Mother and Son Sentenced to Extended Prison Terms for Involvement in the Murders of Eight Ohio Family Members

COLUMBUS, Ohio—On Friday, two additional family members convicted in the murders of eight individuals from an Ohio family were handed lengthy prison sentences for their involvement in the 2016 shootings, as the prosecutions approach their conclusion in what has been referred to as the most horrific crime in modern Ohio history.

Visiting Judge Jonathan Hein sentenced Edward “Jake” Wagner to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole in 32 years—having received 12 years for gun-related charges and an additional 20 for the murders of five out of the eight victims.

This decision was unexpected, considering Wagner had previously pled guilty to aggravated murder and other charges, agreeing to serve eight consecutive life sentences without the chance of parole. However, Judge Hein noted he weighed the sentences of other individuals involved in the case and recognized Wagner’s cooperation with law enforcement in unraveling the murders of seven adults and a teenager from the Rhoden family in southern Ohio’s Pike County.

Wagner’s mother, Angela Wagner, was also sentenced by Hein to 30 years in prison, with credit for six years already served. She had confessed to her part in orchestrating the killings.

Additonally, Angela’s mother, Rita Holcomb, was sentenced to five years of probation, a $750 fine, and a suspended 180-day jail term, having already served seven days for lying to investigators.

“Each generation reveals those capable of showcasing the depths of human depravity, and that’s what this case exemplified,” the judge stated before delivering the sentences in a courtroom located in Waverly, roughly 80 miles (129 kilometers) south of Columbus. “It demonstrated the limitless depravity of individuals who exhibit a total disregard for others, motivated solely by their own self-interest.”

During the emotional session, Andrea Shoemaker, mother of shooting victim Hannah Gilley, labeled Jake Wagner as the “spawn of Satan” and described his mother as “evil.” A faction of the victims’ supporters later exited the crowded courtroom in protest as Wagner spoke extensively about Christian forgiveness in his final address to the judge.

Wagner recounted that two to three weeks following the murders, he offered the most genuine prayer of his life.

“I implored God, saying, ‘Guide my family and me back to the correct path, by any means necessary,’” he shared. “I can affirm today that I do not regret getting caught. While I am remorseful for my actions, I believe that being apprehended was a divine intervention in response to my prayer.”

George Wagner IV, Jake’s brother and Angela’s son, was sentenced to eight consecutive life sentences without any possibility of parole in June. The judge aimed to set Jake’s sentence apart from that of his brother, as Jake had cooperated with law enforcement while George opted for a trial. Hein also acknowledged that, although facing a maximum of 30 years in prison, Angela had the capacity to halt the ruthless murder plot with a single phone call but chose not to.

According to prosecutors, the Wagner family planned the killings over a child custody dispute involving Wagner’s niece, whose mother was one of the victims.

The tragic shootings in April 2016, which occurred across three mobile homes and a camper near Piketon, instilled fear in the local community of rural Ohio and initially led to speculations regarding potential drug cartel involvement. The extensive investigation and subsequent prosecution are regarded as among the state’s most comprehensive.

The victims included Christopher Rhoden Sr., 40; his ex-wife Dana Rhoden, 37; their children Clarence “Frankie” Rhoden, 20; Hanna Rhoden, 19; and Christopher Rhoden Jr., 16; Hannah Gilley, 20, who was engaged to Clarence; Kenneth Rhoden, 44, who was Christopher Rhoden Sr.’s brother; and their cousin Gary Rhoden, 38.

The patriarch of the Wagner family, George “Billy” Wagner III, remains the last family member facing charges in this case. Recently, Judge Hein agreed to relocate his trial outside of Pike County, a small rural community that is already well-acquainted with the details of the case.

By Julie Carr Smyth