PIKE COUNTY, Ohio — On April 22, 2016, eight members of the Rhoden family were all found shot to death in multiple homes in rural Pike County, Ohio.
It took two and a half years before investigators made any arrests in the case, but ultimately, Billy Wagner, his wife Angela, and their two sons, George and Jake, were arrested for all eight murders.
Jake and Angela's plea deals mandated they testify against George Wagner IV when he went to trial in September of 2022. They did — but they were able to refuse to allow their testimony to be recorded.
We were in the courtroom while both Jake and Angela took the witness stand and talked about what happened the night of the Rhoden murders.
This episode of "While They Were Sleeping: The Pike County Murders" takes a look at that testimony, and the Wagner family's movements after the murders, as they tried to maintain their innocence for as long as they could.
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What happened in Pike County on April 22, 2016?
Eight members of the Rhoden family were found shot to death in their homes.
The crime scene spanned multiple family homes throughout the area; Seven family members were found dead in three different homes on Union Hill Road. The eighth victim was found within a 10-minute drive of the others.
Officials said they believe the shootings took place in the early morning hours.
Found dead were 40-year-old Christopher Rhoden Sr., 37-year-old Dana Rhoden, 20-year-old Hannah "Hazel" Gilley, 16-year-old Christopher Rhoden Jr., 20-year-old Clarence "Frankie" Rhoden, 37-year-old Gary Rhoden, 19-year-old Hanna May Rhoden, and 44-year-old Kenneth Rhoden.
Christopher Rhoden Sr. and his ex-wife, Dana Rhoden, were parents to Clarence "Frankie," Christopher Jr. and Hanna May Rhoden. Kenneth Rhoden was Chris Sr.'s brother.
Hazel Gilley was Frankie's fiancée. Gary Rhoden was a cousin of the family.
Three children — a days-old infant, 6-month-old and 3-year-old — were found unharmed inside the homes.
You can read the latest updates on the case, or read previous reports from the trial here.
