Jennifer Crumbley, the mother of Oxford High School shooter Eathan Crumbley addressed the court ahead of sentencing for her role in the deadly shooting.
"I have taken countless nights to lament over the anguish and shame over what my son did, the harm he caused to innocent lives, the families and the entire Oxford community," she told the court.
"I am not the same person I was prior to Nov. 30, 2021. This tragedy has changed who I am and it has taught me some very valuable lessons," Crumbley said.
She claimed that they were made out to be bad parents that could only raise a monster.
"We were good parents. We were the average family," she said. "I know we did our best."
"She does have a kind heart. She does have compassion," defense attorney Shannon Smith added after Crumbley gave her statement.
Jennifer and James Crumbley were in court together Tuesday for their sentencing. They are the first parents convicted in a mass school shooting in the United States.
They were convicted of involuntary manslaughter in separate cases. They were accused of neglecting to secure a gun at home and failing to address the clear signs of their child's mental distress.
Ethan Crumbley killed four students at Oxford High School in 2021.
Prosecutors say they could have prevented the shooting by removing the 15-year-old from school when confronted with his disturbing drawing on his math assignment shortly before the shooting.
During the trial, prosecutors also emphasized the fact that the teenager had access to a Sig Sauer 9 mm handgun that was bought by James Crumbley just four days prior.
The judge sentenced each to 10-15 years in prison.
