Authorities suggest that custody dispute played role in 2016 slaying of Ohio family

Waverly, Ohio — Authorities arrested a family of four Tuesday in the gruesome 2016 slayings of eight people from another family in rural Ohio, a crime that prosecutors suggested stemmed from a custody dispute.

The announcement marked the culmination of a massive investigative effort that began after seven adults and a teenage boy were found shot in the head at four separate homes in April 2016. The killings terrified local residents and spawned rumors that it was a drug hit.

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine said a grand jury indicted the four on aggravated murder charges and they could be sentenced to death if convicted. DeWine gave scant detail about why the victims were killed, but he said the custody of a young child played a role. He added that the accused had carefully planned the murders for months.

“There certainly was an obsession with custody, obsession with control of children,” DeWine said.

Those indicted were Edward “Jake” Wagner, 26, his father George “Billy” Wagner III, 47; Billy Wagner’s wife, 48-year-old Angela Wagner and George Wagner, 27. The four lived near the scenes of the massacre about 60 miles south of Columbus and had long been considered chief suspects, DeWine said.

“They did this quickly, coldly, calmly, and very carefully. But not carefully enough,” said Pike County Sheriff Charles Reader. “They left traces. They left a trail.”

The victims were Jake Wagner’s longtime former girlfriend, 19-year-old Hanna Rhoden, who shared custody of their daughter, her parents, siblings and other relatives. Rhoden had been in bed with her newborn when she was killed. The baby wasn’t hurt.

A coroner said all but one of the victims was shot more than once, including two people shot five times and one shot nine times. Some also had bruising, consistent with the first 911 caller’s description of two victims appearing to have been beaten.

“I just might tell you this is just the most bizarre story I’ve ever seen in being involved in law enforcement,” said DeWine, who was elected governor earlier this month.

A lawyer for the Wagner family maintained their innocence.

“We look forward to the day when the true culprits will be discovered and brought to justice for this terrible tragedy,” the lawyer, John Clark, said in a statement Tuesday. “The Wagners are also very hopeful that in the ensuing months there will be a thorough vetting of all the facts.”

DeWine and Reader said Tuesday that the Wagners studied the layouts of the victims’ properties, as well as their habits, routines, sleeping locations and pets. The indictments accuse the Wagners of tampering with phones, cameras, a gun silencer, shell casings and parts of a home security system.

DeWine said there was “absolutely no evidence” anyone else was involved.

Investigators scrambling to determine who targeted the Rhoden family and why conducted over 130 interviews and processed over 100 pieces of evidence and 550 tips, with assistance from more than 20 law enforcement agencies. The last significant piece of evidence was collected Oct. 30, DeWine said.

First mention of the suspects came in June 2017, when authorities announced they were seeking information about the Wagners, including details on their personal and business interactions, and conversations people may have had with them.

None was named a suspect at the time. Investigators also said they had searched property in southern Ohio sold by the Wagners.