This is a story of the Wagner family and the Rhoden family.  Jake Wagner and Hanna Rhoden began dating when Hanna was 13 and Jake was 18.  Hanna became pregnant with Jake's baby when she was 15. Those who knew Jake Wagner and Hanna Rhoden said that Jake Wagner was very controlling and had been verbally and physically abusive to Hanna. Hanna Rhoden broke up with Jake Wagner and they both dated other people. Hanna had a child with another man and Jake Wagner married another woman, briefly. The Wagner family wanted custody of Sophia and accused Hanna Rhoden of dating men that might sexually assault Sophia. There was no proof this was the case, but it fueled the rage in the Wagner family toward Hanna Rhoden. When the Wagner's tried to force Hanna Rhoden to sign papers to turn custody of Sophia over to Jake Wagner, she refused and posted a message on Facebook that she would “never sign papers ever. They will have to kill me first.” That is when the Wagner family decided to kill Hanna Rhoden, as well as her relatives so that custody would fall to them.  Jake Wagner allegedly began a relationship with Hanna Rhoden when she was 13, impregnating her when she was 15 and he was 20. In addition to homicide, he has been charged with unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. After she ended the relationship, prosecutors say, he began threatening her.The bodies of the Rhoden family members were first discovered on the morning of April 22, 2016 by Bobby Jo Manley, the ex-sister of Chris Rhoden Sr.There were four locations and eight victims, all killed in one night.  The victims were: Hannah Hazel Gilley, 20,  Clarence “Frankie” Rhoden, 20,  Hanna May Rhoden, 19, Dana Lynn Manley Rhoden, 37, Christopher Don Rhoden Jr., 16, Christopher Don Rhoden Sr., 40, Gary Dwayne Rhoden, 38, and Kenneth Wayne Rhoden, 44.

Pike County Massacre - sentencing

Confessed killer gets life in prison with chance for parole

Angela Wagner - 30 years with possibility of parole (credited with six years and six weeks served)

Jake Wagner sentenced to Life with Possibility of Parole after 32 years

Rita Newcomb sentenced to 5 years of probation and $750 fine

Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack talk about some of the decisions that have been made in the case of the Piketon Massacre. Breaking down the crimes of the night, four locations in one night, wiping out generations of one family, moving an infant child next to the bosom of his dead mother so the baby can suckle if he gets hungry. Joe explains each crime scene to help explain what type of planning was required. 

 

 

 

Piketon Massacre
Transcript Highlights

00:00.01 Introduction

02:55.22 Sentencing at Piketon

06:05.91 Mother was the Puppetmaster

10:12.49 Not a death penalty case

15:21.13 Hannah was 13 when she began dating Jake

20:01.28 Hannah says "I'm never signing any papers

25:29.20 Mother bought new shoes at Walmart

30:29.13 Angela Wagner hung baskets in kitchen 

34:57.12 Piketon Massacre sentencing 

40:35.65 Is this really the best outcome

46:06.07 Conclusion

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