This tragic event unfolded in April 2016, when eight members of the Rhoden family were brutally executed in a meticulously planned attack.
The murders exposed a chilling tale of premeditation, family feuds, and obsession.
The criminal investigation, described as one of the most complex in Ohio’s history, spanned multiple years, uncovering the horrifying truth behind the killings.
Let's get into it.
Background of the case
The Rhoden Family
The Rhoden family resided in Pike County, Ohio, where they were well-known in their community.
On April 22, 2016, their world came crashing down.
Eight family members, ranging in age from 16 to 44, were found brutally murdered across four separate homes in Pike County.
They were all shot execution-style while asleep.
The victims were: Christopher Rhoden Sr. (40), Dana Rhoden (37), Gary Rhoden (38), Kenneth Rhoden (44), Hannah Gilley (20), Christopher Rhoden Jr, (16), Clarence "Frankie" Rhoden (20), and Hannah Mae Rhoden (19).
Miraculously, three young children, including a newborn, were left unharmed at the crime scenes.
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| The victims |
The Wagner Family
The Wagner family was another prominent household in Pike County, living not far from the Rhodens.
Billy Wagner, 47, was the head of the family and a known figure in the community.
He was married to Angela Wagner, 48, and they had two adult sons, George Wagner IV (29), and Jake Wagner(26).
According to Wikipedia, Jake Wagner, the son of the Wagners, was previously in a romantic relationship with Hannah Mae Rhoden, one of the victims.
Together, they shared a beautiful daughter called Sophia.
However, the couple’s relationship reportedly turned sour after a bitter custody battle over Sophia.
Jake was described as wanting full custody of Sophia, but Hannah refused to relinquish her parental rights.
She reportedly confided in friends and family about the pressure she faced from Jake and his family.
According to BBC, these disputes escalated into outright hostility, with Angela Wagner allegedly encouraging Jake to assert dominance.
Tragically, this hostility set the stage for the ultimate betrayal that led to the brutal killings.
The Pike County Massacre: The Events Of April 2016
When the Wagner family realized they wouldn't get custody of Sophia, they chose to kill Hannah and any member of the Rhoden family who happened to be in their way, as reported by CBS News.
On the night of April 21, 2016, into the early hours of April 22, a carefully planned and coordinated attack unfolded across four separate properties in Pike County, Ohio.
The Rhoden family, unsuspecting and in their homes, became the target of one of the most brutal massacres in Ohio’s history.
The Wagners approached the first property, the trailer of Christopher Rhoden Sr., under the cover of darkness.
Armed with silenced firearms to avoid alerting neighbors, they entered the home and shot him multiple times, killing him instantly.
Criminal investigators later noted that the shots were precise, targeting critical areas to ensure no chance of survival
In the same trailer, Gary Rhoden, Christopher’s brother, was also executed.
He, too, was shot at close range in a manner suggesting the killers wanted to leave no survivors.
From there, the killers moved to the second property, where Dana Rhoden, Christopher Sr.'s ex-wife, was residing with two of their children, Hannah Mae Rhoden and Christopher Rhoden Jr..
Dana was shot multiple times while she was asleep, and Hannah Mae, who was 19 and a young mother, was also shot while in her bed.
Her newborn baby, just four days old, was found unharmed beside her, suggesting that the killers had spared the infant intentionally.
The third sibling, Christopher Jr., was shot and killed in another room of the trailer.
His injuries showed that he had little to no time to react or defend himself.
The attackers then made their way to the third property, where Kenneth Rhoden, Christopher Sr.'s brother, was sleeping.
He was fatally shot in the head in an execution-style killing.
The fourth and final property was the home of Frankie Rhoden, Christopher Sr.'s son, and his fiancée, Hannah Gilley.
Frankie and Hannah had been sharing their home with their two young children at the time.
Frankie and Hannah were both shot as they slept, but thankfully, their two children were unharmed.
The precision of the murders across all four crime scenes showed an extraordinary level of premeditation
By the time the massacre was complete, eight members of the Rhoden family had been brutally executed, leaving behind a trail of devastation that would shock the nation.
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| One of the crime scenes |
The Criminal Investigation: How Were The Wagners Apprehended?
After the murders, detectives began an extensive investigation into the Rhoden family killings.
Law enforcement in Ohio quickly focused on the possibility that the killings were premeditated, given the methodical execution of the victims and the fact that several family members were targeted at once.
During preliminary investigations, detectives discovered that the Rhoden family lived on a marijuana farm, which initially led them to suspect that the murders were drug-related.
However, after a thorough investigation, including interviews with neighbors, this theory was ruled out.
After authorities uncovered numerous connections between the Rhoden family and the Wagner family, they shifted their focus to the Wagners.
Despite multiple interviews with the Wagners, nothing concrete pointed to them at first.
However, further investigation by forensic experts revealed one key evidence.
Cell phone records showed that one of the Wagner family members was near the crime scene on the night of the murders.
This led to a deeper investigation into their movements and communications in the days leading up to the killings.
In 2018, two years after the murders, criminal investigators gathered enough evidence to make arrests.
They arrested George Wagner IV, along with his father, George "Billy" Wagner III, and his brother, Jake Wagner.
Law enforcement officials in Ohio also arrested Angela Wagner, George's wife, who had been involved in planning the murders.
The Wagner family was charged with multiple counts of murder, conspiracy, and aggravated burglary.
They were held without bond in the Scioto County Jail as they awaited trial.
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| One of the crime scenes |
Justice For The Rhoden Family
The trial of the Wagner family was a high-profile case, marked by intense media coverage, as the public watched closely.
The prosecution, led by Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine and Pike County Prosecutor Rob Junk, outlined a thorough case against the defendants,
These two top-rated lawyers in Ohio focused on the Wagners' motives, methods, and ties to the victims.
During the early stages of the legal process, the defense team attempted to challenge the evidence and delay proceedings, citing concerns about the fairness of the trial.
However, the prosecution presented significant pieces of evidence, including cell phone records, DNA, and ballistics reports, all tying the Wagners to the crime scene.
Ultimately, the Wagners, who had initially pleaded not guilty to all charges, later reached plea agreements, resulting in different sentences for each of them.:
1) Jake Wagner: In 2022, Jake Wagner, the youngest of the Wagner family, pleaded guilty to all eight counts of aggravated murder and other related charges.
As part of a plea deal, he was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole in 32 years, avoiding the death penalty.
In exchange for his plea, he agreed to testify against his family members.
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| Jake Wagner |
2) George Wagner IV: George Wagner IV, the eldest son, was charged with the same crimes as his brother, including eight counts of aggravated murder. He denied the charges and initially planned to go to trial.
However, in 2023, he ultimately pleaded guilty to the murders and was sentenced to 8 consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole.
His decision to plead guilty came after Jake Wagner's confession and the mounting evidence against him.
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| George Wagner IV |
In 2022, she reached a plea agreement, where she pleaded guilty to several charges in exchange for a reduced sentence.
Angela Wagner was sentenced to 30 years in prison without the possibility of parole.
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| Angela Wagner |
He was charged with eight counts of aggravated murder and other offenses.
He is currently awaiting trial for his alleged role in the Rhoden family murders. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges
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| George Wagner III |
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