PIKE COUNTY, Ohio — A new judge was named on Tuesday by the Supreme Court of Ohio to oversee the next and likely final trial in Ohio’s worst homicide.
Retired Brown County Judge R. Alan Corbin was tapped by Chief Justice Sharon Kennedy to take over the impending trial of George “Billy” Wagner, III. Wagner faces more than two dozen charges, including eight counts of murder for his alleged role in the 2016 killings of the Rhoden family in Pike County. His son, who shares his namesake was convicted in the fall and sentenced to life in prison.
Wagner’s wife, Angela, and another son, Jake, copped plea deals with the state to avoid the death penalty. Angela will be formally sentenced to thirty years in prison for her admitted role in the homicides, while Jake will serve life without parole. In exchange for their sentencing, both Wagners have to cooperate with prosecutors; both of which testified against George IV last year.
Corbin’s appointment in the case comes after the retirement of Judge Randy Deering, who exceeded Ohio’s law regarding the age judges can sit on the bench. The county’s prosecutor, Rob Junk who has overseen the prosecution of the homicides since day 1 succeeded Deering on the bench as the county’s top judge earlier this month. Because Junk was involved in the investigation, indictment, and first trial, he recused himself to avoid an appearance of or a conflict of interest.
Corbin served as a Republican judge in the Brown County Court of Common Pleas before retiring in 2009, according to the Brown County Board of Elections. Elected judge in 1996, Corbin was the county prosecutor from 1984 to 1996.
A new trial date for Wagner has not been definitively set as a change of venue motion still has to be ruled upon.
The victims of the massacre were Christopher Rhoden Sr., 40; his older brother, Kenneth Rhoden, 44; his cousin, Gary Rhoden, 38; Chris Rhoden Sr.’s former wife, Dana Lynn Rhoden, 37, and their children: Clarence “Frankie” Rhoden, 20, Hanna May Rhoden, 19, Christopher Rhoden Jr., 16, and Frankie’s fiancé, Hannah “Hazel” Gilley, 20.