On the fifth anniversary of the Pike County murders, a status hearing in Pike County Court turned into a surprise plea deal in the killings.Eight members of the Rhoden family were brutally murdered in what Gov. Mike DeWine called the biggest case in Ohio's Bureau of Criminal Investigation history.The youngest charged, Jake Wagner, agreed to a plea deal to avoid the death penalty.DeWine stood alongside family members of those who were killed and teared up talking with us about the emotions of this day."Five years ago, today, I was here, we met with family members in the church and I committed to them that we would find who did this and that we would bring them to justice. There was a lot of justice done today," DeWine said.On the five-year anniversary of the Pike County murders, an emotional DeWine stood outside the Pike County Courthouse.Thursday brought a victory in a case he'd held close to the heart since he was Ohio's attorney general.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 in 2016.They were shot execution-style at four homes."That removes the sentence of death from, as a possible sentence, that will not be possible, at that point, to impose a possible death sentence. Do you understand that?" the judge said."I do, your honor," Wagner said.Prosecutors said there was a growing custody dispute between Wagner and Hannah Rhoden over their daughter.They outlined meticulous planning by Jake Wagner, Angela Wagner, George "Billy" Wagner and George Wagner IV, including buying phone jammers and hacking Facebook accounts, forging custody documents and building silencers for guns.Jake Wagner apologized in court.His attorneys said he knows he will die in prison."Family's been through hell. While today, I'm sure was a very gratifying day, it couldn't have been an easy day. They've got to be leaving here just totally exhausted and, you know, emotionally spent. But these are tough people, these are strong people," DeWine said.Prosecutors said Jake Wagner clearly implicated the other Wagners in his statements.They also said he led them to weapons and vehicles used in the killings.In addition to a series of life sentences, Jake Wagner could also owe hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines.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.
On the fifth anniversary of the Pike County murders, a status hearing in Pike County Court turned into a surprise plea deal in the killings.
Eight members of the Rhoden family were brutally murdered in what Gov. Mike DeWine called the biggest case in Ohio's Bureau of Criminal Investigation history.
The youngest charged, Jake Wagner, agreed to a plea deal to avoid the death penalty.
DeWine stood alongside family members of those who were killed and teared up talking with us about the emotions of this day.
"Five years ago, today, I was here, we met with family members in the church and I committed to them that we would find who did this and that we would bring them to justice. There was a lot of justice done today," DeWine said.
On the five-year anniversary of the Pike County murders, an emotional DeWine stood outside the Pike County Courthouse.
Thursday brought a victory in a case he'd held close to the heart since he was Ohio's attorney general.
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 in 2016.
They were shot execution-style at four homes.
"That removes the sentence of death from, as a possible sentence, that will not be possible, at that point, to impose a possible death sentence. Do you understand that?" the judge said.
"I do, your honor," Wagner said.
Prosecutors said there was a growing custody dispute between Wagner and Hannah Rhoden over their daughter.
They outlined meticulous planning by Jake Wagner, Angela Wagner, George "Billy" Wagner and George Wagner IV, including buying phone jammers and hacking Facebook accounts, forging custody documents and building silencers for guns.
Jake Wagner apologized in court.
His attorneys said he knows he will die in prison.
"Family's been through hell. While today, I'm sure was a very gratifying day, it couldn't have been an easy day. They've got to be leaving here just totally exhausted and, you know, emotionally spent. But these are tough people, these are strong people," DeWine said.
Prosecutors said Jake Wagner clearly implicated the other Wagners in his statements.
They also said he led them to weapons and vehicles used in the killings.
In addition to a series of life sentences, Jake Wagner could also owe hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines.
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.
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