Understanding the Pike County massacre
It바카라 게임 웹사이트s been dubbed as the largest murder investigation in Ohio. The murder of eight family members in a small community made national headlines.
The victims--Christopher Rhoden Sr., 40; Clarence "Frankie" Rhoden, 20; Dana Lynn Rhoden, 37; Gary Rhoden, 38; Hanna May Rhoden, 19; Hannah Gilley, 20; Kenneth Rhoden, 44; and Christopher Rhoden Jr., 16 were all shot and killed in or near their four homes.
Four members of an associated family, George 바카라 게임 웹사이트Billy바카라 게임 웹사이트 Wagner, his wife Angela, and their sons George, and Edward 바카라 게임 웹사이트Jake바카라 게임 웹사이트 Wagner have been charged with their murders.
All four Wagners face a slew of charges, including eight counts each of aggravated murder, as well as charges of conspiracy, tampering with evidence and aggravated burglary.
Other family members have also been charged with acts to cover up the crimes.
Discovery of the murders|
The bodies of the Rhoden family members were first discovered on the morning of April 22, 2016 by Bobby Jo Manley, the ex-sister of Chris Rhoden Sr.
Rhoden Sr. and his cousin, Gary, were found inside his trailer.
After finding the bodies, Manley and a friend, checked a nearby trailer and found Clarence Rhoden also known as 바카라 게임 웹사이트Frankie바카라 게임 웹사이트 and his fiancΓ©e, Hannah Gilley dead, their bodies riddled with bullets.
The children, Frankie바카라 게임 웹사이트s three-year-old son and Frankie and Hannah Gilley바카라 게임 웹사이트s baby who was likely nursing at the time, survived, though first responders said the baby was covered in blood.
Bobby바카라 게임 웹사이트s older brother James then found the bodies of their sister and Chris바카라 게임 웹사이트 ex-wife Dana and her children Chris Jr. and Hanna Rhoden.
Later that same day, another cousin, Donald Stone, found the brother of Chris Sr., Kenneth Rhoden, dead inside his trailer about 15 minutes away.
Hanna Rhoden's 2-year-old daughter with Jake바카라 게임 웹사이트s Wagner was staying at different location. She was also found unharmed.
As family and community members tried to grapple with the tragedy, investigators started pulling together resources.
"Everybody's just, you know, is it going to be solved? It's been a long time and there's been a lot of doubts," family friend, Sally McDaniel said.
(WATCH: Pike County prosecutor reads statement from Rhoden family after victims' funeral)
Murder Investigation|
Years went by with no formal arrests or major leads in the case. As police released conducted their preliminary investigation, details about a marijuana growing operation and cockfighting led the public to speculate about a possible cartel connection.
Family and community members grew weary about the length of the investigation, often making public pleas for information leading to the killers.
In June 2017, the Ohio Attorney General at the time, Mike DeWine, issued a public inquiry about four individuals George "Billy" Wagner III, 46; Angela Wagner, 46; George Wagner IV, 25; and Edward "Jake" Wagner, 24.
All four were former residents on Peterson Road in Peebles, Ohio, at the time of the murder and were believed to be residing in Alaska.
Following a 2018 Ohio Supreme Court decision, journalists were allowed to view preliminary autopsy and investigative notes, findings, and photographs.
Heavily redacted versions of the reports showed all but one of the victims were shot multiple times in the head. However, details about any other injuries and toxicology test results weren't released.
Nearly 2 Β½ years after the gruesome murders, the public saw a major break in the case.
The four members of the Wagner family were arrested in November 2018.
Investigators said the Wagner family, a long-time friend of the Rhodens, were embroiled in custody dispute over Hanna and Jake바카라 게임 웹사이트s then 2-year-old daughter.
(WATCH: Suspect in Rhoden murder arrested)
At the time, an attorney for the Wagner family said all four family members had provided laptops, phones and DNA samples to investigators, and agreed to be interviewed about the slayings. A short time later the family moved to Alaska.
The FBI tracked George 바카라 게임 웹사이트Billy바카라 게임 웹사이트 Wagner III, to Lexington, Kentucky. Local police said Wagner was driving a horse trailer that was pulled over off Georgetown Road, when he was arrested.
