Pike County Massacre: Jury Trial To Begin for Brother Who Killed 8 Family Members in Child Custody Claim

Pike County Massacre George Wagner IV child custody Ohio's biggest homicide case Jake Wagner Angela Wagner Rhoden-Gilley family Pike County Angela Canepa Hanna Rhoden John Parker

By Lili Scott , Parent Herald Aug 20, 05:23 pm

The jury selection process for the Pike County Massacre has been narrowed down and nearly finalized as the trial date for George Wagner IV, one of the accused in the death of eight family members, moves closer.

According to Fox 19, 12 jurors and four alternates will be picked out of the 50 in the shortlist. The selection process will be finalized by Monday, August 29, when the trial for Ohio's biggest homicide case begins.

Wagner was indicted for the murders, conspiracy, burglary and tampering with evidence, among other charges, in November 2018, along with his brother, Edward "Jake" Wagner, mother, Angela Wagner, and father, George "Billy" Wagner III. Angela pled guilty to planning the killings with her family, while also Jake admitted their crimes to the court to save his family from the death penalty. He is also set to testify against his brother, who has proclaimed his innocence.

The Wagners killed for custody of Jake's daughter

Prosecutors of the Pike County massacre said that the Wagner family planned to kill members of the Rhoden-Gilley family for four months. Lawyer Angela Canepa told the court in May that this was "very much a family affair" and that the four took votes and committed to working together to secure Jake's daughter with 19-year-old Hanna Rhoden, per The Washington Post.

In April 2016, the Ohio police discovered the bodies of eight Rhoden-Gilley family members in their cluster of trailers. Chris Rhoden Sr, his ex-wife, Dana Rhoden, and a cousin, Gary Rhoden, were gunned down along with the Rhoden adult children, Chris Jr., Clarence, and Hanna. Clarence's fiancee, Hannah Gilley, was not spared as well but their three young kids were left alone.

The other victim, Kenneth Rhoden, an uncle, was also murdered. His trailer was a few miles away from the family's cluster. The family's protective pit bulls were not harmed as well, thus suggesting to the police and the shocked Pike County community that whoever executed these murders knew of the family.

Following months of investigations, the police eventually closed in on Jake and his relationship with Hanna, which began when she was just 13 years old. As the Wagners were a cultish and close-knit clan, Hanna struggled with leaving the family. She became pregnant with Jake's child when she was 15 years old.

When their relationship soured, Jake allegedly started threatening her for the child's custody. When she refused, the Wagners became enraged. In a Facebook post, Hanna declared they would have to kill her first before they could gain custody of her daughter.

That statement allegedly led the Wagners to plot to eliminate her and her family and then prepared by buying ammunitions and gears, including shoes that they would use specifically for the murders. The Wagners stalked and surveyed the Rhodens for months to learn their habits, daily activities and sleeping times.

The family also carefully crafted their plans to make the murders look like it was done by a drug cartel. The police said the crime scenes were complicated and the four made every effort to cover their tracks. They forged custody agreement papers stating Hanna agreed to give her daughter to the Wagners if something happened to her.

Jake Wagner confessed to his guilt

But in 2021, Jake faced the court and told the judge the truth in a plea deal for himself and the rest of his family. Jake, however, faces 160 years of prison time. The prosecutors said he knows he will never get out of prison.

Meanwhile, George's lawyer, John Parker, said that Jake's confession and a plea deal were already an admission that his brother did not kill anyone, per WLWT. He argued that Jake cannot be truthful with his upcoming testimony to pin George in the murders because he will face the death penalty if he doesn't abide by his plea deal.