But in another twist, two attorneys who say they are representing the couple released a statement that said the Crumbleys had left town for their safety and are returning for an arraignment.
“On Thursday night we contacted the Oakland County prosecutor to discuss this matter and to advise her that James and Jennifer Crumbley would be turning themselves in to be arraigned,” the statement from attorneys Shannon Smith and Mariell Lehman said. “Instead of communicating with us, the prosecutor held a press conference to announce charges.”
The statement added: “They are not fleeing from law enforcement despite recent comments in media reports.”
A law enforcement official told CNN that the parents withdrew $4,000 from an ATM in Rochester Hills, Michigan, on Friday. Rochester is about 10 to 15 miles from Oxford.
Law enforcement had been able to track the couple’s whereabouts by cell phone pings but can no longer do so as the couple’s cell phones are turned off, the official said.
The source did not specify when the phones were turned off.
The parents’ arraignment had been scheduled for late Friday afternoon, but as of Friday evening the parents were still missing, according to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office.
Undersheriff Michael McCabe told CNN that a sergeant with the county’s fugitive task force had spoken with one of the attorneys, who said she had not actually talked with the parents.
The undersheriff said he is confident the couple will be found and it’s a “matter of when.”
Sheriff Michael Bouchard earlier told CNN that law enforcement had not talked with James and Jennifer Crumbley, but their attorney had told officials that if there were charges she would make arrangements for them to be arrested.
He said the attorney had attempted to reach the parents by phone and text without success.
When asked by CNN whether the parents are missing, Bouchard said, “correct.”
“If they think they are going to get away, they are not,” he said.
The couple weren’t under surveillance…
Source : cnn
