WAVERLY, Ohio — Nearly nine years after the brutal Pike County murders, Jake Wagner and his mother, Angela Wagner, are set to be sentenced for their roles in the 2016 massacre that claimed the lives of eight members of the Rhoden family.
On April 21-22, 2016, the Rhoden family was shot to death in four locations in rural Pike County. The victims included seven family members and one future member, all of whom were shot in what authorities later described as an execution-style massacre. The tragic event stunned the local community and led to a years-long investigation that ultimately pointed to the Wagner family.
Jake and Angela Wagner, both of whom were involved in the killings, pleaded guilty in 2023 to avoid the death penalty. As part of their plea deal, they agreed to testify against the other two members of their family charged in connection to the murders: George “Billy” Wagner and his son, George Wagner IV. While Jake and Angela provided testimony against George Wagner IV, their statements were not allowed to be publicly broadcast.
Angela’s testimony acknowledged her involvement in the planning and cover-up of the murders, though she admitted she did not directly kill any of the victims. Jake Wagner, the alleged mastermind behind the killings, also pleaded guilty and is expected to receive a sentence similar to his mother’s, likely life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The prosecution against George Wagner IV, the son of Angela and Billy Wagner, resulted in a conviction. In 2023, George Wagner IV was sentenced to life in prison without parole after being convicted of all 22 charges related to the massacre. He was found guilty of aggravated murder, among other crimes. His father, George “Billy” Wagner, is scheduled to stand trial this month, with his pretrial hearing set for Friday.
The Wagners allegedly plotted the killings in order to gain custody of Jake Wagner’s daughter, who had been living with the Rhodens. The murders were carried out under the guise of a planned family dispute, but some of the victims were believed to have been in the wrong place at the wrong time.
In exchange for their guilty pleas, Jake and Angela Wagner’s sentencing was fast-tracked. The prosecutor’s office dropped the death penalty specification for all four Wagner family members, which ultimately led to a plea deal for the mother and son. Angela is expected to receive a sentence of at least 30 years in prison.
The case has drawn national attention due to its scope and the involvement of multiple family members in the killings. As Billy Wagner’s trial begins this month, legal observers are keenly watching the proceedings, which could bring additional details to light about the Wagners’ motives and plans.
Meanwhile, the families of the victims, including surviving relatives of the Rhoden family, are preparing to face the Wagner family members in court as the sentencing hearings approach. The families, still in mourning, have been waiting for closure in this tragic case that has haunted Pike County for nearly a decade.