Police also arrested two additional family members.
Rita Newcomb, Angela Wagner바카라 게임 웹사이트s mother, was indicted on three counts of forgery, one count of obstructing justice and one count of perjury.
Fredericka Wagner, George 바카라 게임 웹사이트Billy바카라 게임 웹사이트 III바카라 게임 웹사이트s mother, was indicted on one count of obstructing justice and one count of perjury.
According to an indictment, both women lied to a grand jury.
The indictment also alleges that Newcomb forged a custody document 19 days before eight members of the Rhoden family were murdered.
According to documents, the Rhoden family said the Wagners tried to get Hanna to sign her parental rights over to Jake Wagner weeks before the massacre.
Charges were eventually dropped against Fredricka Wagner.
(WATCH: Hometown Tragedy: The Pike County Massacre)
For the next five years, members of the Wagner family continued to deny that they had any knowledge of why anyone had invaded the Rhodens바카라 게임 웹사이트 compound and killed them with silenced guns as they slept.
The confession|
On April 21, 2021, the fifth anniversary of murders, a status hearing in Pike County courtroom turned into a surprise plea deal in the killings.
AG DeWine stood at the Pike County courthouse steps with members of the Rhoden family and announced the youngest son, Jake Wagner, had agreed to a plea deal to avoid the death penalty.
According to court documents, Wagner agreed to a deal, pleading guilty to 23 counts including eight counts of aggravated murder for the massacre of the Rhoden family.
Jake also pleaded guilty to felony conspiracy, aggravated burglary, unlawful possession of a dangerous ordinance, tampering with evidence, forgery, unauthorized use of property, interception of wire and oral communications, obstruction of justice, and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity as well as unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, Hanna May Rhoden, who was 13 when their relationship began.
바카라 게임 웹사이트It바카라 게임 웹사이트s not anticipated that you will ever be released from prison," Judge Randy Deering asked Wagner. "Do you understand that?바카라 게임 웹사이트
Prosecutors said Jake Wagner's deal also includes an agreement that will allow Angela Wagner, George "Billy" Wagner, and George Wagner IV to avoid the death penalty, but that meant Jake would have to testify in each of their trials.
Following his confession, Jake바카라 게임 웹사이트s mother, Angela pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit aggravated murder, along with burglary, evidence tampering and other charges in September 2021.
In exchange for the plea, prosecutors dropped aggravated murder charges against her and recommended that she serve a 30-year prison sentence.
Prosecutors said Angela바카라 게임 웹사이트s agreement to testify against other remaining defendants was also part of the deal.
George 바카라 게임 웹사이트Billy바카라 게임 웹사이트 Wagner III and Jake's brother George Wagner IV, who are accused of participating in the homicides, maintain their innocence.
Due to a gag order, no one involved in the cases can speak to the press.
George Wagner IV trial|
The eldest son, George IV was the first up to trial. Jury members began hearing witness and expert testimony in Sept. 2022.
Wagner was indicted on 22 counts including eight counts of aggravated murder, four counts of aggravated burglary, three counts of tampering with evidence, one count of conspiracy, one count of unlawful possession of dangerous ordinance, one count of forgery, one count of unauthorized use of computer or telecommunications, one count of interception of wire, oral or electronic communications, one count of obstructing justice and one count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity.
Family members have testified Hanna Rhoden was scared of the 바카라 게임 웹사이트entire Wagner바카라 게임 웹사이트 family and that they were obsessed with taking custody of Hanna바카라 게임 웹사이트s child with Jake.
Witnesses at the trial described Jake as an older abusive boyfriend who tried to control Hanna.
"Was there any other observations you had of Jake Wagner that caused you not to like him?" Hamilton County Prosecutor Angela Canepa asked Rhoden바카라 게임 웹사이트s cousin, April Manley.
Another cousin, Kendra Rhoden, the daughter of victim Kenneth Rhoden, said Hanna had confided in her about the abuse.
"She (Hanna Rhoden) had not only told me but played audio recordings of Jake admitting to hitting her, choking her, pushing her against the wall,바카라 게임 웹사이트 Rhoden said.
