The Crumbleys were both convicted of involuntary manslaughter last year.
Prosecutors argued they had given Ethan access to the gun he used in the shooting and ignored signs of his mental distress.
They were each sentenced to 10 years behind bars.
Their legal team recently pushed for new trials, saying prosecutors failed to disclose important interviews from two key school staffers who had spoken to investigators.
But Judge Cheryl Matthews said setting aside the conviction would go too far.
In her ruling, Matthews said granting a new trial would mean pretending the original jury hadn’t heard “dozens of hours of testimony” and that there wasn’t already “a plethora of other evidence suggesting guilt.”
The Missed Warnings and the Meeting That Changed Everything
Much of the case revolved around what happened just hours before the shooting.
On the morning of November 30, 2021, school officials called in Jennifer and James Crumbley to talk about Ethan’s disturbing drawings in class.
He had scribbled violent images—guns, bullets, and a person bleeding—on a math worksheet, along with chilling words like “The thoughts won’t stop. Help me” and “My life is useless.”
Despite this, the Crumbleys reportedly declined to take their son home.
According to school staff, they said they were “too busy” and returned to work.
Ethan remained at school, his backpack unchecked.
Less than two hours later, he pulled out the semi-automatic handgun his parents had bought him as a Christmas present and opened fire.
Four students were killed, and several others were injured.
Disputed Interviews and Alleged Misconduct
Now, the Crumbleys’ lawyers argue that the trial wasn’t fair.
They say two school officials—administrator Nick Ejak and counselor Shawn Hopkins—gave interviews to investigators under promises they wouldn’t face charges related to the shooting.
Those promises, according to the defense, should’ve been disclosed to the Crumbleys’ legal team.
Why does that matter? The defense claims they would’ve cross-examined those witnesses more aggressively if they’d known about those deals.
But the prosecution pushed back, saying those interviews didn’t include immunity agreements and didn’t have to be shared.
Still, Jennifer’s appellate attorney isn’t backing down.
“So the prosecution intentionally cheated and violated the court rules, but they didn’t cheat hard enough for the court to do anything about it,” said lawyer Michael Dezsi. The legal fight, he added, isn’t over.
Ethan Crumbley Now Serving Life Without Parole
Meanwhile, Ethan Crumbley—who was just 15 at the time of the attack—is serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole.
Prosecutors revealed that his parents had bought him the gun as an early holiday gift.
A photo shown in court even captured Jennifer teaching Ethan how to use it at a shooting range.
That morning, he hid the gun in his backpack. After the meeting with school staff, no one checked his bag, and he returned to class.
Then, shortly after, he entered a bathroom, emerged with the gun, and began firing in the hallways.
His first victim, Phoebe Arthur, was shot in the face but survived.
Tragically, four other students—Madisyn Baldwin (17), Hana St. Juliana (14), Tate Myre (16), and Justin Shilling (17)—were killed. Six other students and a teacher were also injured.
The Aftermath and What Comes Next
This case continues to spark debate across the country: What is the responsibility of a parent when their child shows signs of violent behavior? And what happens when those warnings go ignored?
Though the Crumbleys were tried separately, they now sit in prison together, both convicted of failing to act when it mattered most.
Their legal team plans to appeal further, but for now, the original verdict—and the tragic loss that preceded it—still stands.