Family accused of planning ‘most bizarre’ mass murder
United States
Authorities arrested a family of four yesterday over 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 rumours that it was a drug hit.
Ohio Attorney General Mike Dewine said a grand jury had 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 said the custody of a young child played a role. He added that the accused had carefully planned the murders for months.
Those indicted were Edward ‘‘Jake’’ Wagner, 26; his father George ‘‘Billy’’ Wagner III, 47; Billy Wagner’s wife, Angela Wagner, 48; and George Wagner, 27. The four lived near the scenes of the massacre about 100km south of Columbus, and had long been considered chief suspects, Dewine said.
The victims were Jake Wagner’s longtime former girlfriend, Hanna Rhoden, 19, who shared custody of their daughter, as well as her parents, siblings and other relatives. Rhoden was in bed with her newborn when she was killed. The baby wasn’t hurt.
‘‘I just might tell you this is just the most bizarre story I’ve ever seen in being involved in law enforcement,’’ Dewine said.
John Clark, 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,’’ he said.
Dewine and Pike County Sheriff Charles Reader said the Wagners studied the layouts of the victims’ properties, as well as their habits, routines, sleeping locations and pets. The indictments accuse them 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.
Authorities said marijuana growing operations were found at three of the four crime scenes. While this is not uncommon in this corner of Appalachia, it stoked rumours that the slayings were drug-related. –AP