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Pike County: What we know about the arrests made in the Rhoden family massacre

The four arrests are part of the largest homicide investigation in Ohio history.

More than two years after eight members of the Rhoden family were slain in Pike County, Ohio, four people have been arrested in connection with those deaths.

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine said a Pike County grand jury indicted the Wagner family members Monday on counts of aggravated murder.

The killings took place at different scenes, all around the same time with 32 bullets fired into the eight victims. It would spawn the largest homicide investigation in Ohio history.

Here is what we know so far:

What is new?

On Tuesday, DeWine announced details of the arrests of four members of the Wagner family and discussed the motive for the crime.

Two other people were arrested and charged in assisting with a cover-up and obstructing the investigation.

DeWine said drugs were not the motive in the Pike County killings, but there's "an undercurrent of drugs."

DeWine said officials believe they have the killers responsible for the killings and no other suspects are involved.

What happened?

On November 13, 2018, four people were arrested for the murders of the Rhoden family. Here's a compilation of photo coverage on the 2-year-old mystery, where eight people were found dead in what was described as "execution style" shootings. For video coverage, click or tap here. -- On April 22, 2016, people still walked the streets in a neighborhood in Pike County, Ohio where the Rhoden family was murdered, despite police having reported that the killer was still at-large. Sam Greene

On April 22, 2016, eight members of the Rhoden family were found shot in the head in their homes.

Their bodies were discovered by family members in four separate trailers. DeWine said the killers were methodical and worked to cover their tracks, making the case even more complex.

Throughout the investigation, authorities estimate that they conducted tens of thousands of hours of investigative work; followed more than 1,100 tips from the public; conducted 550 interviews; tested more than 700 items of evidence; and served more than 200 subpoenas, search warrants and court orders.

Who was killed?

Killed in the massacre were Christopher Rhoden Sr.,40; his older brother, Kenneth, 44; his former wife, Dana Manley Rhoden, 38; and their three children, Clarence "Frankie" Rhoden, 20; Hanna Rhoden, 19; and Chris Rhoden, Jr., 16. Frankie Rhoden's fiancee, Hannah Gilley, 20, also was a victim.

The killers spared three young children, who were unharmed.

Who was arrested?

Four relatives were arrested in connection with the deaths of eight relatives (Photo: Provided)

Angela Wagner, her husband George "Billy" Wagner, and their two sons, George Wagner and Edward "Jake" Wagner, have each been charged in the gruesome deaths of the Rhoden family and Hannah Gilley.

George "Billy" Wagner III, 47, Angela Wagner, 48, George Wagner IV, 27, and Edward "Jake" Wagner, 26, of South Webster, are each charged with eight counts of aggravated murder with death penalty specifications.

Jake Wagner is also charged with unlawful sexual conduct with a minor for allegedly having sexual contact with Hanna May Rhoden when she was 15 and he was 20.

The Wagners are also facing a series of additional charges including conspiracy, engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, tampering with evidence, unlawful possession of a dangerous ordnance, forgery, unauthorized use of property, interception of wire, oral or electronic communications, obstructing justice, and aggravated burglary.

Billy Wagner was arrested on Georgetown Road near Spur Road Tuesday afternoon by Lexington, Kentucky, police assisted by the FBI. Angela Wagner was arrested at her home in Scioto County. Jake and George Wagner were arrested in Ross County during a traffic stop.

Children's services has stepped in due to the involvement of children.

Who else was arrested?

Two other people were arrested and charged in assisting with the cover-up of the crime. DeWine said two grandmothers – Angela’s mother, Rita Newcomb, and Billy’s mother, Frederika Wagner – misled authorities investigating the murders. They are Sophia's great-grandmothers.

Rita Newcomb, 65, of South Webster, and Frederika Wagner, 76, of Lucasville, are facing felony charges of obstructing justice and perjury for allegedly misleading investigators over the course of the investigation. Newcomb is also charged with forgery and was arrested at her home. Frederika Wagner was arrested at the family's Flying W farm, which had been previously raided.

Rita Newcomb and Frederika Wagner charged in cover-up. (Photo: Provided by Mike DeWine)

How are they connected?

Even after the investigation began to focus on the Wagners, they continued to deny involvement, saying they too were heartbroken by the deaths of their longtime friends. Angela Wagner said her husband and Christopher Rhoden Sr. were longtime friends. Others have said the two were also business partners who'd had a falling out before the homicides.

DeWine said officials believe they have the killers responsible and there are no other suspects involved.

What was the motive?

Obsession with child custody and control of custody are at the center of the crime, DeWine said. Sophia, 5, is the daughter of Jake Wagner, accused of the killings, and victim Hanna Rhoden.

Jake Wagner and Hanna Rhoden shared a daughter, Sophia, and worked to solidify a custody agreement in court in 2016. Some family members said custody was contentious. Jake Wagner and his mother have both told The Enquirer the agreement was amicable.

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