The TV show followers were shocked to find out about the Wife Swap murders. Both mother and son were killed by another member of the family: their son and brother. The murder happened nine years after the notable episode aired on television.
Wife Swap and The Stockdale Family Murders
Wife Swap’s season 4 aired in 2008, which had Jacob Stockdale featured in his teens. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison for murdering his family. He killed his mother and his youngest brother nine years after the family came on the show.
In the 2000s, anyone who followed reality TV would have heard about the show. The show aimed to provide families exposure to different opposing lifestyles and views. To give an idea, if the mother preferred neatness and tidiness then she would be sent to a very careless and untidy family.
Similarly, if the contestant was religious, then that contestant would be sent to live with someone who is not so religious. The show certainly promoted and taught tolerance.
The Stockdale family was featured in the show in 2008 and was one of those families who are rooted as religious. Viewers and followers of the show never in a hundred years could have thought the same religious family would be featured on television again.
Wife Swap: The Premise
The premise of the show as mentioned above was simple: wives would go to each other’s families for two weeks. The first week would see the wife living under the rules of the house while the second week would see the wife implement her own rules in the house.
This was done in the hope that each family would learn and gain something from the other family, which they couldn’t before under normal circumstances.
The Stockdale Family Swapping with the Tonkovic Family
The Stockdale family, as shown in the show, lived and preferred seclusion and isolation. Kathy, the wife of the house, insisted that in order to block out any negative influences of society on her boys, would need to be isolated and protected.
The Tonkovic family was poised as a family that was laid-back. Laurie, is the wife of the house, as opposed to the rules and regulations of the Stockdale family.
In their episode, the matriarchs switched places. Kathy switched with Laurie meaning the liberal with the opposed. Laurie was seen to be severely shocked by the treatment of the boys which was highlighted several times in the show.
The Stockdale family rules specifically dictated that they desired their boys to forego rap music, violent language, and sexual influences for house chores. The boys can process chickens for example and do other house chores in exchange for tokens.
These tokens would earn the boys special privileges such as radio privileges and sticks of gum to enjoy etc.
The Stockdale Family Band
The Stockdale family had their own band which was pretty popular. Kathy, the mother, frequently posted videos of her family jamming and performing. The band turned out to be successful and was quite busy. 2017 saw them booked throughout the summer.
Kathy was the manager, of course. She had done her job of keeping the band occupied.
As the band progressed and the family grew in age, Calvin and Charles moved out of the house and left the family band.
The Murder Night
The police received a 911 call from a home, which they had never visited before.
It was 15th June 2017 when Stark County police received the call. The time was 4:36 p.m. The caller hung up the phone, which resulted in deputies heading over to the source of the call.
When they headed over to the location of the call, they found the main door of the house open. Upon seeing a figure inside the residence, they proceeded on to the house inside. This is when they heard a gunshot.
Kathy was found shot along with her younger son, James. Both were killed by Jacob. James was 21 years old at the time.
Jacob shot himself too but barely survived.
Kathryn was found in a bathroom upstairs and the figure seen before was that of James.
Events After the Murder
There is only speculation and no true proven motive for the shootings. It is believed that a .20-gauge shotgun was used to shoot both the family members and then the killer on himself.
As Jacob was barely alive after shooting himself, the indictment process took its due time. He was in the hospital recovering from his injuries and receiving medical treatment.
He was arrested in September 2018 for murdering his mother and brother. This was exactly after a year of the shootings. The charge was of two counts of murder.
Jacob entered his plea as not guilty.
Post-arrest and Charges
Jacob attended a hearing with his attorney at the start of the next year. He underwent a psychological evaluation and was hospitalized again in May after being deemed not mentally competent or stable to stand trial.
Timothy Stockdale was not at home at the time of the shooting. He participates in every hearing of the trial.
After the trial, Jacob Stockdale was sentenced to 30 years in prison for wife swap murders.
Statements from Calvin Stockdale and Laurie Tonkovic and Timothy
The oldest brother who had moved out of the house and was not present at the time of the shooting, Calvin Stockdale gave this statement shortly after the events of the wife swap murders were carried out:
“James, our youngest brother, has always been a catalyst of family fun. He leaves behind many friends and a family that loved him dearly. My brother, Jacob, is still in critical condition and we are praying for his physical recovery as our family makes funeral plans and begins the healing process.”
Citing his lack of free will finally catching up to Jacob, Laurie Tonkovic, the wife who swapped with the family had this to say:
“When I switched the rules and I was going to let them have fun, let them have a television and video games, and experience life a little bit, [Jacob] ran outside crying. And when I went out after him, I asked him what was wrong, and he said that his mom and dad would tell him that he would ‘burn in hell.’ God gives you free will – free will, they didn’t have. They weren’t allowed to make choices. I think it just caught up to him.”
Timothy Stockdale said:
“She [Kathryn] had a strong love of learning and was passionate about her Christian faith, natural health, and organic farming.”
