Jacob Stockdale pictured on his family’s website.
A deeply religious family that was featured on Wife Swap is now at the center of a double murder investigation in Ohio. On June 15, police say that Jacob Stockdale, 25, shot-and-killed his mother, Kathryn, 54, and his brother James, 21. The three all lived together in the family home in Beach City, Ohio, about 40 miles south of Akron.
Authorities says Jacob then tried to turn the gun, a shotgun, on himself but his suicide attempt failed. He is an unknown condition at Cleveland’s MetroHealth Medical Center. The family was featured on ABC’s Wife Swap in 2008. They were described as, “The Stockdales are devoutly religious, and have banned TV and video games believing it’s their moral responsibility to censor all that their kids watch and listen to.”
The suspect and the victim were in a family band that played bluegrass music known simply as the Stockdale Family Band.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. The Family Patriarch Has Said He Didn’t Know of Family Issues Prior to the Shooting
The Canton Repository reports that Stockdale patriarch, Tim, is co-operating with the investigation. Stark County Sheriff George Maier told the media that Tim “indicated no issues leading up to” the shooting. Maier said that no motive is known yet. Due to Jacob’s hospitalization, investigators have been unable to speak with him. The sheriff said, “It’s hard to surmise what the motive may have been. There’s some speculation.”
Tim Stockdale was not home at the time of the shootings. He paid tribute to his wife, via the Canton Rep, saying:
Kathy has been my beloved wife of 32 years and a wonderful mother to our four sons. She loved nothing more than being a mother and grandmother. She had a strong love of learning and was passionate about her Christian faith, natural health, and organic farming.
The Canton Rep reports that Jacob is still listed as critical. It’s unknown if the shotgun used belonged to him.
2. The Family Band Had a Full Summer of Concert Dates Booked
The family’s bluegrass band had a whole summer of concert dates booked. Two days before the shooting, on June 13, the family performed at the Wild Cat Ranch in Navarre, Ohio. Kathryn Stockdale was the band’s manager and was responsible for booking dates.
The Stockdale Family Band aspires to share “bluegrass north of the Mason-Dixon line.” The group was made up of Tim, Jacob and James Stockdale along with family friend, Joe Steiner. Previously, the elder Stockdale boys, Calvin and Charles, were in the band but left after they moved out of the area. The family was the house band for the Amish Country Theater. In 2014, the Stockdale Family Band won the “Heights’ Got Talent” competition.
It was the brothers Jacob and James who released an album together in 2015 titled Farm Fresh. While in 2016, the pair performed together with the Tuscarawas Philharmonic during their Classic Country Concert.
3. During the Family’s Time on Wife Swap, the Sons Had to Earn Tokens to Listen to the Radio
The family was depicted as being strict and religious while on Wife Swap. Television and video games were both banned. The sons had to do chores for which they were rewarded tokens, with those tokens the boys were allowed to listen to the radio.
James said during his time on the show, “I don’t think my parents would allow me to listen to pop.” While another brother said that he had never kissed a girl. While Kathryn said, “We do not allow any cussing. I think that dating has physical dangers like pregnancy. It’s not worth it.” The show demonstrated that the boys were all home schooled.
The Stockdale were swapped with the Tonkovic family whose mother was described as “a liberal, modern woman who lets her children do as they like and prefers to be their friend.”
Laurie Tonkovic later told the Rockford Register that she felt her family was unfairly portrayed on the show.
4. In 2012, Jacob Won the State of Ohio Grand Fiddle Championship
Jacob’s section of the family website lists of his achievements in the world of fiddle playing. Most notably, in 2012, Jacob won the State of Ohio Grand Fiddle Championship. Jacob began by playing classical violin while growing up on the family farm in eastern Ohio.
Jacob learned the style of old world fiddle playing from three-time Ohio Fiddle Championships winner, Adam Jackson, when Jacob was 14 years old.
5. James Stockdale Played Upright Bass in the Family Band
According to the family’s website, James “handles the upright bass with ease and finesse. Sharing front man duties.” Touchingly, the bio adds, “He is the one with the sparkle in his eye that can create excitement when he wants to on stage or off.” His favorite past time is given as “talking… listeners are optional.”
Calvin Stockdale issued a statement, via the Canton Rep, paying tribute to James saying:
James, our youngest brother, has always been a catalyst of family fun. Aside from being a gifted musician, James enjoyed dancing and had an innate love of people.
James was working on a business degree and hoped to go into the business side of entertainment. He leaves behind many friends and a family that love him dearly.
KARE reports that James was a business student at Kent State University. Family spokesman Micah Derry told Heavy.com that James hoped to work on the business side of the family’s music.
