The Pike County Massacre: The Rhoden Family Murders That Shook Ohio
Introduction
On April 22, 2016, the rural community of Pike County, Ohio, woke to a nightmare that would reverberate far beyond its rolling hills. Eight members of the Rhoden family were found dead across four separate locations, each victim shot execution-style in a meticulously planned attack. Dubbed the “Pike County Massacre,” this case stands as the largest homicide investigation in Ohio’s history, a chilling tale of family ties, custody disputes, and unfathomable violence. What began as a mystery shrouded in speculation—drug cartels, revenge, or random brutality—eventually unraveled into a deeply personal tragedy orchestrated by those the victims once trusted. This article delves into the timeline, the victims, the perpetrators, the investigation, and the ongoing quest for justice that continues to grip the nation as of April 1, 2025.
The Morning of Horror: Discovery of the Crime
The day started like any other in Pike County, a quiet region nestled in southern Ohio, about 80 miles south of Columbus. That peace shattered at 7:49 a.m. when Bobby Jo Manley, sister of victim Dana Rhoden, arrived at a trailer on Union Hill Road to feed the family’s pets. What she encountered was unimaginable: her ex-brother-in-law, Christopher Rhoden Sr., 40, and his cousin, Gary Rhoden, 38, lay dead, riddled with gunshot wounds. Moments later, in a second trailer nearby, she found her nephew Clarence “Frankie” Rhoden, 20, and his fiancée, Hannah “Hazel” Gilley, 20, also slain. A frantic 911 call alerted authorities, but the horror didn’t end there.
James Manley, Bobby Jo’s brother, rushed to check on their sister Dana at her home half a mile away. Inside, he discovered Dana Rhoden, 37, and her children, Hanna May Rhoden, 19, and Christopher Rhoden Jr., 16, lifeless in their beds. Later that afternoon, a fourth crime scene emerged eight miles away in Piketon, where Kenneth Rhoden, 44, Christopher Sr.’s older brother, was found shot dead in his camper. Eight lives extinguished in a single night, yet three young children—a 4-day-old infant, a 6-month-old, and a 3-year-old—were left unharmed amid the carnage.
The brutality was staggering. Seven of the victims had been shot multiple times, primarily in the head, suggesting a methodical, close-range execution. Kenneth Rhoden, however, bore a single gunshot wound, hinting he may have been an afterthought or caught off guard. The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) descended on the scenes, and then-Attorney General Mike DeWine labeled the killings a “sophisticated operation,” planned with chilling precision.
The Victims: A Close-Knit Family
The Rhoden family was a fixture in Pike County, known for their tight bonds and rural lifestyle. Christopher Rhoden Sr. was a hardworking man with a passion for cars and pit bulls, which roamed his property unharmed that night—a detail that struck locals as significant. His ex-wife, Dana Rhoden, raised their three children—Frankie, Hanna May, and Chris Jr.—in a modest trailer nearby. Frankie, the eldest, was engaged to Hannah Gilley, a young woman welcomed into the fold. Gary Rhoden, Chris Sr.’s cousin, lived close, often helping out, while Kenneth Rhoden, Chris’s older brother, kept to himself in his camper miles away.
Hanna May Rhoden, just 19, was at the heart of the tragedy’s motive. A mother of two—a 3-year-old daughter, Sophia, and a 4-day-old infant, Kylie—she had ties to the Wagner family, who would later emerge as the perpetrators. Her life, like those of her family, was cut short in a way that defied comprehension, leaving behind a community reeling from loss.
Initial Theories and the Investigation Begins
In the immediate aftermath, speculation ran wild. The discovery of marijuana grow sites at properties owned by Chris and Kenneth Rhoden fueled rumors of a drug-related hit, possibly tied to a cartel. Evidence of cockfighting operations at some scenes added to the narrative of a criminal underworld. Yet, as investigators combed through the trailers—eventually towing them intact to preserve evidence—these theories began to fray. DeWine dismissed a direct drug motive, noting an “undercurrent of drugs” but no clear link to the killings.
The crime scenes painted a picture of deliberation. The killers had struck under darkness, targeting victims as they slept, using silenced weapons to avoid detection. They left no obvious forensic trail, suggesting efforts to cover their tracks. The presence of unharmed children and dogs hinted at familiarity—someone who knew the family’s routines and layout. Pike County Sheriff Charles Reader, barely a year into his tenure, called it an obsessive focus to solve, vowing justice for a crime that left even seasoned officers shaken.
For over two years, the investigation stretched on without arrests. The public grew restless, and the Rhoden and Gilley families held vigils, pleading for answers. In June 2017, DeWine issued a public call for information on four individuals—George “Billy” Wagner III, Angela Wagner, George Wagner IV, and Edward “Jake” Wagner—former Pike County residents believed to be in Alaska. The Wagner family, once close to the Rhodens, was now under scrutiny, though no charges came immediately.
A Breakthrough: The Wagner Family Arrested
The case broke open on November 13, 2018, when authorities executed coordinated arrests across Ohio and Kentucky. Billy Wagner, 47, was apprehended outside a horse trailer in Lexington, Kentucky. Angela Wagner, 48, was arrested at her Scioto County home, while their sons, George IV, 27, and Jake, 26, were detained during traffic stops in Ross County. Two Wagner matriarchs—Rita Newcomb, Angela’s mother, and Fredericka Wagner, Billy’s mother—were also charged with lesser offenses like obstruction.
