It’s 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 “Billy” Wagner, his wife Angela, and their sons George, and Edward “Jake” 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 “Frankie” and his fiancée, Hannah Gilley dead, their bodies riddled with bullets.The children, Frankie’s three-year-old son and Frankie and Hannah Gilley’s baby who was likely nursing at the time, survived, though first responders said the baby was covered in blood.Bobby’s older brother James then found the bodies of their sister and Chris’ 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 Jake’s 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 allowing journalists 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, but details about any other injuries and toxicology test results weren't released.Nearly 2 ½ years after the gruesome killing of the eight family members, the public saw a major break in the case.The four members of the Wagner family were arrested in November 2018.Investigators said the family, a long-time friend of the Rhodens, were embroiled in custody dispute over Hanna and Jake’s then 2-year-old daughter.(WATCH: Suspect in Rhoden murder arrested)An attorney for the Wagner family said a year ago that four family members had provided laptops, phones and DNA samples to investigators, and agreed to be interviewed about the slayings.A short time later they moved to Alaska.The FBI tracked George “Billy” Wagner III, to Lexington. Lexington police said he had been driving a horse trailer that was pulled over off Georgetown Road.Police also arrested two additional family members, Rita Newcomb, Angela Wagner’s mother, was indicted on three counts of forgery, one count of obstructing justice and one count of perjury.Fredericka Wagner, George “Billy” III’s 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.The Rhoden family said the Wagners tried to get Hanna Rhoden to sign her rights over to Jake Wagner weeks before the massacre.Charges were eventually dropped against Fredricka Wagner.(WATCH: Hometown Tragedy: The Pike County Massacre)For five years, the Wagners continued to deny that they had any knowledge of why anyone had invaded the Rhodens’ compound one spring night and killed them with silenced guns as they slept. On April 21, 2021, the fifth anniversary of murders, a status hearing in Pike County Court 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.Wagner agreed to a deal, pleading guilty to 23 counts including eight counts of aggravated murder for the killings of eight members of the Rhoden family.Wagner also pleaded 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, 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.“It’s not anticipated that you will ever be released from prison," Judge Randy Deering asked Wagner. "Do you understand that?”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 means Jake Wagner will have to testify in each of their trials. Following his confession, Jake’s 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 Angela’s agreement to testify against other remaining defendants was also part of the deal. George “Billy” Wagner III and 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.Current trial |The eldest son, George IV is first up to trial. Jury members began hearing witness and expert testimony in Sept. 2022.Family members have testified Hanna Rhoden was scared of the ‘entire Wagner’ family and that they were obsessed with taking custody of Hanna’s 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 Rhoden’s 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,” Rhoden said.Prosecutors at George IV’s trial said the dispute over Hanna’s and Jake’s 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. Making the connection |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 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.He is expected to be called on later in the trial.Follow along with updates |The child at the center of the dispute, Hanna Rhoden’s daughter Sophia, is currently in the custody of the Scioto County Children Services.WLWT will bring you daily coverage of the trial as it unfolds. Watch our Very Local documentary: Hometown Tragedy: Pike County Murders on YouTube.
It’s 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 “Billy” Wagner, his wife Angela, and their sons George, and Edward “Jake” 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 “Frankie” and his fiancée, Hannah Gilley dead, their bodies riddled with bullets.
The children, Frankie’s three-year-old son and Frankie and Hannah Gilley’s baby who was likely nursing at the time, survived, though first responders said the baby was covered in blood.
Bobby’s older brother James then found the bodies of their sister and Chris’ 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 Jake’s 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 allowing journalists 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, but details about any other injuries and toxicology test results weren't released.
Nearly 2 ½ years after the gruesome killing of the eight family members, the public saw a major break in the case.
The four members of the Wagner family were arrested in November 2018.
Investigators said the family, a long-time friend of the Rhodens, were embroiled in custody dispute over Hanna and Jake’s then 2-year-old daughter.
(WATCH: Suspect in Rhoden murder arrested)
An attorney for the Wagner family said a year ago that four family members had provided laptops, phones and DNA samples to investigators, and agreed to be interviewed about the slayings.
A short time later they moved to Alaska.
The FBI tracked George “Billy” Wagner III, to Lexington. Lexington police said he had been driving a horse trailer that was pulled over off Georgetown Road.
Police also arrested two additional family members, Rita Newcomb, Angela Wagner’s mother, was indicted on three counts of forgery, one count of obstructing justice and one count of perjury.
Fredericka Wagner, George “Billy” III’s 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.
The Rhoden family said the Wagners tried to get Hanna Rhoden to sign her rights over to Jake Wagner weeks before the massacre.
Charges were eventually dropped against Fredricka Wagner.
(WATCH: Hometown Tragedy: The Pike County Massacre)
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For five years, the Wagners continued to deny that they had any knowledge of why anyone had invaded the Rhodens’ compound one spring night and killed them with silenced guns as they slept.
On April 21, 2021, the fifth anniversary of murders, a status hearing in Pike County Court 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.
Wagner agreed to a deal, pleading guilty to 23 counts including eight counts of aggravated murder for the killings of eight members of the Rhoden family.
Wagner also pleaded 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, 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.
“It’s not anticipated that you will ever be released from prison," Judge Randy Deering asked Wagner. "Do you understand that?”
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 means Jake Wagner will have to testify in each of their trials.
Following his confession, Jake’s 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 Angela’s agreement to testify against other remaining defendants was also part of the deal.
George “Billy” Wagner III and 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.
Current trial |
The eldest son, George IV is first up to trial. Jury members began hearing witness and expert testimony in Sept. 2022.
Family members have testified Hanna Rhoden was scared of the ‘entire Wagner’ family and that they were obsessed with taking custody of Hanna’s 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 Rhoden’s 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,” Rhoden said.
Prosecutors at George IV’s trial said the dispute over Hanna’s and Jake’s 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.
Making the connection |
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 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.
He is expected to be called on later in the trial.
Follow along with updates |
The child at the center of the dispute, Hanna Rhoden’s daughter Sophia, is currently in the custody of the Scioto County Children Services.
WLWT will bring you daily coverage of the trial as it unfolds. Watch our Very Local documentary: Hometown Tragedy: Pike County Murders on YouTube.
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