COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Tuesday marked nine years since eight family members were found dead across multiple Pike County homes, setting off one of the largest murder investigations in Ohio's history.
On the night of April 21, 2016, into the early morning of the next day, eight people were shot to death across four mobile homes in Pike County. The victims were discovered during the morning and afternoon of April 22, when two family members discovered two separate crime scenes then called 911.
Among the victims were Christopher Rhoden Sr., 40; his ex-wife, Dana Rhoden, 37; and their three children Hanna Rhoden, 19; Clarence “Frankie” Rhoden, 20; and Christopher Rhoden Jr., 16. Frankie Rhoden’s fiancée, Hannah Gilley, 20; Christopher Rhoden Sr.’s brother, Kenneth Rhoden, 44; and the brothers' cousin, Gary Rhoden, 38, were also killed. A young child and two infants were at the various crime scenes during the slayings, but were all spared.
After an over two-year investigation, four members of a family with ties to the Rhodens were charged with their murders in 2018. George “Billy” Wagner, 47 years old at the time; his wife Angela Wagner, 48; and their sons George Wagner IV, 27, and Edward “Jake” Wagner, 26, were arrested.
Jake Wagner previously had a relationship with Hanna Rhoden, and the pair had a daughter who was a toddler at the time. Prosecutors have stated the motive for the murders was a custody dispute over the child.
Where do court proceedings stand?
Billy Wagner, who is facing 22 charges, including eight counts of aggravated murder, is the only family member still awaiting a trial. His court case was set to start on Jan. 6 but has been pushed back for an unknown amount of time. The delay came after a judge granted a motion to move the trial out of Pike County in November. A judge also took the death penalty off the table in November, citing concerns that handling litigation surrounding capital punishment could further delay the trial. Billy Wagner faces up to life in prison.
George Wagner IV was convicted of 22 charges, including eight counts of aggravated murder, after a three-month trial in 2022. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Ohio college presidents among signatories against Trump administration ‘overreach’Last week, George Wagner IV’s attorney pushed for a new trial in a Chillicothe state appeals court. His attorney argued there were multiple mistakes made in the trial, alleging two jurors had personal connections to the victims. Judges with the appeals court will typically come to a decision within six months.
In April 2021, Jake Wagner pleaded guilty to eight counts of aggravated murder and 15 other charges including felony conspiracy, aggravated burglary and tampering with evidence. He switched his plea from not guilty as part of a plea deal where he agreed to testify against his family members to avoid the death penalty. In January, Jake Wagner was sentenced to life in prison with the chance of parole after 32 years.
In September 2021, Angela Wagner also took a plea deal after originally pleading not guilty, agreeing to testify against her family members. She pleaded guilty to 14 charges, including conspiracy to commit aggravated murder, aggravated burglary and tampering with evidence. In return, prosecutors dismissed eight counts of aggravated murder and agreed to not seek the death penalty. In January, Angela Wagner was sentenced to 30 years in prison.
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