George Wagner, IV is standing trial for the April 2016 murders of eight members of the Rhoden and Gilley families. Wagner IV faces 22 counts including eight counts of aggravated murder with death penalty specifications, aggravated burglary, conspiracy, tampering with evidence and forgery.
Wagner’s brother, Edward “Jake” Wagner, and his mother, Angela Wagner, have already pleaded guilty to taking part in the conspiracy to murder the eight Rhoden and Gilley family members over their desire to obtain full custody of the then two-year-old daughter Jake shared with victim Hanna May Rhoden. Angela and Jake Wagner have agreed to testify against their family members.
George “Billy” Wagner, the father of Jake and George, faces the same 22 counts.
On the morning of April 22, 2016, family members found Chris Rhoden, Sr., 40, and his cousin, Gary Rhoden, 38, dead in Chris’ mobile home on Union Hill Rd. Chris Sr.’s ex-wife, Dana Manley Rhoden, 37, and their children, Hanna May Rhoden, 19, and Chris Rhoden Jr., 16, were found shot in the head in their sleep in their mobile home down the road. Hanna May had given birth days earlier to a baby girl who was not harmed. Clarence “Frankie” Rhoden, 20 and his fiancee, Hannah “Hazel” Gilley, 20, were also found shot to death in their sleep. Their six-month-old son was in between them covered in blood but unharmed. Frankie’s four-year-old son was unharmed in the home as well.
Kenneth Rhoden, 44, was found shot once in the eye in his camper on Left Fork Rd. more than seven miles away.
Angela Wagner’s mother, Rita Newcomb, pleaded guilty in 2019 to a misdemeanor count of obstruction. She had been charged with forgery and obstruction of justice for lying about signing and notarizing custody documents related to Hanna May, Jake and George’s children. Newcomb has agreed to testify against her family members.
Billy Wagner’s mother, Fredericka Wagner, was initially charged with obstruction of justice and forgery for allegedly lying about purchasing a bullet-resistant vest for Billy. The charges were dropped after it was discovered a plate in the vest was manufactured after the homicides. Prosecutors have said they may refile the charges at a later date. Fredericka has been subpoenaed to testify.
The victims:
Christopher Rhoden Sr., 40
his ex-wife Dana Manley Rhoden, 38,
their children Christopher Rhoden Jr., 16, Hanna May Rhoden, 19, and Clarence “Frankie” Rhoden, 20,
Christopher Sr.’s cousin Gary Rhoden, 38,
Sr.’s brother Kenneth Rhoden, 44,
and Frankie’s fiancée Hannah “Hazel” Gilley, 20
The Wagners did it so they could get custody of the young daughter Jake had with his ex Hanna Rhoden, prosecutors said. Jake indeed won sole custody of the child, now 8, after the murders. The Wagners moved to Alaska. That all changed after authorities arrested them in November 2018, sparking a legal battle lasting almost four years.
#PikeCountyMassacre #GeorgeWagnerIV #LawAndCrime
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Does Anyone else almost.. kinda.. sorta feel bad for George? I totally BELIEVE he knew what was supposed to happen and definitely had knowledge before the murders took place. HOWEVER I almost feel like he was in a screwed up family dynamic, where ANGELA CALLED THE SHOTS NO MATTER WHAT and he got caught up in this wild custody battle that truly didn't have anything to do with him, except that he is the Brother of Jake Wagner. And a puppet of Angela. I'm not looking for ANY CONFRONTATIONS WITH ANYONE PLEASE. Just curious if anyone else thinks or feels this way like I do at this point in the trial there's still much more stuff to come that we don't know yet. I've lived in Southern Ohio my whole life a few hours from this terrible massacre and I've been following the stories since 2016 I listen to the podcast I really try to hear what everyone has to say.
Darryl Brooks wants to question the state lawyers and this trial don't want to show pictures. Things the guilty will do.
As an Ohio resident. I'm confused, this court is open so why would it matter if I'm hearing Jake or Angela's testimony in person or viewing it online. And how would viewing images on the screen cause the trial to be unfair??
He is still GUILTY ..even if he didn't pull tricker he was with them during the murder..
Does this defense attorney realize it’s 2022 not 1922. Technology is now a part of the court process. He needs to get used to it
As far as the opt outs go, Jake and Angela have pleaded guilty and I don't see why they should be treated the same as all of the other witnesses (victim's family & law enforcement). If you can even call them witnesses. They are co conspirators. Jake is trying to save his brother's life by testifying. We already know the details of his confession. So, why the heck should he, a co conspirator, have the option to opt out as witnesses do? Whatever.
What is going on with the sound on his video? It's so hard to hear.
Did they stop the trial for the day?
So does this mean Jake and Angela have already opted out of being recorded?
I watched the triat today and am totally confused about why the judge has to decide to show Jake’s questioning in Montana.
This is bull crap Wagner's lawyers is just trying to do anything they can so nobody knows what really went on cuz they think that their clients innocent and I don't know why they wouldn't want about the pictures he's the one that was part of them killing so why should be horrifying him when he was there with him
I am trying to understand why these grown a$$es still live home with mommy. What kind of tax credit Angela getting…. Where they included in her food stamp household count? I don't get it. If he was so unhappy at home under Angela rules then move out. Get your own like his ex wife wanted him to do. Who wants a mommy boy as a husband.
2:46:54 IMO this is the conversation Angela wants to have with Billy about Hannah Mae’s demise.
I find a lot of this hard to follow… The AG Special Prosecutor can’t formulate a sentence, she doesn’t present herself being well versed or prepared for this case and also she spends a lot of time on things that has no meaning..
This is BS defense needs to shut it
You can move the trial out of Pike County
I didn't read live chat to see if this was mentioned. But "pink bunnies" in Angela's and Jake's messages maybe refers to an Energizer product or something that used an Energizer product. The mascot is a pink bunny.
Did they not come back on in the afternoon or was there a witness that didn't want to be shown and heard?
Bruh,2 months from now some bailiff will get into the evidence room and scan these pics to share online and make a million. As far as them following your client for life,,he helped murder an entire family! I think he’s got bigger problems thanks pics out in public.
Omg the continued waffling of these guy's is driving me nuts
🙄🙄
PARKLAND SHOOTING VERDICT IS IN … NO DEATH PENALTY ONLY LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE
there would be NO publicity if your clients didn't take out an entire family