A judge has ruled that the trial for a man accused of murdering eight members of another family in Ohio will take place in a different county.

George “Billy” Wagner III, who has maintained his innocence by pleading not guilty, is the final defendant of four family members charged in connection with the tragic 2016 shootings of seven adults and a teenager from the Rhoden family in southern Ohio.

Judge Jonathan Hein agreed to Wagner’s motion for a change of venue, citing concerns over the small size of Pike County’s population and the extensive media coverage surrounding the case. He noted that it would be highly unlikely for any juror to claim they had no prior awareness of the shocking details involved.

Authorities have asserted that the murders, which initially led to speculation about potential drug cartel links, were actually rooted in a custody battle. The brutal slayings, which occurred at four separate residences, resulted in one of the most comprehensive criminal probes in Ohio’s history.

Wagner faces charges of aggravated murder along with several other allegations. His wife, Angela, has already entered a guilty plea for her role in orchestrating the murders and is set to be sentenced on December 17.

Their youngest son, Edward “Jake” Wagner, also pleaded guilty to aggravated murder and has agreed to testify against his brother and parents in exchange for a plea bargain to help prevent the family from facing potential death penalties. He will face sentencing alongside his mother on December 17.

The couple’s other son, George Wagner IV, was convicted in 2002 and received a sentence of eight consecutive life terms in prison.