the relevancy of their conclusions as they relate to this specific case.

Matthews previously agreed with attorneys Lehman and Shannon Smith that one proposed prosecution expert witness won't be allowed to testify because she was not named until after the passage of a court deadline. On Friday, Matthews refused to accept a prosecution affidavit from the rejected expert.

Linda Watson and her family were among those sitting through proceedings Friday.

"I think it's important to be here," Watson said during a court break. "My son was one of those wounded. Fortunately he is recovering. Some days are better than others for him.

"But I believe they (Crumbley parents) are one of the reasons for what happened," Watson said. "They should have done a better job (as parents). They should be convicted."

After hearing three hours of questioning Oakland Circuit Judge Cheryl Matthews said she would issue a written opinion of contested testimony within 10 days.

Matthews set a Jan. 17, 2023 trial date for James and Jennifer Crumbley.

mmartindale@detroitnews.com