HOLLYWOOD, California — Oxygen Network’s True Crime division has announced the upcoming premiere of a new series delving into the chilling case of the Rhoden family murders in Pike County. The series, set to air in Winter 2023, promises to unravel the shocking events surrounding the execution-style killings that shook the small town to its core.
Described as the largest murder investigation in Ohio’s history, the series will peel back the layers of the tragedy, uncovering a web of violence, deception, and fractured relationships. The series description poses the question, “How did it come to pass that eight members of the same family could be brutally murdered execution-style in four different locations in one night by another family they called friends?”
Produced by KT STUDIOS, the true crime series will provide an in-depth exploration of the events leading up to the gruesome murders that took place on April 22, 2016. The victims include Hanna Rhoden, her parents Christopher Rhoden Sr. and Dana Manley Rhoden, her brothers Clarence “Frankie” Rhoden and Chris Rhoden Jr., Frankie’s fiancée Hannah Gilley, and Christopher Rhoden Sr.’s older brother Kenneth Rhoden, along with cousin Gary Rhoden.
Following an extensive investigation, authorities determined that the Wagner family, close friends of the Rhodens, were likely responsible for the murders. The motive was believed to be a custody dispute over Hanna and Jake Wagner’s daughter, Sophia, who was in Jake’s custody at the time of the killings.
The series will shed light on the legal proceedings that unfolded as the case progressed. Jake Wagner, the father of the child, pleaded guilty to eight counts of aggravated murder and offered testimony against his mother, father, and brother. In exchange, the death penalty was removed from the table, and he was sentenced to eight consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole.
Angela Wagner, Jake’s mother, pleaded guilty to various charges, including conspiracy, aggravated burglary, tampering with evidence, forgery, unauthorized use of property, and unlawful possession of a dangerous ordinance. Jake’s older brother, George Wagner IV, pleaded not guilty and stood trial on murder charges. A jury ultimately found him guilty of eight counts of aggravated murder and additional charges, resulting in eight consecutive life sentences plus 121 years.
As for William “Billy” Wagner, a trial date has yet to be set.
Oxygen True Crime previously covered the Pike County murders in the 2019 special titled “The Piketon Family Murders.” The upcoming series aims to provide a comprehensive and gripping account of the shocking events, giving viewers an opportunity to delve deeper into the tragic case that captivated the nation.