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Police and investigators working on a crime scene. Author; Faruk.

Everything You Should Know About The Pike County Murders

The Pike County murders which are also known as the Pike County shootings or the Pike County massacre were a series of murders that shocked many. These murders took place on the night of April 21^st and 22^nd, 2016. A total of eight people who belonged to the Rhoden family were killed.

They were shot and killed in four homes in Pike County, Ohio, the United States of America. The bodies of the victims were discovered later on 22^nd April. Six adults and a 16-year-old boy were discovered to have been shot in an execution-style with their bodies dumped in three adjacent houses.

The eighth victim who was an adult was found shot and dead in his camper near Piketon. However, three children including two infants were found unharmed. On 25^th April, it was confirmed that there was the presence of marijuana cultivation and cockfighting operations at some of the crime scenes.

However, these discoveries were not directly linked to the Pike County murders. Four members of the Wagner family were arrested in November 2018, and linked to the Rhoden murders. The ex-boyfriend of one of the victims, Hanna Rhoden (Edward Wagner) confessed to having shot 5 of the 8 victims.

Below is Everything You Should Know About The Pike County Murders:

1. The 8 Victims of the Murders were from the Same Family

All eight victims of the Pike County murders were members of the Rhoden family. They were made up of parents, children, fiancée, and close relatives from the Rhoden family.

These were the Rhoden family members who were murdered: 40-year-old Christopher Rhoden Sr. who was the ex-husband of Dana, 37-year-old Dana Lynn (ex-wife of Christopher Sr.), 20-year-old Clarence Rhoden (Eldest son of Dana and Christopher survived by two children), and 19-year-old Hanna May Rhoden, Daughter of Dana and Christopher. Hanna’s 4-day-old child survived the murders, and her 2-year-old child was with her father Jake Wagner at the time of the murders.

16-year-old Christopher Rhoden Jr. (youngest son of Dana and Christopher), 38-year-old Gary Rhoden (Cousin of Christopher Sr.), 44-year-old Kenneth Rhoden (brother of Christopher Sr.), and 20-year-old Hannah Hazel Gilley, Fiancée of Clarence Rhoden and mother of surviving 6-month-old child were also killed.

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2. The Bodies of the Victims were Found in Four Homes in Pike County

Investigators working on a crime scene. Author; Cottonbro.

Bobby Jo Manley had arrived at the homes to feed pets when he first discovered the bodies. Jo is the sister of a victim, Dana Rhoden. The first two bodies were discovered at 7:51 AM inside a home on Union Hill Road and the police were alerted.

Before the arrival of the police, Jo discovered two more bodies in the second home on the same property. The first discovery made Jo call on her brother James Manley who went to check on Dana when he discovered the third crime scene.

At the third crime scene, pole found three more victims when they arrived. Another 911 call was made at 1:26 PM after the eighth body of an adult male was found in the fourth home in a nearby village of Piketon.

3. Three Young Children and a 4-day-old Baby were Unharmed during the Murders

After the discovery of the eight victims, 7 adults and a 16-year-old, there was another major discovery. Four family members of the Rhoden family had survived the attack and were not harmed in any way.

Three young children who were three years, six months, and four days as well as a 4-day-old infant were unharmed during the killing spree. The 4-day-old infant was found in bed with her mother’s body beside it. The six-month-old and 4-day-old were placed under protective services, while the 3-year-old was placed under the guardianship of his mother who was not a victim of the murders.

4. An Autopsy Revealed that 32 Shots were Fired During the Pike County Murders

Investigators in a crime scene. Author; Cottonbro.

The eight bodies of the slain Rhoden family members were taken to the Hamilton County Coroner’s office in Cincinnati for autopsies. All the victims’ bodies except one had been shot multiple times. Four victims had been shot once, twice, or thrice, another was shot 4 times, 2 had been shot five times, and the last had 9 gunshot wounds.

6 of the 8 victims had been shot in the head only. Christopher Rhoden Sr. had gunshot wounds in the head, torso, and limbs, and Dana had been shot in the head and neck. Another discovery was that some of the bodies had bruising meaning that they were beaten too. It was estimated that a total of 32 shots were fired during the Rhoden family killings.

5. Autopsy Reports Took a While to be Released after several Lawsuits

People were eager to know more about the autopsy reports which were taking a long to be released. The county coroner and Ohio Attorney General had announced that there were security concerns which led to the delayed release of the reports.

However, on 22^nd July 2016, the Cincinnati Enquirer filed a lawsuit asking for the full autopsy records. On 12^th August 2016, the Columbus Dispatch made a similar lawsuit demanding the release of the autopsy reports.

