Bond set at combined $1 million for parents of Michigan school shooting suspect after overnight arrest

DETROIT – James and Jennifer Crumbley, the parents of the teen charged in the Oxford High School shooting, pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter charges on Saturday morning, hours after police said they were found in a commercial building in Detroit and taken into custody.

A judge, citing her concern that the couple did not appear at an arraignment Friday, set bond at $500,000 each, substantially more than defense attorneys asked for. James Crumbley, 45, and Jennifer Crumbley, 43, appeared in court via video from the Oakland County Jail.

Jennifer Crumbley appeared to cry and at times struggled to respond to the judge's questions. James Crumbley shook his head when a prosecutor said their son had full access to the gun used in the killings.

Each was charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter after Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald said they bought the firearm for their son, Ethan Crumbley, 15, as a Christmas gift. He is accused of killing four students and injuring seven people at the suburban Detroit high school on Tuesday.

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On Friday, the U.S. Marshals Service issued "Wanted" posters and offered a reward for information leading to the Crumbleys' arrests. They were found and arrested early Saturday in Detroit, a little more than two hours after someone saw their vehicle and called police.

The Crumbleys' attorneys said in Saturday's court appearance that their clients were not fleeing and that the missed court appearance was a result of miscommunication.

"Our clients were absolutely going to turn themselves in," said Shannon Smith, one of the couple's attorneys. "It was just a matter of logistics."

The investigation of the shootings and the search for the Crumbleys was led by the Oakland County Sheriff's Office. Oakland County Undersheriff Mike McCabe said the vehicle was found around 11:30 p.m. Friday.

By about 1:45 a.m., the Crumbleys were under arrest. The couple were found hiding inside a commercial building and were "distressed," Detroit Police Chief James White told reporters. They were unarmed, he said.

White said police believe someone had let the Crumbleys into the building. He said those who helped the couple could face criminal charges.

Judge Julie Nicholson of Rochester Hills District Court cited concerns about flight risk before setting bond.

"These charges are very, very serious, there's no question about that," Nicholson said. "The court does have some concern about the flight risk along with the public safety given the circumstances that occurred yesterday and fact the that defendants did have to be apprehended in order to appear for purposes of arraignment."

The gun used in the shooting had been stored in an unlocked drawer in their house, and Crumbley's parents did not ask where it was when they were called to the school the day of the shooting for a disturbing drawing their son made of a firearm, McDonald said at a news conference Friday.

Ethan Crumbley had posted about the firearm online and researched ammunition while at school, McDonald said the investigation revealed. He was allowed to return to class on the day of the shooting after the meeting with his parents, she said.

Crumbley was charged Wednesday as an adult with murder, terrorism and other crimes in what investigators described as a methodical and deliberate massacre.

"The facts of this case are so egregious," McDonald said.

Lawyers representing the Crumbley parents contested claims that the Crumbleys had left the gun unlocked. Smith said it was "absolutely not true" that their son has "free access" to the gun.

The couple's attorneys, Smith and Mariell Lehman, released a statement before the arraignment, reading in part: "While it’s human nature to want to find someone to blame or something to point to or something that gives us answers, the charges in this case are intended to make an example and send a message. ... We intend to fight this case in the courtroom and not in the court of public opinion. We know that in the end the entire story and truth will prevail."

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Here's what we know:

Prosecutor: School officials knew shooting suspect searched online for ammo, made drawings

Suspect's drawing prompted worries on day of shooting

The 15-year-old suspect was caught looking up ammunition online while at school before the shooting. McDonald said school officials contacted his mother about the online search, leaving a voicemail and email, but received no response. Crumbley's mother instead texted him the same day, "LOL I'm not mad at you. You have to learn not to get caught," McDonald said.