WAVERLY, Ohio — Prosecutors in Ohio are pushing for a tougher sentence for Edward “Jake” Wagner, who admitted to his role in the 2016 Pike County massacre that claimed the lives of eight members of the Rhoden and Gilley families. The state’s appeal comes after a judge’s unexpected decision to grant Wagner the possibility of parole, prompting outrage from victims’ families and renewed scrutiny of one of Ohio’s most complex murder cases.
Wagner, 32, pleaded guilty in April 2021 to eight counts of aggravated murder and 15 other charges, including conspiracy and tampering with evidence, for his role in the execution-style killings. As part of a plea deal, prosecutors and Wagner’s defense agreed he would serve eight consecutive life sentences without parole. However, Visiting Judge Jonathan Hein, newly assigned to the case, sentenced Wagner on Jan. 3, 2025, to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 32 years, citing Wagner’s cooperation with authorities.
The state has now appealed the sentence, arguing it undermines the original plea agreement and fails to deliver justice for the victims. Prosecutors have also sought to remove Hein from the case, accusing him of bias and citing his controversial rulings, including the decision to sentence Wagner before the trial of his father, George “Billy” Wagner III, the last family member facing charges.
The 2016 Pike County massacre shocked the small rural community of Piketon, Ohio, and sparked a multimillion-dollar investigation, one of the state’s most extensive. On April 22, 2016, eight members of the Rhoden and Gilley families were found shot to death in their homes across three mobile homes and a camper. The victims were Christopher Rhoden Sr., 40; his ex-wife, Dana Lynn Rhoden, 37; their children, Hanna May Rhoden, 19, Christopher Rhoden Jr., 16, and Clarence “Frankie” Rhoden, 20; Frankie’s fiancée, Hannah “Hazel” Gilley, 20; Christopher Sr.’s brother, Kenneth Rhoden, 44; and their cousin, Gary Rhoden, 38.
Prosecutors say the killings stemmed from a custody dispute over Wagner’s young daughter with Hanna May Rhoden, his ex-girlfriend. Wagner confessed to shooting five of the eight victims, including Rhoden, while his father, Billy Wagner, is accused of killing at least two others. The Wagner family meticulously planned the murders, using guns later hidden in concrete-filled buckets and dropped in a pond, according to court testimony.
The victims were deeply rooted in Pike County, known for their close-knit family ties. Christopher Rhoden Sr. was a skilled mechanic who helped build the Big Bear Family Resort in Lucasville, while Dana Rhoden was a devoted mother. Hanna May Rhoden, a young mother herself, was killed alongside her newborn daughter’s crib, though the infant was spared. Frankie Rhoden and Hannah Gilley, engaged and raising a young son, were found dead in their home, their 6-month-old child unharmed. Kenneth and Gary Rhoden were remembered as hardworking men devoted to their family.
The sentencing hearing was marked by emotional outbursts. Andrea Shoemaker, Hannah Gilley’s mother, called Wagner the “spawn of Satan” and his mother, Angela, “evil,” expressing anguish over the loss of her daughter. Some victims’ supporters stormed out of the courtroom as Wagner spoke of Christian forgiveness, a statement that rang hollow for many.
Angela Wagner, 54, was sentenced to 30 years in prison with credit for six years served, as agreed in her 2021 plea deal for conspiracy and other charges. Her mother, Rita Newcomb, 72, received five years of probation for obstructing the investigation. George Wagner IV, Jake’s brother, was convicted in 2022 and sentenced to eight life terms without parole, despite not firing a shot, and is appealing his conviction. Billy Wagner’s trial, originally set for January 2025, has been delayed due to a change of venue and ongoing appeals over Hein’s rulings.
Special Prosecutor Angela Canepa has clashed repeatedly with Hein, accusing him of undermining the case. In December 2024, prosecutors filed requests with the Ohio Supreme Court to disqualify Hein, but both were denied. Canepa argued that Wagner’s reduced sentence and the timing of the hearings could jeopardize the prosecution’s case against Billy Wagner, as Jake and Angela’s plea deals hinged on their testimony in future trials.
Hein defended his decision, noting that Jake Wagner’s cooperation, including testifying against his brother, warranted a chance at parole. He also criticized Angela Wagner’s 30-year sentence as too lenient, given her failure to stop the plot, and suggested gender bias may have influenced her deal.