Sentences Delivered in Ohio’s Notorious 2016 Pike County Massacre

Three members of the Wagner family received prison terms for their roles in the killings of eight Rhoden family members, with a surprising reduction in one defendant's sentence.

Edward 'Jake' Wagner, who admitted to killing five of the eight victims, was sentenced to 32 years in prison with the possibility of parole, a significant reduction from his expected life sentences.
Angela Wagner, Jake’s mother, received a 30-year sentence for her role in planning and covering up the murders, while her mother, Rita Newcomb, was sentenced to probation for lying to investigators.
The massacre, described by the judge as a crime of 'boundless depravity,' stemmed from a custody dispute over Jake Wagner’s niece, whose mother was among the victims.
Victim family members delivered emotional impact statements in court, with one calling the Wagners 'evil' and 'the spawn of Satan,' while others walked out during Jake Wagner’s lengthy religious apology.
The final trial for George 'Billy' Wagner III, the family patriarch, is pending, with details on its location and start date yet to be announced after a change of venue was granted.