On 23^rd September 2016, the coroner’s office released highly redacted versions of the final reports amid lawsuits from media outlets. The Fourth District Court of Appeals rejected the Enquirer’s request for an unredacted copy of the autopsy report on 17^th March 2017. However, The Ohio Supreme Court overturned a lower court’s refusal to disclose the autopsy reports on September 19, 2018, and the complete autopsy reports were then made public.

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6. A Reward of $25K was Put Across for Anyone who Could Identify the Perpetrators

2016 U.S. presidential candidate John Kasich and the Ohio governor made a briefing about the murders and described them as tragic beyond comprehension. Renowned Cincinnati businessman Jeff Ruby came forward and offered a $25,000 reward to anyone who could give information that could help to arrest and convict the person(s) involved in the murders.

However, on 28^th April 2016, Jeff withdrew his reward citing on the complexity of the criminal developments. Another $10,000 reward from the Southern Ohio Crime Stoppers fund was announced on July 21^st.

7. Early Investigations were Carried out by a Team of More than 251 Law Enforcement Officials

Investigator taking a photo of some piece of evidence. Author; Cottonbro.

Investigations began immediately as authorities were seeking answers on the reason behind the murders and who were involved. There were thoughts that the killings were murder-suicide incidents, but Attorney General DeWine believed that the murders were well-planned, premeditated, and carried out in a sophisticated manner.

The investigations involved more than 251 law enforcement officials, with sheriffs from 25 offices across Ohio providing resources to Pike County. The FBI and DEA also provided their technical expertise in these murder cases.

5 search warrants were executed, with more than 50 people getting interviewed in connection with the killings. More than 70 pieces of evidence were examined which included a Faversham threat that was sent to Christopher Rhoden Jr.

8. Cannabis Plants and Cockfighting Operations were Discovered in the Scenes of Murder

On 25^th April, the spokesperson for DeWine’s office revealed that cannabis was found in three crime scenes on Union Hill Road. The cannabis included an indoor grow house where hundreds of plants were grown. Chicken and equipment which were consistent with cockfight breeding were also discovered.

200 cannabis plants were taken from the crime scenes as investigators concluded that they were grown for sale rather than for personal use. However, with all these discoveries, investigators were not sure whether the cannabis led to the shootings but later verified a possible participation with a Mexican drug cartel.

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9. The Properties of the Victims were Seized to Preserve Evidence

After the funerals of the last 6 victims, the authorities towed three vehicles that belonged to the Rhoden family to be part of the investigation. On 4^th May, more vehicles were towed as evidence. On 12^th May, the sheriff’s office announced on the intention of relocating the mobile homes where the victims were killed to preserve evidence.

By October 6^th, the homes were taken and stored in a warehouse as investigations continued. The family vehicles and other equipment were returned to the victim’s relatives by November 24^th.

10. The Wagner Family was Arrested in Connection to the Rhoden Family Murders

A person being arrested. Author; Cottonbro.

On 12^th May 2017, a SWAT team from the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office made a raid on the Pike County home as investigations continued. The police also made searches on Adams County property that was once owned but sold by Edward Wagner. On 20^th June 2017, police began seeking more information on Jake Wagner, his parents Billy and Angela, and his brother George.

Their main point was to get more information about the conversations the Wagner had with the Rhoden about vehicles, firearms, and ammunition. On 13^th November 2018, George, Angela, Edward, and George Wagner were arrested and charged with planning and carrying out the murders. All the suspects, in this case, were members of the Wagner-Newcomb family.

65-year-old Rita Newcomb and Fredericka Wagner were also arrested. They were charged with obstructing justice, misleading investigators, forging custody documents, and perjury. The charges that Fredericka was facing were dismissed.

11. George and Edward Confessed to Committing the Heinous Acts while the Others’ Cases were Dismissed

As the Wagner-Newcomb families trial continued, more details emerged about the Pike County murders. Weapons used in the murders were found in a pond after George Wagner confessed. George Wagner was found to be guilty of all counts of the Rhoden family murders.

On the side, Edward Wagner confessed to having shot five out of the eight members of the Rhoden family. He also faced multiple charges including eight counts of aggravated murder, felony conspiracy, forgery, and many more. He was sentenced to 8 consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole in September 2021.

In June 2019, Fredericka Wagner had all her charges dropped. On 2^nd December 2019, Rita Newcomb pleaded guilty to a lesser charge after agreeing to cooperate during the trials. Angela’s charges of aggravated murder were dropped as she pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit aggravated murder and two other charges in a plea deal she made.

The Pike County Murders sent a chill across the United States of America as this was one of the most shocking homicide cases to be witnessed. More details continue to be unfolded even though years have passed since the murders took place.

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