Nearly Two Decades Later, the Murder of Cassie Jo Stoddart by ‘The Scream Killers’ Still Haunts Idaho
Pocatello, Idaho —
Nearly twenty years have passed since the tragic death of 16-year-old Cassie Jo Stoddart, a high school junior whose life was brutally ended by two of her classmates in a crime that horrified the nation and became known as the “Scream Killers” case.
On the evening of September 22, 2006, Cassie was housesitting for relatives in a quiet Bannock County neighborhood. What seemed like an ordinary night soon turned into a real-life horror story, eerily resembling scenes from the popular Scream movie franchise.
Two of her classmates, Brian Draper and Torey Adamcik, had meticulously planned her murder — stalking her, disabling the home’s power, and ultimately stabbing her to death in a calculated and cold-blooded attack.
Authorities later revealed that Draper and Adamcik were obsessed with horror films and had documented their plans to kill Cassie — and possibly others — in disturbing video diaries discovered after their arrests. In these tapes, the teenagers expressed their intent to commit murder for the thrill of it, viewing Cassie as a “practice run” for even larger ambitions.
Both Draper and Adamcik were convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Their trials and subsequent sentencing sparked intense debate about juvenile justice, the influence of media violence, and the warning signs of sociopathic behavior in teenagers.
Cassie’s family, still mourning their irreplaceable loss nearly two decades later, has dedicated themselves to honoring her memory. They describe Cassie as a vibrant, kind-hearted young woman who loved animals, art, and spending time with her friends and family.
“She was a good girl — she did everything right,” said her mother, Anna Stoddart, during one of many interviews over the years. “She trusted people she should have been able to trust. And they betrayed her in the worst possible way.”
In the years since Cassie’s death, her case has continued to resonate in true crime circles, inspiring numerous documentaries, podcasts, and television specials. Yet for those closest to her, the media attention is a double-edged sword — keeping her memory alive, but also reopening wounds that may never fully heal.
The community of Pocatello has also taken steps to ensure Cassie’s life is remembered for more than just the horrific way it ended. Local vigils, scholarship funds, and school programs dedicated to kindness and violence prevention have been established in her honor.
This somber anniversary serves as a painful reminder of a life taken too soon and the darkness that can sometimes lurk behind familiar faces. Cassie Jo Stoddart’s legacy endures — not only as a victim but as a symbol of resilience, community healing, and the ongoing need for vigilance in protecting the young and vulnerable.
As one former classmate put it:
“Cassie was light. They tried to destroy it. But her light still shines in all of us who remember her.”