Prosecutors at George IV바카라 게임 웹사이트s trial said the dispute over Hanna바카라 게임 웹사이트s and Jake바카라 게임 웹사이트s daughter was the motive behind the murders.
Prosecutors said the Wagner family planned the killings for months using guns with homemade silencers, allowing them to kill their victims as they slept.
Trial testimony also revealed some of the Wagner men attended the funerals for the Rhodens.
Video shows the men arriving at Gary Rhoden's funeral before they were considered suspects.
Trial testimony of special agent Ryan Scheiderer with the Ohio bureau of Criminal investigation provided the public with a lot answers about this case.
During his testimony, Scheiderer said early on investigators hoped a cell phone tower dump would point them in the right direction.
Investigators issued a search warrant to an undisclosed cell provider and ask for information about all of the devices that connected to a tower during a certain time frame.
"You can look for patterns, like this is the first time this device ever hit that tower. That would be suspect. That would be something we would want to investigate. The absence of a phone could be suspicious," Scheiderer said. "It works well in big cities because there's lots of towers, and you can kind of pinpoint things down. Unfortunately, here, every single person in Pike County was on those towers."
Scheiderer said another hurdle was all of the tips pouring in. Officers said they received more than 1,100 tips. Some were from psychics and prison and jail inmates.
"We had tips from the death of Prince, the artist, that came in. Those were tracked down and verified, and unfortunately, when you have a big case like this, people want to interject themselves into the investigation. In this case, it just seemed like it was a magnet for that," Scheiderer said.
Eventually, detectives started connecting the dots through cell phone records. They were also able to determine the last time the victims communicated with others.
Surveillance cameras from homes near the crime scenes showed two vehicles driving through the area in the early morning of April 22, 2016.
Scheiderer said they interviewed friends and family members of the Rhodens early on, and everyone except Jake Wagner voluntarily provided their phones.
Three weeks after the massacre, BCI agents interviewed Jake Wagner for the first time. Scheiderer said during the interview, his hair was a different color from his natural color.
During his trial testimony, Scheiderer did not mention anything that tied George Wagner to the murders of eight members of the Rhoden family.
Much of the trial testimony has centered on the motive behind the killings and how the Wagner family came up with the plan to take custody of Jake and Hanna's daughter.
Prosecutors have called a range of witnesses including George's ex-wife, Tabitha Claytor.
Jake's ex-wife Elizabeth "Beth Anne" Armer also testified against the Wagner family. Armer said she fled her short marriage to the younger Wagner out of fear.
During her testimony, Armer said she ultimately had a showdown with the family after Angela Wagner accused her of touching Jake's daughter, Sophia, inappropriately.
"He laid it out very clearly to me that if I had done it that the right thing to do would be to create Lucille, the baseball bat from 'The Walking Dead,' and string me up in the barn, beat me to death with the baseball bat, bulldoze the barn, burn it down and hunt down and kill my family," said Armer.
Armer says following that threat, she called a friend in Alaska to help her escape because she was afraid Jake was going to murder her.
Investigators also played a recorded interview with Angela Wagner, that was taken before she plead guilty to charges.
The prosecution is still calling witnesses as the trial moves into its fourth week of testimony.
Jake testifies at trial|
George's brother, Jake, took the stand on the 28th day, speaking for more than six hours.
Jake, who opted out of letting media outlets record what he said, explained that he was worried the fractured couple's young daughter may have been sexually assaulted.
At one point, Jake said, "I had decided 바카라 게임 웹사이트¦ I had no other choice than to kill Hanna."
But Jake testified he was not the one who initially felt that way, saying, "My father first mentioned it to me."
Jake said he initially 바카라 게임 웹사이트had a suggestion,바카라 게임 웹사이트 which was to kill Hanna and make it look like her then-boyfriend Corey Holdren 바카라 게임 웹사이트had done it바카라 게임 웹사이트 to make it look like a suicide.
According to Jake's testimony, it appears George never pulled a trigger on the night of the murders.
However, the younger Wagner said things were not supposed to end up how they did at least at the first crime scene where Chris Rhoden Sr. and his cousin, Gary Rhoden, died.
Jake testified George was in a "firing position" outside Chris Rhoden Sr.'s house. Jake said he "told him (George) to shoot, but he didn't," so Jake said he grabbed George's gun and began shooting.
