12/19/2025
Hey Spooky Squad! Welcome back to another episode of Scream and Sugar, your true crime coffee hour. Today, we’re unpacking a case that shocked reality TV audiences and true crime fans alike—the brutal murders tied to the Wife Swap family that once appeared wholesome on screen.
In 2017, Jacob Stockdale murdered his mother and brother in rural Ohio, years after his family had been featured on the hit reality show Wife Swap. What initially looked like an isolated act of violence soon raised deeper questions about religious extremism, control, abuse, and what was really happening behind the cameras.
As details emerged, many began to reexamine the family’s past, the warning signs that were missed, and the disturbing dynamics that may have led to this tragedy. Was this simply a sudden act of violence—or the inevitable outcome of years of psychological damage hidden beneath a carefully curated image?
In this episode, we explore the murders, the trial, and the unsettling reality of how darkness can thrive even in plain sight.
Grab your coffee and your curiosity, and remember to stay spooky, y’all!
Case Notes:
https://www.dutchbros.com/
https://www.hulu.com/series/wife-swap-9569e2c9-2ae6-4b82-a3aa-65ce80775248
Stockdale Family Band Music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEmqBw1X9Jw (we do not have ownership of this music, but are using it to enhance the understanding of the case!)
Tags
murderpodcast ohiocrime realcrime realitytvcrime reallifehorror religiousextremism screamandsugarpodcast shockingcrimes stayspooky stockdalefamily stockdalemurders truecrimecommunity truecrimepodcast truecrimestories wifeswapmurder
