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Investigators working on a crime scene. Image by Raphi D from

10 Things To Know About The Wife Swap Murders

On 15^th June 2017, the Stockdale family was hit by a major shock as their 25-year-old son, Jacob Stockdale shot and killed his mother and brother. The name Wife Swap Murders came up from the involvement of the Stockdale family in a famous TV show, the Wife Swap.

On 23^rd April 2008, the episode of Wife Swap was aired on ABC which involved the Stockdale and Tonkovic families. The Stockdale family was from Ohio, while the Tonkovic family was from Illinois.

The theme of the Wife Swap show was to show how these two families had different philosophies about life and how to bring up their children. According to the show, the Tonkovic family (Laurie, her husband John, and children T-Vic and Meghan) were easygoing and laid back.

However, the Stockdale family (Kathy, her husband Timothy, and their sons Calvin, Charles, Jacob, and James) was a different family from the Tonkovic family. The Stockdale family kept their children in seclusion and were taught to work to get privileges like listening to music.

On that fateful day, 25-year-old Jacob Stockdale shot his mother Kathy, and his brother James and turned the gun to himself. He shot himself but he managed to survive with the motive of the murders remaining mysterious. Jacob Stockdale recovered from his injuries and got sentenced to 30 years in jail.

Below are the 10 Things To Know About The Wife Swap Murders;

1. Wife Swap was a Reality Series Aired on ABC

Many people have never been aware that the Wife Swap show was not a show talking about the actual act of swapping wives by individuals. The Wife Swap show was one of the most trending reality TV shows in the 2000s that was aired on ABC TV.

This show focused on showcasing the better version of how different families treated their kin, especially the children. In this reality show, a mother who was ‘tidy’ was swapped with a messy family, and a religious mother was swapped with one who was not. This show had hundreds of viewers who wanted to follow up on the happenings.

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2. The Stockdale Family was Involved in the Wife Swap Show

People in a theatre waiting for a show. Author; Monica.

In 2008, the Stockdale family made up of Kathy (the mother), her husband Tim, and children, Calvin, Charles, Jacob, and James Stockdale were involved in Season 4 of the Wife Swap show. The Stockdale family was featured in episode 14 of this show.

Kathy, the mother of the children, was swapped with the matriarch of the Tonkovic family. The Tonkovic family also took part in the Wife Swap show season 4, episode 14.

3. Kathy and Her Husband Timothy were Strict with their Children

To feature in the Wife Swap show, a strict family and one that is not strict were selected for the swapping. The Stockdale family, Kathy, and Tim were so strict with their children’s upbringing.

Jacob, Charles, James, and Calvin had to follow several strict rules from their parents. They were made to work hard for them to get some favors and nice things in return from their parents. The Stockdale family was different from the Tonkovic family who was easy on their children.

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4. The Stockdale Parents Managed their Sons’ Media and Told Them not to Do Some Activities

Calvin, Charles, Jacob, and James Stockdale had to live under some strict rules from their parents. The boys’ media was managed by their parents in that they decided what they were supposed to watch.

For any son to earn a token redeemed later for activities like listening to the radio, they had to do specific house chores. The boys were not allowed to do activities like listening to rap or pop music, going on dates, and using curse words at home or anywhere they were.

5. The Stockdale had a Bluegrass Band which Kathy Posted Videos

This band was the featured entertainment at the Saturday morning Farmers’ Market at Crystal Spring Farm in Brunswick, ME. Author Paul VanDerWerf.

Kathy and Timothy made their family to be very religious in every way. The parents of the boys went ahead and formed a bluegrass band which they called the Stockdale family Band.

The band used to sing different songs and Kathy often posted their videos. However, as Charles and Calvin grew older, they decided to desert the band and moved out of their family home.

6. Jacob Shot and Killed his Mother and Younger Brother James

A photo depicting a murder. Image by PublicDomainPictures from

8 years after the Wife Swap show on ABC, the unexpected happened to the Stockdale family. On 15^th June 2017, there was a hang-up 911 call made to the Stark County police at 4:46 AM.

Police officers from the station responded to this call as they went straight to the Stockdale family house. As the officers were getting to the household, they saw a figure and later heard a gunshot which prompted them to call for backup.

The officers gained entry to the house and found out that Jacob had shot and killed his mother and younger brother. James’s body was near the front door while Kathy’s body was in the bathroom.

7. Jacob was Found with a Gunshot Wound on the Head but He Survived

As police officers made their way to the Stockdale family house, they discovered the dead bodies of James and Kathy who had been shot. The police also found Jacob lying on the floor with a gunshot wound that was on the head.

Jacob was bleeding profusely on the floor but was rushed to the hospital for emergency medical treatment. He survived the gunshot wound on the head and is still alive.

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8. The Wife Swap Murderer Pleaded Not Guilty because of Insanity

Penn State University, Dickinson School of Law. Author; Jeremy Hess.

There was no official motive released for the Wife Swap murders by Jacob. However, there were speculations from the swapped wife that Jacob lacked freedom which caught up with him. In October 2018, Jacob made full recovery and was charged with two murder counts.

Jacob pleaded not guilty on the grounds that he was insane during the time of the murders. He was sent to a mental facility where he was to be observed on his mental health status.

9. Jacob Attempted to Escape from the Mental Facility before the Trial

While at the mental facility, Jacob Stockdale tried to escape before he was taken to trial. In one event, he tried to blend in with a group of people who were leaving the facility. However, he was caught and returned back.

He had also made several attempts to flee, but the guards managed to catch him. Jacob Stockdale was never charged with any attempt to escape. The health facility workers got Jacob hiding behind the book stacks which also got them to believe he was planning to escape.

10. Jacob was Found to be Sane During the Murders and Handed Two 15-Years Sentences

Closeup of an inmate in transport restraints consisting of handcuffs with a black box handcuff cover and waist chains. Author; Rainerzufall1234.

At the mental facility, Jacob Stockdale was found to be sane during the incident of the Wife Swap murders. During the night of the murders, it is believed that Jacob was sane and he was trying to hide behind insanity claims to avoid tough punishment.

He later pleaded guilty to the murders of his mother and his younger brother. Jacob Stockdale was handed two 15-year jail sentences which he is currently serving.

The Wife Swap Murder came out as a huge lesson to families that the act of being strict with their children does not help. This act is making children lose their self-esteem and be people who are grounded and depressed for life.

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