At one point, Jake looked in the direction of the Rhoden family and mouthed the words, "I'm sorry." And on several occasions, he looked at George, who tended to keep his head down while avoiding eye contact.
Angela testifies at trial|
The 34th day of George Wagner's murder trial featured more troubling testimony that attorneys for the 31-year-old will have to contend with.
On the witness stand on Tuesday was Angela Wagner, George's mother.
When she entered the courtroom, Angela glanced briefly at George who kept his head down, despite it being the first time he's seen his mother in person since they were both arrested four years ago. That's when police charged George and Angela, her husband Billy Wagner, and their other son Jake Wagner with killing eight members of the Rhoden family in April 2016.
Angela and Jake confessed last year.
The child at the center of the dispute, Hanna Rhoden바카라 게임 웹사이트s daughter, Sophia, is currently in the custody of the Scioto County Children Services.
The verdict|
After more than two and a half months of testimony, the jury took less than eight hours to reach a verdict.
George Wagner IV was found guilty of all charges including eight counts of aggravated murder.
Wagner's demeanor in court was described as stoic as the verdict was read aloud in the courtroom.
Members of the Rhoden family could be seen crying and hugging each other after the verdict was announced.
The victims' cousin Tony Rhoden Sr. spoke after the trial, thanking Pike County community members for standing by his family through this tragedy.
Ohio leaders commented on the trial's outcome, praising the work of criminal investigators.
The Sentence
George Wagner IV has been sentenced to life in prison without parole after he was found guilty of murder in the Pike County Massacre trial.
Judge Randy Deering sentenced Wagner IV to life in prison without parole on all eight counts of aggravated murder for each victim in the Pike County killings.
He was also sentenced on counts of conspiracy, aggravated burglary, tampering with evidence. Those sentences ranged from 10 months to eight years.
Full sentencing in video player below
Wagner IV was also sentenced to 81 years on firearms specifications, to be served consecutively to his prison sentence on his charges.
바카라 게임 웹사이트No sentence would right the wrong that has been inflicted on the victims and their families, Judge Deering said before delivering the sentence.
His sentencing comes weeks after a jury found him guilty of the murder of eight members of the Rhoden family in April of 2016.
Wagner was convicted on 22 counts, including eight counts of aggravated murder.
The verdict came less than eight hours of deliberations, ending a nearly three month long trial.
Attorneys for Wagner IV also filed a motion for a new trial, which Judge Randy Deering denied Monday.
Wagner IV is also required to enroll in the violent offender database.
Wagner IV did not make a statement during his sentencing hearing and remained very stoic with his eyes closed at times as statements and sentencing were read.
Special Prosecutor Angela Canepa spoke during the hearing, saying Wagner IV "does not deserve mercy."
Family members of the Rhoden family also spoke during the sentencing hearing.
"To you, Hannah was just collateral damage in your sick and twisted plan," a Pike County바카라 게임 웹사이트s victim바카라 게임 웹사이트s advocate said while reading a letter from the aunt of victim, Hannah Hazel Gilley.
"My baby girl I miss you beyond words. Another life taken too soon, but will never be forgotten," the mother of victim, Hannah Hazel Gilley, Andrea Shoemaker said in court.
'Good won today': Prosecutors speak after George Wagner IV found guilty in Pike County killings
"I pray for you not to live. I want you to die. Just like you and your evil family did my baby girl," Shoemaker said.
"They say eight lives were taken that day but many more lives were stolen," Kendra Rhoden, the daughter of victim Kenneth Rhoden, said in court. She ended her statement by saying, 바카라 게임 웹사이트I hope you burn in hell, George.바카라 게임 웹사이트
"I hope you feel the loneliness and emptiness we feel for the rest of your life," April Manley, the sister in law of Dana Rhoden, said in court. "I hope when you go to sleep at night you see those 8 faces and they haunt you for the rest of your life."
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine issued a statement after Wagner's sentencing:
"George Wagner IV will never live another day outside of prison - a sentence that바카라 게임 웹사이트s another step toward justice for the Rhodens, Gilleys, & Manleys. I spoke with family members this morning, commending them for their courage & their patience as they waited 6+ years for this day."