The indictments revealed a motive as shocking as the crime itself: a custody dispute over Sophia, the daughter Jake Wagner shared with Hanna May Rhoden. Prosecutors alleged the Wagners had plotted for months, driven by an obsession to control Sophia after Hanna refused to relinquish custody. A Facebook message from Hanna, sent four months before the murders, underscored her resolve: “They will have to kill me first.” Tragically, they did—and took seven others with her.
Evidence mounted quickly. The Wagners had purchased ammunition, brass catchers, and a bug detector in the lead-up to the killings. They’d surveilled the Rhodens, tampered with evidence—silencers, security systems, phones—and even forged custody documents. Jake, the father of Sophia, was at the center, but the entire family faced eight counts of aggravated murder, plus charges like conspiracy and tampering with evidence.
Legal Proceedings: Pleas, Trials, and Sentences
All four Wagners initially pleaded not guilty, facing the death penalty if convicted. The case, sprawling and complex, moved slowly, bogged down by thousands of evidence items—over 5,000 pieces, including 1,400 crime-scene photos and multiple hard drives. The first major shift came on April 22, 2021—the fifth anniversary of the murders—when Jake Wagner stunned the courtroom by pleading guilty to all 23 charges against him, including eight counts of aggravated murder. In a tearful admission, he confessed to shooting five victims: Hanna May, Dana, Frankie, Chris Jr., and Hannah Gilley. His plea deal spared his family the death penalty, and he agreed to testify against them, expecting life without parole.
Angela Wagner followed suit on September 10, 2021, pleading guilty to 14 lesser charges, including complicity to aggravated murder. She admitted to helping plan the killings, securing silencers and ammunition, and covering tracks. Sentenced to 30 years without parole, she too turned state’s witness, leaving Billy and George IV to face trial.
George Wagner IV’s trial began on September 12, 2022, the first to face a jury. Prosecutors painted him as a willing participant, complicit even if he didn’t pull the trigger. Jake testified that he fired the first shot, killing Chris Sr.—his father’s “best friend”—while Billy and George aided in the massacre. George’s defense argued he was unaware of the plan, a victim of his family’s actions, but the jury disagreed. After eight hours of deliberation, they convicted him on all 22 counts, including eight aggravated murders. On December 19, 2022, Judge Randy Deering sentenced him to eight consecutive life terms plus 121 years, citing his lack of remorse.
Billy Wagner, the patriarch, remains the last unresolved case. Pleading not guilty, his trial—originally set for May 6, 2024—has been delayed to January 6, 2025, due to defense scheduling conflicts and the sheer volume of evidence (16,000 pages of transcripts alone). Judge R. Alan Corbin, presiding after a venue change from Pike County, acknowledged the Rhoden family’s frustration, but the wait persists, nearing a decade since the murders.
The Children Left Behind
Amid the bloodshed, five children were directly impacted, their lives forever altered. Sophia Wagner, now around 12, was with the Wagners the night of the killings. After their arrests, she entered state custody in Portsmouth, her fate largely undisclosed due to gag orders. Brentley Rhoden, Frankie’s 3-year-old son, survived the attack and lives with his mother, Chelsea Robinson. Ruger Rhoden, Frankie and Hannah Gilley’s 6-month-old, was found bloodied but unharmed, his current whereabouts private. Kylie Rhoden, Hanna May’s 4-day-old, was confirmed to be Charlie Gilley’s daughter via paternity test; she too remains out of the public eye. An unnamed fifth child, possibly a cousin, is mentioned in court records but lacks detail. These innocents, spared physically, bear the emotional scars of a family obliterated.
The Broader Impact: A Community and a State Changed
The Pike County Massacre left an indelible mark on Ohio. The investigation, costing millions, involved countless hours from BCI, local law enforcement, and the Attorney General’s office. Mike DeWine, now Ohio’s governor, called it the state’s longest trial, a testament to its complexity. The case exposed the fragility of rural trust—neighbors turned executioners—and sparked debates about justice, mental health, and family dynamics.
For Pike County, the wounds linger. Residents, once speculating about cartels, grapple with the reality of betrayal from within. The Rhoden and Gilley families, vocal through vigils and courtrooms, demand closure, with figures like Wilma McCoy decrying delays. “Almost nine years,” she said in 2024, “and we’re still waiting.” The emotional toll was palpable during sentencings, as Hannah Gilley’s mother, Andrea Shoemaker, branded Jake Wagner the “spawn of Satan” and Angela “evil.”
Unanswered Questions and Ongoing Legacy
As of April 1, 2025, Billy Wagner’s trial looms, the final chapter in this saga. Will he maintain his innocence, or follow his wife and son in confessing? What drove this family to such extremes—greed, control, or a twisted sense of loyalty? The custody motive, while central, feels incomplete without deeper insight into the Wagners’ psyche, much of which remains sealed in court records.
The Pike County Massacre is more than a true crime story; it’s a cautionary tale of obsession and the lengths humans will go to protect what they claim as theirs. It challenges the notion of “family,” blending love with lethal intent. For true crime enthusiasts, it offers a labyrinth of evidence, motive, and morality to unravel, a case that defies easy answers.
Conclusion
Nearly nine years after that fateful night, the Rhoden family murders remain a haunting fixture in Ohio’s history. Eight lives lost, a community scarred, and a legal odyssey nearing its end—yet the echoes persist. As Billy Wagner’s trial approaches, the world watches, awaiting the final reckoning in a tragedy that proves, in Judge Jonathan Hein’s words, “the boundless depravity of people who have no respect for others, only their own self-interest in mind.” For the Rhodens, Gilleys, and Pike County, justice is a marathon, not a sprint, and closure remains just over the horizon.