What The Jury Never Saw: The Suppressed Mental-Health Evidence
According to Attorney Sharon, the single most important body of evidence that would have explained Ethan Crumbley’s behavior was kept out of the trial: his mental-health evaluations and psychological statements. Judges initially ordered these records released because they were material and favorable to James’ defense, then reversed course later and blocked the defense from showing any of it to the jury.
These evaluations directly undermine the prosecution’s theory that James ignored obvious warning signs. The report states that it was “doubtful EC experienced hallucinations” and that what prosecutors characterized as paranoia was merely fear when he watched horror movies late at night after midnight. The expert testified Ethan was still “hopeful for the future” and engaged in activities he enjoyed throughout 2021.
The report also dismisses the idea that Ethan reached out for help and his parents ignored him. The defense cites Ethan explaining that he hid his sadness and mental health struggles from his parents, contradicting any suggestion that James knew what was happening. The brief notes that at most, Ethan once asked for counseling months before the shooting, then “forgot about it.”
The jury never heard that Ethan had a suicide attempt in October 2021, when he swallowed 8 to 10 allergy pills, made himself vomit and then never told anyone because “he wanted his parents to think of him as normal.” The defense says this proves concealment, not negligence.
When asked why he never confided in anyone, not even friends, Ethan said he feared his friend “might tell his own parents who in turn might tell EC’s parents.” This demonstrates that Ethan’s secrecy was intentional and well-planned.
The jury also never heard that Ethan acknowledged having pleasant memories, family bonding, camping trips and board games with his parents — evidence that no trauma existed inside the home. The report states he denied any type of physical, sexual, or emotional abuse.
Most damning to the State’s narrative, Ethan told evaluators:
“Most serial killers get their damage from their family or an accident but that he has no trauma from his past, he was just born this way.”
This entirely contradicts the prosecution’s claim that James should have foreseen violence.
The jury also never saw the proof that James did not give Ethan access to firearms. Ethan told evaluators that his father hid the guns, including the handgun and Derringer, and that he stole the weapon without permission. The defense argues this would have destroyed the State’s claim of reckless storage in one stroke.
Even when asked by school counselor Hopkins the day before the shooting whether he was suicidal, Ethan denied it, explaining afterward that he did not want his parents to know anything. That exact deception is what the State later used to argue the opposite: that James should have known.
The defense position is clear:
This evidence would have changed the verdict.
It directly refutes the entire foundation of the prosecution’s case.
Yet the judge blocked every bit of it.
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NEXT ➜ PAGE 4: THE STATE’S CONTRADICTORY STORY — MENTAL ILLNESS IN ONE COURTROOM, BAD PARENTING IN ANOTHER
On Page 4, we expose how prosecutors changed their narrative depending on which Crumbley was on trial. In Ethan’s hearing, they argued he wasn’t mentally ill and acted purely for pleasure. In James’ trial, they flipped the script, claiming severe mental decline that his parents “ignored.” Sharon calls this a due process violation that poisoned the entire case.
Click Page 4 to uncover how the State told two different stories to win two different convictions.