Jacob Stockdale of Stockdale Family Band Pleads Insanity In Killing of Mother and Brother
Jacob Stockdale, formerly of the Stockdale Family Bluegrass Band, entered a plea of insanity in the killing of his mother and brother in a Stark County, Ohio courtroom Thursday morning (1-17) after being formerly charged with murder in the case in late September, 2018, and turning himself into authorities. It was also revealed that a grand jury has concluded that the death penalty was not applicable in the case. Stockdale’s attorney argued that his client may not be mentally competent to stand trial, and requested the court appoint a doctor to evaluate Stockdale’s mental state.
Jacob Stockdale was a member of the Stockdale Family Bluegrass Band that played regionally around Ohio, and was featured on the ABC reality television show Wife Swap in 2008. On June 15th, 2017 Jacob Stockdale allegedly killed his mother, Kathryn Stockdale (54), and his younger brother, James Stockdale (21) at the family’s home in Stark County, Ohio.
As officers arrived at the residence due to a 911 hang up call, officers say they heard a shot ring out, and found Jacob Stockdale just inside the door in with a self-inflicted gunshot wound and a shotgun nearby. They later discovered the mother and brother dead. The father, Timothy Stockdale, was not at home at the time of the incident, and the oldest brother, Calvin Stockdale, was not living at home at the time.
After receiving extensive medical treatment over the last 18 months, Jacob Stockdale can now walk and communicate. Prosecutors waited until he was able to make appearances in court before formally charging him in the double murder. Jacob Stockdale initially plead not guilty to the charges. Still no motive in the killings has been presented by prosecutors in the case. If convicted, Jacob Stockdale could face 15 years to life in prison for each of the charges.
READ: God, Family, Bluegrass & Murder: Inside the Stockdale Family Band
January 17, 2019 @ 1:05 pm
if the insanity plea holds up, it is likely that Stockdale will end up in a mental health facility for most of, if not all of, the rest of his life.
January 18, 2019 @ 9:05 pm
Insanity pleas rarely work. There’s no reason to think it would be likely to work here.
Stockdale probably has a better chance at claiming incompetence to stand trial due to the damage he sustained from shooting himself than from “insanity.” (There’s no indication here of whether he suffered brain damage–or even where in his body the bullet went.)
June 18, 2019 @ 8:05 am
pretty clear in the picture where the bullet went
January 17, 2019 @ 1:08 pm
If he ate mustard on his biscuits in that tv show then there was a warning.
January 17, 2019 @ 8:17 pm
*formally charged
January 17, 2019 @ 9:19 pm
Gee, I miss the days when a good-looking, white middle-American youth, part of a family music band, massacring his mother and brother, would have been national news.
I never heard of this, and Google suggests that the only people covering it are People Magazine on-line and Saving Country Music.
January 21, 2019 @ 10:18 am
This has all the makings of a great country song. Let’s see who writes it.
June 18, 2019 @ 10:20 pm
In the episode of wife swap his disregard for animal life was degusting and a large indication he was violent and the out come although unfortunate isn’t a surprise
December 28, 2020 @ 4:01 pm
For those of you who are looking from the outside in, I knew him from way back then and he wasn’t a violent guy. He was a very sweet and calm and loving and talented musician. It is sad. My heart goes out to the Stockdale family.
December 14, 2023 @ 10:09 pm
I attended a couple of the Ohio State fiddler competitions and Jacob won one year and placed in the top 3 another. He was very talented. I’ve prayed for him over the years as well as for his family.