The trial for a 30-year-old Ohio man whose family was accused of murdering eight members of the same family six years ago is set to begin.

According to the New York Times, George Wagner IV's trial is set to start this month or early next month.

The Associated Press reported Wagner IV, his parents, and his brother Edward Jake Wagner was charged for fatally shooting eight members of the Rhoden family in 2016.

Prosecutors said the alleged motive for the fatal shooting was over the custody of a child Jake Wagner had with one of the victims, the New York Times and the Washington Times reported.

The Associated Press reported that Jake Wagner pleaded guilty last year after admitting to killing five of the victims.

The news outlet reported that Angela Wagner also pleaded guilty to helping plan the murders.

The newspaper reported that George Wagner III is set to stand trial at a later date.

The Associated Press reported that a judge ruled in June that Jake Warner could testify at his brother's upcoming death penalty trial, the Associated Press reported.

The news outlet reported that Jake Wagner had told prosecutors that his brother didn't kill anyone.

PIKE COUNTY, Ohio —

Pike County suspect George "Billy" Wagner III appeared in court Wednesday for a status hearing.

It was the first hearing for former Brown County Common Pleas Court Judge Alan Corbin who will preside over the trial. The Ohio Supreme Court appointed Corbin to hear the case following the retirement last month of Pike County Common Pleas Judge Randy Deering.

During Wednesday's hearing, Corbin alluded to a possible trial date in early 2024. He said that will give counsels time to gather documents and records from the trial of Billy's son, George Wagner IV, including the transcript from that trial, which could top 15,000 pages.

Earlier this year, one of Billy Wagner's attorneys said the 51 year-old looks forward to taking his case to trial and said the trial will be much different than that of his son, George.

In November, a jury found George Wagner guilty of 22 counts, including eight aggravated murder charges. The verdict came after less than eight hours of deliberations, ending a nearly three-month-long trial.

George Wagner was sentenced 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, and tampering with evidence. Those sentences ranged from 10 months to eight years.

In addition, the now retired Deering sentenced George Wagner to 81 years on firearms specifications, to be served consecutively with his prison sentence on his charges.

Billy's wife, Angela, and their other son, Jake, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit aggravated murder and other charges in a plea deal to avoid the death penalty.

Investigators say the murders were motivated by a custody dispute between the Wagner and Rhoden families.