PIKE COUNTY — Wednesday marked the fourth anniversary of the execution-style shooting deaths of eight members of a Pike County family. The trials for the four accused are set to begin this fall, but the coronavirus has halted court proceedings, possibly delaying their trials.
Prosecutors believe the killings were the culmination of a battle for custody of Sophia Wagner, the toddler whose mother, Hanna Rhoden, died in the April 22, 2016 incident and whose father, Edward “Jake” Wagner, is one of the four accused of committing it.
In addition to Hanna, the victims were her father Chris Rhoden Sr., 40; mother Dana Manley Rhoden, 37; brothers Chris Rhoden Jr., 16, and Clarence “Frankie” Rhoden, 20; her uncle Kenneth Rhoden, 44; cousin Gary Rhoden, 38; and Frankie’s girlfriend Hannah “Hazel” Gilley, 20.
Jake Wagner, George Wagner IV, their father George “Billy” Wagner III and mother Angela Wagner have all been charged with eight counts of murder. All four have pleaded not guilty and waived their rights to a speedy trial.
Their court cases will likely last for many months. The costs for trying the four are estimated at more than $1 million, and state lawmakers last year approved $100,000 to offset those costs for the small Ohio county.
Also charged on lesser offenses are the Wagner boys’ grandmothers.
Fredericka Wagner pleaded not guilty to charges of obstruction and perjury in connection to the 2016 murders.
Rita Jo Newcomb, 66, agreed to plead guilty to obstruction of official business for her alleged role to cover up the April 22, 2016, homicides. A judge ordered her released from house arrest.