The Pike County Murders: A Family Massacre – Chilling True Story of Eight Members of the Rhoden Family Killed ‘Execution Style’ in Ohio

Police – Accident – Death – Obituary News : A shocking new documentary is set to shed light on the horrifying true story of a family massacre that occurred in rural Pike County, Ohio, in 2016. The documentary, titled “The Pike County Murders: A Family Massacre,” explores the chilling events that unfolded on the night of April 22, 2016, when eight members of the Rhoden family were brutally killed in their sleep.

The massacre sent shockwaves through the tight-knit community, as seven adults and a 16-year-old boy were murdered across four separate crime scenes. Initially, there was speculation about the involvement of drug cartels due to evidence of marijuana cultivation found at the scenes. However, the truth turned out to be much closer to home.

The harrowing story quickly became known as the largest murder investigation in Ohio’s history. The bodies of the victims, all from the Rhoden family, were discovered in three mobile homes and a camper. Autopsies later revealed that all but one of the victims had been shot in the head.

Christopher Rhoden Sr., 40, was among the first to be killed. He had been shot nine times, with wounds to his torso, cheek, and right forearm, indicating a defensive wound. His cousin, Gary Rhoden, 38, was found in the same trailer, shot twice in the head and once in the face.

Christopher Sr.’s older brother, Kenneth, 44, was found dead in a camper about three miles away, with a single gunshot wound through his right eye. Dana Manley Rhoden, 38, Kenneth’s former wife, and two of their children, Hanna Rhoden, 19, and Chris Rhoden Jr., 16, were found in a separate trailer. Dana had been shot four times to the side of the head and once under her chin, while Hanna and Chris Jr. sustained multiple gunshot wounds to the head.

Tragically, Hanna’s five-day-old daughter, who was found in bed with her, was unharmed. In another trailer, Clarence “Frankie” Rhoden, 20, and his fiancée, Hannah Gilley, 20, were also found slaughtered in their bed. Their six-month-old son, who had been sleeping between them, and another child sleeping on a couch in the trailer were left unharmed.

The scene was described as “overkill” by witnesses, with blood spattered throughout the houses. The discovery of sophisticated marijuana “grow operations” at three of the crime scenes initially led investigators to believe that a local gang or drug cartel was responsible for the execution-style killings.

However, more than a year passed without any substantial leads. It wasn’t until May 2017 that officers focused their attention on a 71-acre estate, once owned by Edward “Jake” Wagner, the longtime boyfriend of Hanna Rhoden. Jake, along with his parents and brother, had moved to Kenai, Alaska, with Hanna’s daughter Sophie after the murders, claiming they were trying to escape unfair speculation. However, financial difficulties forced them to return to Ohio in 2018.

In November of that year, Jake, then 26, was arrested and charged with the murders, alongside his parents, Angela Wagner, then 48, and George “Billy” Wagner III, then 47, as well as his brother George Wagner IV, then 27. Two other family members, Angela’s mother Rita Newcomb, 65, and Billy’s mother Fredericka Wagner, 76, were also arrested for allegedly covering up the murders.

Authorities revealed that the motive behind the heinous crime spree was the battle for custody of Sophie. Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine stated that “there was an obsession with control of the children,” with prosecutors arguing that the Wagner family had meticulously planned the killings for months.

Investigators discovered that the family had purchased ammunition, a magazine clip, brass catchers, and a bug detector in preparation for the crimes. They also constructed a homemade silencer used in the shootings and used counter-surveillance devices on the properties, tampering with phones, cameras, and parts of a home security system. Forged documents were found on a computer, falsely claiming that Hanna had agreed to share custody.

Phones belonging to six of the victims, as well as a recording device and trail cameras, were taken by the Wagners. Prior to the slayings, Hanna had expressed her determination to protect her daughter, stating on social media, “they will have to kill me first.” Jake Wagner testified that her comment was his “tipping point,” claiming he feared for his daughter’s safety.

Jake ultimately pleaded guilty under a plea deal and was sentenced to eight life terms in prison. In exchange for his testimony against his family, he hoped to help them avoid potential death sentences. Angela Wagner also agreed to a plea deal and was sentenced to 30 years in prison after admitting to conspiracy to murder the family.

In December 2022, George Wagner IV was convicted on 22 counts, including eight counts of aggravated murder, related to the Rhoden family killings. He was sentenced to eight consecutive life sentences, plus an additional 121 years. George “Billy” Wagner III pleaded not guilty to the charges and awaits trial.

The gruesome and tragic events that unfolded on that fateful night in Pike County will forever haunt the community. The new documentary, “The Pike County Murders: A Family Massacre,” aims to shed light on the chilling details of the case and provide insight into the motives behind the senseless killings. The documentary is set to premiere on November 24, offering viewers a deeper understanding of this horrifying true story..