COLUMBUS, Ohio — On Friday, two additional family members involved in the tragic murder of eight individuals from the same Ohio family were handed substantial prison sentences, as the judicial proceedings draw closer to their conclusion in what has been characterized as Ohio’s most terrible crime in recent history.
Visiting Judge Jonathan Hein issued a life sentence with the possibility of parole in 32 years for Edward “Jake” Wagner. This decision included 12 years for gun-related charges followed by 20 years for the murders of five of the eight victims. This outcome came as a shock because Wagner had originally pled guilty to charges of aggravated murder, among others, and had accepted the terms of serving eight consecutive life sentences without parole. Nevertheless, Judge Hein indicated that he considered the sentences of other defendants, along with Wagner’s collaboration with law enforcement in uncovering the details surrounding the murders of seven adults and a teenager from the Rhoden family in Pike County, southern Ohio.
Angela Wagner, Jake’s mother, received a 30-year sentence, which includes credit for six years already served. She admitted to playing a part in planning the murders. Meanwhile, Rita Holcomb, Jake and Angela’s mother, faced a significantly lighter consequence; she was given five years of probation, a $750 fine, and a suspended jail sentence of 180 days, having already served seven days for misleading investigators.
In a somber statement before sentencing, Judge Hein remarked on the troubling nature of the case, asserting, “Each generation has its own individuals who can illustrate the depths of human depravity, and that’s what this case exemplified. It showcased the limitless depravity of individuals who disregard others and prioritize their own self-interest.” The emotional proceedings saw Andrea Shoemaker, mother of victim Hannah Gilley, condemn Jake Wagner, labeling him the “spawn of Satan” and calling his mother “evil.” As Jake addressed the court, several supporters of the victims exited in protest when he spoke about embracing Christian forgiveness.
Wagner shared that two to three weeks post-murders, he prayed fervently for guidance. “I asked God, I said, ‘Put me and my family back on the straight and narrow path, by any means necessary,'” he recounted. “I can assure you today that I am not remorseful for being apprehended. I regret my actions, but I am thankful that I got caught. I firmly believe it was Jesus who led to my capture to help fulfill my prayer.” In June, George Wagner IV—Jake’s brother and Angela’s son—was sentenced to eight consecutive life terms without the chance for parole. Judge Hein aimed to differentiate Jake’s sentence from his brother’s, highlighting that Jake had cooperated with authorities while George opted for a trial. The judge also noted that Angela faced a maximum of 30 years, even though she held the capability to avert the brutal murder conspiracy with a simple phone call and chose not to.
Prosecutors revealed that the Wagner family plotted the murders stemming from a custody disagreement over Wagner’s niece, whose mother was among the deceased. The horrific shootings, which occurred in April 2016 at three mobile homes and a camper near Piketon, sent shockwaves through the rural Ohio community and initially raised suspicions of drug cartel involvement. The subsequent investigation, which amounted to millions in expenses, is recognized as one of the state’s most expansive.
The victims included Christopher Rhoden Sr., 40, his 37-year-old ex-wife Dana Rhoden; their three children—Clarence “Frankie” Rhoden, 20, Hanna Rhoden, 19, and Christopher Rhoden Jr., 16; 20-year-old Hannah Gilley, engaged to Clarence Rhoden; Kenneth Rhoden, 44, Christopher Rhoden Sr.’s brother; and Gary Rhoden, 38, their cousin.
The patriarch of the Wagner family, George “Billy” Wagner III, is the final member facing charges related to this case. Recently, Judge Hein agreed to transfer his trial away from Pike County, a closely-knit rural area with deep ties to the case.
