Case overview
On April 22, 2016, eight members of the Rhoden family were shot to death in four separate homes across rural Pike County, Ohio. The victims ranged in age from 16 to 44, and three young children were found unharmed at the scenes. Four members of the Wagner family were arrested in 2018 and charged with aggravated murder in connection with the killings.
The discovery across four crime scenes
The bodies were discovered throughout the day on April 22, 2016, after family members went to check on relatives who hadn’t answered their phones. The first 911 call came in shortly after 7:50 a.m. from Union Hill Road, where two victims were found in a camper. Within hours, law enforcement responded to three additional locations along Union Hill Road and Left Fork Road, all within a few miles of each other.
The victims were Christopher Rhoden Sr., 40; his ex-wife Dana Rhoden, 37; their three children—Clarence “Frankie” Rhoden, 20, Christopher Rhoden Jr., 16, and Hanna May Rhoden, 19; Christopher Sr.’s brother Kenneth Rhoden, 44; their cousin Gary Rhoden, 38; and Frankie’s fiancée, Hannah Gilley, 20. Hanna May Rhoden had given birth five days earlier. That infant, along with Frankie Rhoden’s two young sons and Hanna May’s older child, were found alive at the scenes.
Pike County Sheriff Charles Reader described the crime scenes as methodical. Most of the victims had been shot multiple times in the head. Some were found in their beds. There were no signs of forced entry at any of the homes.
The initial investigation and community response
Investigators from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the FBI, and the Pike County Sheriff’s Office began processing the scenes immediately. The scale and location of the killings drew national attention. Authorities stated early on that the murders appeared targeted and carefully planned.
In the days following the killings, officials urged members of the Rhoden family still living in Pike County to take precautions. Attorney General Mike DeWine, who later became Ohio’s governor, advised them to arm themselves. Sheriff Reader told reporters the investigation suggested a degree of sophistication and that the crime scenes indicated the shooter or shooters knew the locations and the victims’ routines.
A commercial marijuana grow operation was discovered at one of the crime scenes. Investigators confirmed that more than 100 plants were found across three of the four locations. Authorities stated publicly that the grow operation was part of the investigation but did not confirm whether it was connected to the motive.
Two years without arrests
For more than two years, no arrests were made. The investigation involved hundreds of interviews, thousands of tips, and the collection of evidence from vehicles, trailers, and properties associated with the Rhoden family. Investigators also conducted extensive ballistics testing and worked to trace firearms that may have been used in the killings.
During this period, members of the community and surviving Rhoden family members expressed frustration with the pace of the investigation. Authorities declined to name suspects or persons of interest publicly, citing the complexity of the case and the need to protect the integrity of the investigation.
In 2017, the state increased the reward for information leading to an arrest to $25,000. By mid-2018, more than 130 people had been interviewed, some multiple times, and more than 700 pieces of evidence had been collected.
The Wagner family arrests
On November 13, 2018, members of the Wagner family were arrested in Pike County and Lexington, Kentucky. George “Billy” Wagner III, his wife Angela Wagner, and their sons George Wagner IV and Edward “Jake” Wagner were each charged with eight counts of aggravated murder with death penalty specifications, along with additional charges including conspiracy, engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, tampering with evidence, forgery, and unlawful possession of dangerous ordinance.
Prosecutors alleged that the Wagner family had spent months planning the killings. According to court filings, the Wagners purchased ammunition, a magazine clip, brass catchers, and a bug detector in the weeks and months leading up to April 22, 2016. Investigators also alleged that the family tampered with evidence, including disassembling and destroying firearms, and that they forged custody documents related to Jake Wagner’s daughter with Hanna May Rhoden.
The custody dispute over the child became a central element of the prosecution’s theory of motive. Jake Wagner and Hanna May Rhoden had been in a relationship, and after their breakup, tension reportedly escalated over custody and visitation. Prosecutors argued that the Wagners believed killing the Rhoden family was the only way to secure custody of the child.
Plea deals and testimony
In 2019, Angela Wagner pleaded guilty to charges including conspiracy to commit aggravated murder, burglary, evidence tampering, and other offenses. As part of her plea agreement, she agreed to cooperate with prosecutors and testify against other members of her family. She was sentenced to 30 years in prison.
Jake Wagner also entered a guilty plea in 2021, admitting to aggravated murder charges in all eight deaths. He agreed to testify against his father and brother in exchange for the state dropping the death penalty. Jake Wagner was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, plus additional consecutive terms.
During his testimony in the trials of his father and brother, Jake Wagner described how the family planned the killings for months, conducted surveillance on the Rhoden properties, and used silencers and brass catchers to avoid leaving evidence. He testified that he personally shot five of the victims and that his brother George Wagner IV shot the other three.
Jake Wagner stated that the motive centered on custody of his daughter. He claimed that Hanna May Rhoden had threatened to limit his access to the child and that the family believed they had no legal recourse.
Trials and convictions
George Wagner IV went to trial in 2022. Prosecutors presented testimony from Jake Wagner, along with evidence including cell phone records, vehicle GPS data, and firearms analysis. The defense argued that Jake Wagner was the primary killer and that George Wagner IV had been manipulated by his father and brother. In September 2022, a jury found George Wagner IV guilty of all charges, including eight counts of aggravated murder. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
George Wagner III, known as Billy Wagner, went to trial in 2023. Prosecutors relied heavily on testimony from his wife Angela and his son Jake, both of whom described Billy Wagner as the organizer of the plot. They testified that he coordinated the planning, directed the family to conduct surveillance, and helped procure the materials used in the killings. In June 2023, a jury found Billy Wagner guilty on all counts. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Unresolved questions and aftermath
The convictions of the Wagner family brought a measure of resolution to the case, but questions remain. The defense in both trials challenged the credibility of Jake Wagner and Angela Wagner, both of whom testified as part of plea agreements. Defense attorneys argued that their testimony was self-serving and that neither could be fully trusted given their involvement in the murders.
The decision to focus the motive on a custody dispute has also been debated. Some in the community and among surviving family members have questioned whether the marijuana grow operation or other financial conflicts played a role. Prosecutors maintained that the custody dispute was the primary driver and that the other elements were secondary or unrelated.
The community in Pike County, a rural area with a population of less than 30,000, was deeply affected by the killings. The Rhoden family had deep roots in the area, and the scale of the crime left a lasting impact on neighbors and local officials. Vigils were held in the years following the murders, and surviving family members have spoken publicly about the ongoing grief and trauma.
The case also raised broader questions about domestic violence, custody disputes, and the limits of legal intervention in family conflicts. Advocates have pointed to the Wagner family’s behavior as an extreme example of control and entitlement, particularly in Jake Wagner’s belief that killing eight people was justified to secure access to his child.
Where to look next
- Documentary: “The Pike County Murders” (Investigation Discovery)
- Book: “The Piketon Massacre: The Inside Story of Ohio’s Most Notorious Family Killings” by James Renner
- Podcast: “The Piketon Massacre” (iHeartRadio / Cincinnati Enquirer)