George "Billy" Wagner's trial|
The start of Billy Wagner's murder trial in connection with the 2016 murders of eight members of the Rhoden family in Pike Co. is scheduled to start in early 2025.
Presiding Judge Jonathan Hein granted Wagner's request for a change of venue, which prosecutors opposed.
"The Court finds that the intense scope of media coverage in this case - and other closely related cases - was so pervasive that prejudice is presumed. The small population of Pike County and the intense media coverage leads the Court to conclude that no jury could truthfully answer that they have no prior knowledge of the horrendous facts of this case," the ruling states.
Hein added that until a new venue is specified all pleadings filed and proceedings will be held in Pike County.
"The Court finds that making the venue decision well in advance of trial reduces delay and reduces implicit bias. Such benefits serve the State, the Defendant, the victims and the judicial process," the ruling states.
A pre-trial hearing for Wagner got tense when the possibility of the death penalty being taken off the table was brought up.
Hein said during the hearing that he planned to remove the possibility of the death penalty.
Prosecutor Angie Canepa argued Hein had no legal basis to get rid of the death penalty specification since there's no motion requesting such a move from the State of Ohio.
"We have got the testimony, sworn testimony of his two co-defendants that he participated in personally killed three people," Canepa said, referring to Wagner's son, Jake, and wife, Angela. "Why are you trying to sabotage this case?"
"I'm not," Hein said.
"No. Yes, you absolutely are," Canepa said.
The state filed its opposition to the dismissal of the death penalty specifications, claiming that Hein is "overreaching and knowingly tipping the scales unfairly in favor of" Billy Wagner.
3 Wagner family members sentenced
Three members of the Wagner family have learned their sentences for their roles in the Pike County massacre case.
Angela Wagner, her mother, Rita Newcomb, and her son, Jake Wagner, were sentenced Friday.
They all took plea deals in the case.
During her sentencing, Rita Newcomb said, 바카라 게임 웹사이트I바카라 게임 웹사이트m sorry.바카라 게임 웹사이트 She testified for the State during the murder trial of her grandson, George Wagner Jr.
Newcomb was sentenced to 90 days in jail on an obstruction of official business charge, with 83 days suspended. Newcomb served her seven days already. She has also been ordered to be placed on probation for five years and pay a $750 fine, plus court costs. If she violates probation, she will be taken to jail. Newcomb's other charges were dismissed.
Angela Wagner spoke ahead of her sentencing, saying she knows the pain the Rhodens feel must be 바카라 게임 웹사이트unbearable.바카라 게임 웹사이트 She cited her personal brokenness for letting her get swept up in the murderous scheme.
Angela was sentenced to the mutually agreed upon sentence of 30 years with 2,244 days for time served. She must register as a violent offender for 10 years when released.
"You are the only person that could've stopped the whole thing with one phone call. All you had to do was call in, stop the whole thing. The depravity was that you didn't see the moral need to shut the whole thing down. Clearly, any decent human being could have done that little bit to save so much," Judge Jonathan Hein said during Angela's sentencing.
Jake was the only one to plead guilty to murder to get the death penalty thrown out.
Jake addressed members of the Rhoden family ahead of his sentencing.
"There's nothing I can do to ease the pain you have, loss, anger, hate," he said.
Several members of the Rhoden family walked out as he spoke.
Jake said he바카라 게임 웹사이트s not asking for forgiveness, but said 바카라 게임 웹사이트hate will not hear your heart,바카라 게임 웹사이트 saying "Jesus made him get caught."
Jake was sentenced to eight life sentences. Judge Hein surprised the court by giving Jake the opportunity for parole because he cooperated with investigators. If released, he was also ordered to register as a violent offender and sex offender.
Andrea Shoemaker, the mother of murder victim Hannah Gilley, blasted Rita Newcomb, Angela Wagner and Jake Wagner during the sentencing hearing.
"You are the evilest mother to plan, carry out and take the lives of three other mothers," Shoemaker said, directing her comment to Angela.
She also addressed Jake and Rita, telling them they ruined her life and innocent children's lives.
"It's a heartache that never goes away," Shoemaker said.
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