(WXYZ) — A court hearing that happened this afternoon will help a judge determine if accused Oxford High School shooter Ethan Crumbley remains in jail or is allowed to transfer to juvenile detention.
Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Kwame Rowe is expected to issue his decision in writing next week. He will decide where Crumbley is kept in custody.
The judge will review 18 exhibits and three videos before ruling.
The 15-year-old is charged as an adult with 4 counts of murder, 7 counts of attempted murder in the shooting that happened back on November 30.
The manager of Children’s Village, the juvenile detention facility, testified they have never had a case like this and it could impact other juveniles in that lockup.
She says they have room for 60 in secure detention, 38 are in there now with no others accused of murder.
At the start of the hearing, an assistant prosecutor told the judge about more evidence in the case, including how Crumbley outlined in a journal how he plotted another major crime.
“He outlined a plan to stalk, rape, torture and ultimately kill a female classmate. He expressed delight in torturing a family of baby birds and he wrote about the joy he received in listening to them squeal as they killed him,” Markeisha Washington, assistant Oakland County prosecutor, said during the hearing.
Crumbley’s defense said he had no one in his corner to get him the help he needed before the shooting occurred. They argue he is completely isolated in the jail and that it’s detrimental with his mental health issues. They argue the appropriate placement for Crumbley is at Children’s Village.
"I understand that the charges could not be more serious against Mr. Crumbley. But again, that is not the only factor that the court must consider when deciding where the best placement is for Mr. Crumbley," defense attorney Paulette Loftin said.
