In a landmark case out of Michigan, a school shooter's mother has been found guilty of Involuntary Manslaughter for her son's murder of four students.

We talked with an attorney to find out what this could mean for parents in Ohio who have guns in their homes or buy their children a gun. 

Jennifer Crumbley became the first mother in our country to be tried and found guilty of four counts of involuntary manslaughter in connection with her then 15-year-old son Ethan's 2021 murder of four students at Oxford High School.  Ethan Crumbley also wounded 7 others during his mass shooting.

A jury in Michigan sent a strong message that parents can be held criminally responsible for their child's actions when they buy or furnish a gun for the minor, and that child or teen uses it to kill someone. 
 
Attorney Dave Betras tells us the same criminal charge of involuntary manslaughter can be brought against parents or guardians under Ohio laws.
 
"If you have someone under 21 in your home, do not allow them to have access to a handgun. If someone is under 18 under no circumstances should you allow them access to that firearm without supervision from you. Lock it up in a safe, put a lock on it, or keep it hidden where a child doesn't know where it is, Attorney Betras said.
 
Ethan's mom testified she didn't read their son's journal in which her son described his violent plans and thoughts. 
 
21 News asked if it is a parent's responsibility to know what their children or teens are up to and if they have a legal right to privacy.
 
Attorney Betras tells us minors don't have a legal right to privacy, and parents need to be parents because they can also still be found legally responsible for civil damages even if they didn't know about the plans.
 
"Here's what I want to tell parents, you better know what your children under 18 are doing, what they're putting on Facebook, Instagram, X, who they're communicating with, what they're doing on their social media pages. You better keep track of that because you could be held responsible for that," Betras added. 
 
 
During the trial, Jennifer Crumbly, her son's, husband's, friends, and lover's texts were used in court at trial.
 
In one of the texts where her son Ethan was caught looking up ammunition by his teacher, Jennifer Crumbley responded, "Lol I'm not mad, you have to learn not to get caught."
 
Other tests stating, "Don't do it," and texts showing she didn't respond to her son's messages when he was hallucinating and seeing a demon in the house, and it was haunted showed she 
didn't respond until two days later. 
 
Attorney Betras warns all your social media posts, texts, and emails as in this case can and will be used against you in a court of law. 
 
There is a process for having this admitted into court. 
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