A quiet, rural community in southern Ohio is reeling after the discovery of eight bodies, members of the Rhoden family, who were found executed in their homes early Friday morning in what authorities are calling a calculated and brutal mass murder. The victims were discovered across four separate residences on Union Hill Road in Pike County, a tight-knit area where families have lived for generations. The scene, described by first responders as one of the most horrific they have ever witnessed, has left investigators scrambling for answers and a community in a state of shock.
The Pike County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call just after 7 a.m. from a family member who had arrived at one of the homes to find a relative dead. The caller, clearly distraught, can be heard on the dispatch tape describing a scene of carnage. “There’s blood all over the house,” the caller says, struggling to provide an address. “My brother-in-law’s in the bedroom. It looks like I beat the hell out of them.” The dispatcher works to calm the caller and direct deputies to the scene, but the full scope of the tragedy was only revealed as officers arrived at multiple locations.
The victims have been identified as Christopher Rhoden Sr., 40; his ex-wife, Dana Rhoden, 37; their children, Clarence “Frankie” Rhoden, 20, Hannah May Rhoden, 19, and Christopher Rhoden Jr., 16; Frankie’s fiancée, Hannah Hazel Gilley, 20; Christopher Sr.’s brother, Kenneth Rhoden, 44; and their cousin, Gary Rhoden, 38. All were shot multiple times, with some victims killed while they slept. One victim was shot once in the eye, a detail that underscores the execution-style nature of the killings. Three young children were found unharmed at the scenes, including a 4-day-old infant, a 6-month-old, and a 3-year-old.
The Rhoden family was well-known in the area as hardworking and private. Christopher Rhoden Sr., known as “Big Chris,” was described as the backbone of the family, a man who loved his children and worked tirelessly to provide for them. Dana Rhoden was remembered as a caring mother and grandmother. Frankie and Hannah Hazel were a young couple with dreams of building a life together, while Hannah May had just given birth to her second daughter four days before her death. Christopher Jr., the youngest, was a 16-year-old full of energy and promise. The loss has left a gaping hole in the community.
“Nobody can imagine what this family has been through,” said a family member, struggling to speak through tears. “My brothers were good people. They would give you the shirt off their back if they could. Dana was a wonderful person. She didn’t deserve that.” The grief is palpable as relatives gather, trying to make sense of the violence that has shattered their lives. The family has pleaded for anyone with information to come forward, hoping that the public can help bring those responsible to justice.
Investigators from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Pike County Sheriff’s Office are working around the clock. Early reports suggest that the killings were not random. The perpetrators knew the family and the layout of the homes. Evidence of marijuana cultivation was found on the Rhoden property, leading to initial speculation that the murders might be linked to a 𝒹𝓇𝓊𝑔 cartel or a larger criminal enterprise. However, as the investigation deepens, a more personal motive has emerged, one that points to a bitter custody dispute over a young child.
The focus has shifted to the Wagner family, specifically Jake Wagner, the former boyfriend of Hannah May Rhoden and the father of her 2-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Sophia. A contentious custody battle was underway before the murders. Investigators believe that this dispute may have been the catalyst for the massacre. The Wagner family, including Jake’s parents, George “Billy” Wagner III and Angela Wagner, and his brother, George Wagner IV, are now at the center of the investigation. In June 2017, the Wagners abruptly moved to Alaska, a decision that raised immediate suspicion.
Despite the move, law enforcement kept the family under close surveillance. Digital footprints, phone records, and text messages began to paint a picture of a family conspiring to commit murder. On November 13, 2018, federal agents and local law enforcement moved in, arresting the four Wagners in coordinated raids. Jake Wagner was taken into custody on a highway in Ross County, his brother George IV was arrested in a traffic stop, Billy Wagner was captured in Kentucky, and Angela Wagner was arrested at their home in Ohio. They were each charged with eight counts of aggravated murder.
The arrests marked a turning point in the case. Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced the indictments, stating that the evidence showed the Wagners had spent months planning the murders. “The killers knew the territory and meticulously planned these horrendous murders,” DeWine said. “They studied the victims’ habits and their routines. They knew the layouts of their homes. They knew where they slept.” The charges included conspiracy, aggravated burglary, tampering with evidence, and forgery for allegedly forging child custody documents.
The case took another dramatic turn on April 21, 2021, when Jake Wagner pleaded guilty to the murders of five members of the Rhoden family. In a plea deal to avoid the death penalty, he agreed to cooperate with prosecutors and testify against his family members. During his testimony, Jake provided chilling details about the night of the murders. He described how the family planned the killings for months, mapping out the homes and the victims’ movements. He admitted to personally killing five of the victims while his family members carried out the murders of the other three.
Text messages recovered from the Wagners’ phones and social media accounts became critical evidence. Messages between Jake and Hannah May revealed a growing tension over custody of their daughter. In one exchange, Hannah wrote, “I will not sign papers. They will have to 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁 me first.” A friend had warned her not to give in to the Wagner family’s demands. The messages within the Wagner family themselves were equally damning, showing discussions about firearms, ammunition, and plans to silence the victims. These digital footprints formed a trail of evidence that prosecutors used to build their case.
On September 10, 2021, Angela Wagner pleaded guilty to her role in the murders. She agreed to testify against her son, George Wagner IV, in his trial. In September 2022, George Wagner IV’s trial began. The prosecution argued that he was a key conspirator, even if he did not personally pull the trigger. The defense claimed that he was manipulated by his mother and brother. On November 20, 2022, George Wagner IV was found guilty on all charges, including eight counts of aggravated murder. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Billy Wagner is still awaiting trial. Prosecutors are expected to use the testimonies of Jake and Angela to detail the family’s conspiracy and show the extent of Billy’s involvement. The legal process continues, but for the community of Pike County, the scars of the massacre run deep. The quiet rural area has become the center of one of the most chilling murder cases in Ohio’s history. Residents are grappling with feelings of betrayal, loss, and anger, as well as the haunting question of how such evil could take root in their community.
“I feel sorry for him,” said a family member of the victims, referring to one of the convicted killers. “Why? Because he is human. I think we all have human in us. There’s just difference in us.” The sentiment reflects a complex mix of grief and a search for understanding. As the trials continue, one thing remains clear: the tragedy of the Pike County murders will never be forgotten. Eight lives were stolen, and an entire family was shattered in an act of unimaginable violence. But through the pursuit of justice, the hope is that those responsible will face the consequences of their actions, and the Rhoden family will be remembered not for the way they died, but for the lives they lived.
