More than two years after eight members of the Rhoden family were killed in Ohio, authorities arrested four members of the Wagner family in connection to the deaths. Two more people were charged with covering up the crimes.
Everything We Know About The Arrests
Authorities arrested four members of the Wagner family, who had a close relationship with the Rhoden family, on Tuesday. Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine said George "Billy" Wagner III, 47; Angela Wagner, 48; George Wagner IV, 27, and Edward "Jake" Wagner, 26, were arrested and charged with the deaths of the Rhoden family and Hannah Gilley.
All four members of the family were charged with eight counts each of aggravated murder with death penalty specifications. Jake, who shared a child with one of the victims, was also charged with unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported. He was accused of having sexual contact with Hanna May Rhoden when she was 15 and he was 20.
The family was also charged with other offenses, including conspiracy, evidence tampering, obstruction of justice and aggravated burglary. The family was accused of forging custody documents as well.
Billy was arrested on Georgetown Road near Spur Road in Lexington, Kentucky, by Lexington Police and the FBI. He was scheduled to appear in court in Lexington, Kentucky at 1 p.m. for his arraignment. According to jail records, Billy was charged as a fugitive from another state and cannot post bond.
Angela, Billy's wife, was arrested at her home in Scioto County, while the couple's two adult sons were arrested during a traffic stop in Ross County. Jake and George Wagner were being held at Ross County Jail.
"We believe that the Wagners conspired together to develop an elaborate plan to kill the eight victims under the cover of darkness and then carefully cover their tracks," DeWine said on Twitter.
The Pike County Prosecutor Rob Junk said that the remaining Wagners were not scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported. The trial was planned to be held in Pike County Common Pleas Court.
Authorities also arrested Fredricka Wagner, 76, in Lucasville, Ohio, and Rita Newcomb, 65, in South Webster, Ohio. The two women, who are the mothers of Billy and Angela respectively, faced felony charges of obstruction justice and perjury for allegedly misleading authorities during the investigation. Newcomb was also charged with forgery.
Two other people were also arrested today in connection with the alleged cover-up of the #PikeCounty homicides. Anglea Wagner's mother, Rita Newcomb, and Billy Wagner's mother, Fredericka Wager. pic.twitter.com/WRuagVXMAB
— Governor Mike DeWine (@GovMikeDeWine) November 13, 2018
Timeline of Murders and Arrests
April 22, 2016: The bodies of eight members of the Rhoden family are discovered dead at various locations. The victims are identified as Christopher Rhoden Sr., 40; Gary Rhoden, 38; Kenneth Rhoden, 44; Dana Manley Rhoden, 38; Clarence "Frankie" Rhoden, 20; Hanna May Rhoden, 19; Chris Rhoden, Jr., 16, and Hannah Gilley, 20.
April 24, 2016: Five members of the Manley family were taken by Pike County Sheriff's deputies for a second round of questioning, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported. Bobby Jo Manley had called 911 after finding the bodies of Christopher and Gary Rhoden.
April 26, 2016: A preliminary autopsy report from the Hamilton County Coroner's Office revealed the victims were shot to death. Christopher was shot nine times and another victim was shot five times.
May 4, 2016: The final victim was buried.
April 22, 2017: No arrests made in the year since the killings.
May 12, 2017: State and local law enforcement agents searched property once owned by Jake Wagner. A second search of Wagner family property, stored at an Adams County farm, was conducted.
June 2017: The Wagners moved to Kanai, Alaska, and claimed that speculation over their alleged involvement in the murders and Jake's daughter with Hanna Rhoden motivated them to move.
April 22, 2018: No arrests made in the two years since the alleged murders. However, Pike County Prosecutor Rob Junk said the Wagner family remained the focus on investigators.
November 7, 2018: Attorney General DeWine said investigators finished examining the evidence.
November 13, 2018: Four members of the Wagner family were arrested and charged with eight counts of aggravated murder with death penalty specifications.
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