The Piketon Massacre

While we’ve heard the details about the 2016 murder of the Rhoden family, little has been uncovered about the accused family…until now. With never before heard, first-hand accounts of the Wagner family’s dynamics, interactions and personalities, we begin to gain an understanding of what might have driven them to commit such atrocious acts.

Check us out online:

www.instagram.com/kt_studios

www.instagram.com/PiketonMassacre

www.twitter.com/PiketonMassacre

www.facebook.com/PiketonMassacre

www.kt-studios.com

Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2016, eight members of the Rhoden family were brutally murdered in their homes. The crimes divided the small community of Pike County and spawned a mystery that spanned five years. For two seasons, The Piketon Massacre covered the case, which included the arrests of another local family with intrinsic ties to the victims, the Wagners. The accused pleaded their innocence until last year- on the 5th anniversary of the murders- one of the defendants changed his plea to guilty. Now, as season three begins, another shocking courtroom twist and many divergent theories promise to change the course of Ohio’s largest criminal investigation and may finally help the Rhoden family see justice.

Check us out online:

www.instagram.com/kt_studios

www.instagram.com/PiketonMassacre

www.twitter.com/PiketonMassacre

www.facebook.com/PiketonMassacre

www.kt-studios.com

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Looking to get caught up on the intersection between the Rhoden and Wagner families as well as everything we’ve learned about the complex case before the season 3 premiere? In this episode we revisit the tragic story of the Rhoden family as well as the legal proceedings that followed. 

Starting Wednesday, May 25, listen to The Piketon Massacre, a production of KT Studios on the iHeartRadio App, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Check us out online:

www.instagram.com/kt_studios

www.instagram.com/PiketonMassacre

www.twitter.com/PiketonMassacre

www.facebook.com/PiketonMassacre

www.kt-studios.com

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2016, eight members of the Rhoden family were viciously murdered in their homes. For over six years, Ohio’s largest criminal investigation and biggest mystery have been filled with many unanswered questions. However, now with the trials starting and local residents opening up for the first time, we’re finally getting a glimpse into the night in question and perhaps more importantly, the minds of a killer family.

Starting Wednesday, May 25, listen to The Piketon Massacre, a production of KT Studios on the iHeartRadio App, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Check us out online:

www.instagram.com/kt_studios

www.instagram.com/PiketonMassacre

www.twitter.com/PiketonMassacre

www.facebook.com/PiketonMassacre

www.kt-studios.com

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From television and film, to podcasts and books, the true-crime genre is exploding across seemingly all media platforms. On a special bonus episode of the Piketon Massacre: Return to Pike County, we take an in-depth look at the popularity of true-crime stories and our own fascination with the darker side of humanity. A roundtable of psychologists and reporters give us their take on why they are drawn to these stories, the idea of being on the other side of a true-crime documentary, and what draws one particular demographic towards true-crime content.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A trial date for accused brother George Wagner has been set for April 4th, 2022, in the Rhoden murder case. But, what will happen in the next few months, remains to be seen. In the season two finale, we answer the most pressing listener questions with a panel of Piketon Massacre regular contributors, including reporters Angenette Levy, James Pilcher and forensics expert Joseph Morgan. We explore the important role that listeners played in shaping the direction of the season. We also delve deeper into other regional cases we've covered this season, the personal and professional effects of covering the Rhoden murders, as well as what the future could hold for George, Angela and Billy Wagner as they await trial.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Rhoden family member puts us in touch with a friend whose family was struck by a tragic double murder. In episode ten, Piketon resident, Angie Montgomery, recounts the story of her cousin, Curtis Francis and his fiancée, Jennifer Burgette's murders in 2006. Angie takes us through the ups and downs of the 14 year investigation, including the discovery of an archive of eyewitness statements, the loss of potentially incriminating evidence and the work of one Cincinnati reporter who never gave up on the case. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pike County is no stranger to misconduct by local officials, as is seen in the case of former Pike County Sheriff, Charlie Reader. In part two of 25 Miles South, reporter Nikki Blankenship picks up where she left off in episode seven - exploring allegations of abuse of power in a community just south of PIketon. When Nikki comes into some damning information tying a Portsmouth, Ohio lawyer and former city councilman to long standing rumors of sex trafficking, her lead is followed up by reporters from the Cincinnati Enquirer. Their investigation leads them into the underbelly of the Southern Ohio sex trade.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two months after Jake Wagner pled guilty to killing five of the eight Rhodens, accused brother George Wagner IV heads back to court for a pre-trial hearing. In episode eight, we catch up with regular Piketon Massacre contributors, Angenette Levy, Jody Barr and Joseph Morgan for a roundtable discussion, covering everything from George Wagner's most recent hearing, their earliest insights into the investigation and thoughts on the questions that continue to cloak the horrific crime in mystery.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

About 30 minutes away from Piketon is Portsmouth, Ohio, a once bustling community that fell on hard times and became the epicenter of the Opioid crisis. In episode seven, we talk to local journalist, Nikki Blankenship, who did a deep investigation into the issues her hometown faced, including serious allegations of sex trafficking. What she found was that Pike County isn’t the only tight knit community with secrets.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.