Arrests made in Rhoden Family Murders

[Howl]

Three years ago,  eight Rhoden family members were shot to death in four homes near Piketon, in southern Ohio.

From a post on NPR:

2 Years Later, 4 Family Members Arrested In Gruesome Ohio Killings

Quote

...According to CNN, the victims were Hanna May Rhoden, 19; Kenneth Rhoden, 44; his brother Christopher Rhoden Sr., 40, and his ex-wife, Dana Rhoden, 37; Clarence "Frankie" Rhoden, 20; Christopher Rhoden Jr., 16; Hannah Gilley, 20, who was engaged to Clarence "Frankie" Rhoden; and Gary Rhoden, 38, a cousin......"All eight victims were killed in cold blood," DeWine says. "They were shot in their own homes. They were brutally and viciously executed. The killers knew the territory and meticulously planned these horrendous murders."

Four arrests for the murders have been made, all people from one family, who planned the murders for quite a long time.  Two mothers were arrested for trying to cover up for for their son and daughter, respectively.

Quote

The Wagner family allegedly spent months planning the killings. Though he wouldn't speak to a motive, DeWine suggested the slayings were part of an elaborate custody scheme. Jake Wagner is the father of Hanna May Rhoden's older daughter, who DeWine's office says was staying with the Wagner family on the night of the killings.

"There certainly was obsession with custody, obsession with control of children," DeWine says. "This is just the most bizarre story I've ever seen in being involved in law enforcement. The entire story as it will unfold at trial is just amazing."

Two other women, Rita Newcomb and Fredericka Wanger, the mothers of Angela Wagner and Billy Wagner, respectively, were also arrested and charged with participating in the cover-up and with misleading authorities.

 

[nausicaa]

Wow. I remember when this story happened and the speculation that it had to do with a drug cartel. Thanks for the update. 

How terrible that so many were okay with murdering such a large number of innocent people. 

[Maggie Mae]

I remember when this happened, and then when a few years/months later, the Wagner family was "outed" as living in Kenai, Alaska. It was all over the news, to basically know that these new comers were wanted for questioning. Then the NPR article about the Pike County murders came out, and it seemed like the community down in Ohio didn't care. I'm so happy this isn't another Springfield 3 situation, but what kind of terrible people plan something so horrific in the first place? My god I hope those kids get therapy and loving homes.  

[Howl]

Got to be a two psychopathic families, because both older moms helped cover up the crime.  Everyone in the Wagner family  apparently obsessed over a custody issue. 

Quote

Two other women, Rita Newcomb and Fredericka Wanger, the mothers of Angela Wagner and Billy Wagner, respectively, were also arrested and charged with participating in the cover-up and with misleading authorities.

May they all rot in prison forever. 

[JermajestyDuggar]

So you kill your child’s mother and 7 members of your child’s extended family over custody issues?! Wtf?

[Howl]

Here's hoping that the rest of the people in that family have some sense of common decency, especially the kids who are now left parentless, because their damned parents are psychopaths.  I watch a LOT of Dateline, Forensic Files, your basic murder porn shows, and murders over divorce and child custody issues are not rare, but usually either the mother or father is murdered, not a damned extended family. 

[Briefly]

3 hours ago, Howl said:

Here's hoping that the rest of the people in that family have some sense of common decency, especially the kids who are now left parentless, because their damned parents are psychopaths.  I watch a LOT of Dateline, Forensic Files, your basic murder porn shows, and murders over divorce and child custody issues are not rare, but usually either the mother or father is murdered, not a damned extended family. 

I watch a lot of those same shows, too.  It is very rare that the extended family is murdered.  This whole thing is sad.

[mamallama]

OMG, OMG, OMG.  I bought my ponies from Fredericka Wagner.  I stayed at their house.  I had to bite my tongue while they went on about how Christian they are.  Yikes!

[PennySycamore]

Oxygen is airing a two-hour special about the Rhoden family massacre on Sunday at 8pm.  It should be good.

[PennySycamore]

On 3/25/2019 at 8:28 PM, PennySycamore said:

Oxygen is airing a two-hour special about the Rhoden family massacre on Sunday at 8pm.  It should be good.

And I missed it!  I was watching the first episode of Season 8 of Call the Midwife.  I'll have to see if it's ON Demand.

[Marty1227]

Will be aired again on 4/7 at 1 am.

[Bobology]

On 3/25/2019 at 7:28 PM, PennySycamore said:

Oxygen is airing a two-hour special about the Rhoden family massacre on Sunday at 8pm.  It should be good.

Thanks for the heads-up; I was able to record and watch it later. 

[PennySycamore]

I finally watched the show on Oxygen last evening.  The show is The Pikeston Family Murders is you're looking for it in the upcoming program menu on your remote or in the TV Guide.

[Bobology]

Yes, the title confused me at first

[Howl]

Some cases related to this family massacre are still winding up. 

Woman is 2nd to admit role in death of 8 members of a family

Quote

Angela Wagner, 50, pleaded guilty in southern Ohio’s Pike County to conspiracy to commit aggravated murder, along with burglary, evidence tampering and other charges. In exchange for the plea, prosecutors dropped aggravated murder charges against her and recommended that she serve a 30-year prison sentence.

Part of her plea deal is testimony against remaining defendants (husband and son). 

Quote

 Wagner’s plea comes nearly five months after her son Edward “Jake” Wagner pleaded guilty to aggravated murder and other charges and agreed to testify against the other three in a deal that would help all four avoid potential death sentences.

George “Billy” Wagner III and George Wagner IV have pleaded not guilty.

I'd be curious to know the Wagner family history of problems with the law, because this level of evil and psychopathy doesn't come out of nowhere. Surely at least some of them have been arrested/incarcerated before this evil act. 

Also a reminder: "Jake Wagner began dating Hanna Rhoden when she was 13. She became pregnant when she was 15..."

Edited September 13, 2021 by Howl