(WXYZ) — The person believed to have helped James and Jennifer Crumbley find a place to go as authorities searched for them following the Oxford High School shooting has been identified.
The person has been identified as Andrzej Sikora, 65, of Oakland County, his lawyer said on Sunday.
Authorities were looking for the Crumbleys after charges were announced for them Friday in connection to the school shooting that killed four students and injured seven more people. The suspected shooter is their 15-year-old son Ethan Crumbley.
He faces several charges including terrorism causing death and first-degree murder. His parents were each charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter, a 15-year penalty.
Early Saturday morning, authorities announced that the couple had been found at a commercial building in Detroit and taken into custody. The Oakland County Sheriff's Department's fugitive team, the FBI and the U.S. Marshals Service were involved in the search.
The building they were found at is Sikora's art studio, his lawyer Clarence Dass said.
Sikora is an immigrant from Poland, according to Dass. Dass says Sikora has been dedicated “the arts and metro Detroit community” during his adult life.
Dass said Sikora did not know the couple were fugitives when he offered them a place to stay.
"The Crumbleys asked for a safe place to stay to avoid death threats that was surrounding their home,” Dass said.
According to the Oakland County Sheriff's Office, detectives planned to interview Sikora. That interview was conducted Monday afternoon.
On CNN Monday, Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said it's unclear what Sikora knew.
Dass says Sikora has been cooperating with investigators and has not yet been charged with any crime.
"Mr. Sikora, with his attorney, met with officials today at the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office to assist in their investigation of the tragedy at Oxford High School. Mr. Sikora fully cooperated and answered all of law enforcement’s questions. Mr. Sikora did not assist the Crumbleys in evading law enforcement, did not know there was a warrant for their arrest, and did not know they were at his art studio at the time of their arrest. He has not been charged with any crime, and will continue to assist members law enforcement in their pursuit of justice," Dass said in a statement Monday.
Dass said Sikora talked to authorities for about two hours, describing it as “friendly” and says his client cooperated and answered every question.
"I believe at the end of this, they are going conclude that they had no involvement with the Crumbleys,” Dass told 7 Action News.
In addition to speaking with authorities, Sikora's home was searched Monday.
“They came here, they asked for tablets and computers, which I don’t believe are going to show anything,” Dass said.
Authorities have said helping the Crumbleys hide out could result in charges of aiding and abetting or obstruction of justice charges.
“We will vigorously investigate the totality of the situation so a determination can be made if there is any criminality or obstruction of justice involved,” Bouchard said in a statement. "Our findings will be presented to the prosecutor."
Dass said he's confident his client will be able to resume normal life soon.
“He knows what he knows and he knows that his involvement is so limited here. And most people don’t go to the police voluntary and he did,” Dass said.
