WAUSAU, WI – The peace of a residential street on Wausau’s south side was shattered after an afternoon that began with a simple meal and ended with a shooting that has left a neighborhood searching for answers.
Police allege that 35-year-old Dustin Stinson shot and killed his housemate, Jacob Socha, following an emotionally charged argument inside their Lazy Creek Way home on September 14. What started as sandwiches shared between two longtime friends—both connected through a mutual acquaintance—turned quickly from an ordinary lunch to a tense exchange, ultimately erupting in violence.
According to investigators, tensions flared when Stinson threatened harm should anything happen to the woman they both knew. The dispute escalated, leading Stinson to retrieve Socha’s own handgun before returning to the heated conversation. As the argument reached its peak, the men’s foreheads reportedly touched in a moment of emotion and desperation. Socha is said to have told Stinson he loved him and tried to calm the situation.
Within seconds, the tragic scene unfolded. Stinson, by his account, found himself with the firearm pressed to Socha’s head as the two struggled. The gun fired. Authorities say what followed was a deliberate attempt by Stinson to disguise the fatal shooting as a suicide, arranging the weapon in Socha’s hand and swiftly leaving the residence.
Investigators say Stinson then removed his GPS monitoring device, a condition of his prior legal entanglements, before contacting a woman and admitting to the shooting. The woman promptly contacted law enforcement. Officers who responded to the home found Socha dead from a gunshot wound, the weapon positioned beside him.
A search launched soon after led to Stinson’s whereabouts less than a mile from the crime scene. Initially, he gave officers a false name, but ultimately admitted his identity and detailed fear as the motivation for lying.
While in custody, Stinson made a call to the same woman he had alerted about the shooting—an act prohibited by prior court instructions. During further questioning, authorities say Stinson openly confessed to the shooting, expressing remorse and indicating he was under the influence of drugs at the time.
Those who knew Socha describe a man remembered for his warm spirit and sense of humor. Family and friends have paid tribute to his kindness and devotion, noting especially the loss experienced by his fiancée.
Stinson now faces charges that include first-degree intentional homicide, illegal possession of a firearm, and interference with a monitoring device. He is being held in Marathon County Jail on a $1 million bond. If convicted, he could spend the rest of his life in prison.
As legal proceedings continue, the case has shaken a close-knit community and left many grappling with the abrupt loss of a life and the collapse of a long-standing friendship. Stinson’s next court appearance is scheduled for Wednesday as Marathon County prepares to confront the unfolding legal process.