WAVERLY, Ohio (WCMH) – Three members of the Wagner family learned their fate on Friday for their involvement in the Rhoden family massacre.
Judge Jonathan Hein issued sentences for Angela Wagner, her son Edward “Jake” Wagner and her mother Rita Newcomb, in Pike County Common Pleas Court on Friday morning. The hearing is set to be followed by another during the afternoon for George “Billy” Wagner III, the husband of Angela Wagner, to discuss his upcoming trial.
Angela Wagner was sentenced to 30 years in prison. Factoring in the about six years she has already served, she will spend a remaining 23-plus years in prison. Upon release, she will be face two to five years of adult supervision and be required to register as a violent offender.
Jake Wagner was sentenced to life in prison with the chance of parole after 32 years, throwing out an earlier agreement that would have imprisoned him for the rest of his life with no eligibility for parole. Since he has credit for time served, he will have the chance to face the parole board in 26 years. The judge said he granted him parole eligibility because he helped the state’s case. He will be required to register as violent offender and a sex offender if released.
Jake Wagner asked the judge if he could address the Rhoden family, then spoke for more than 10 minutes, a longer duration than the judge allowed the family members to speak all together. He said he is sorry for what he did, but not sorry he got caught. He also addressed specific family members, telling them “Hate will not heal you.” At that point, several family members got up and walked out.
“How greedy are you Jake Wagner. You killed your daughter’s mother. You are evil. You are the spawn of Satan and Satan is Billy Wagner,” Andrea Shoemaker, mother of murder victim Hannah Gilley, said. ”I pray your grandchildren and your children never want anything to do with you. … I hope your daughter hates you with the passion and as much heart as I hate you Jake Wagner.”
Newcomb was sentenced to five years of adult supervision, will pay a $750 fine and could serve 83 days in jail if she breaks rules outlined by the court.
The Wagners’ Friday court appearances mark the first time they have been in the same location on the same day since their 2018 arrests.
All three family members sentenced pleaded guilty to charges connected to the killing of eight members of the Rhoden family, most of whom were shot while they slept. Three young children, including a baby, were found unharmed. Billy Wagner is accused of helping his sons, Jake Wagner and George Wagner IV, kill the family members across four homes on April 22, 2016.
Prosecutors claimed the murders stemmed from a custody dispute over the daughter of Jake Wagner and Hanna May Rhoden, one of the victims. The other victims were Gilley, Christopher Rhoden Sr., Dana Rhoden, Clarence “Frankie” Rhoden, Christopher Rhoden Jr., Gary Rhoden and Kenneth Rhoden.
Billy Wagner, Angela Wagner, Jake Wagner and George Wagner were arrested in 2018 and faced the death penalty. All originally pleaded not guilty, but Angela Wagner and Jake Wagner switched their pleas to avoid the death penalty.
George Wagner pleaded not guilty and took the case to trial. He was convicted on 22 charges, including eight aggravated murder charges, but the judge dropped the death penalty consideration against him. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
Newcomb was accused of forging custody documents related to the case and lying about it to a grand jury and investigators. She pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of obstructing official business.