Two and half years after the execution-style murders of eight people in rural Pike County, four members of one family were arrested Tuesday for the killings.

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine said the suspects, who were friends with the victims, spent months planning the cold-blooded murders and carefully covered up their tracks.

"Members of one family conspired, planned, carried out and allegedly covered up their violent act to wipe out members of another family,"
said Pike County Sheriff Charles Reader.

DeWine's office says the following four members of the Wagner family, of South Webster, were taken into custody Tuesday afternoon and were charged with planning and carrying out the murders: 

  • George "Billy" Wagner III, 47
  • Angela Wagner, 48
  • George Wagner IV, 27 
  • Edward "Jake" Wagner, 26

Each suspect faces eight counts of aggravated murder with death penalty specifications. Billy and Angela are husband and wife and George and Jake are their two adult sons.

Seven members of the Rhoden family and a fiancee of one of the Rhoden victims, were found shot to death at four separate homes in Pike County on April 22, 2016. Most of the victims were killed as they slept.

"The suspects spent months planning the crimes. They studied the victim's habits and their routines, they knew the layouts of their homes, they knew where they slept," said DeWine.

Three young children's lives were spared- one of them the daughter of suspect Jake Wagner and victim Hanna May Rhoden.

"Again, we have to be careful about what we say but there certainly was an obsession with custody. Obsession with control of children. I just might tell you this is just the most bizarre story I've ever seen in being involved in law enforcement," DeWine said.

DeWine said that he could not elaborate more but the story will unfold in the trial.

All four suspects are also accused of forging custody documents and had also moved to Alaska after the killings and then came back in the spring.

DeWine's office lists the victims as Christopher Rhoden, Sr., 40, his ex-wife Dana Manley Rhoden, 37, and their three children, Hanna May Rhoden, 19, Christopher Rhoden Jr., 16, and Clarence "Frankie" Rhoden, 20. Frankie Rhoden's fiancée, Hannah "Hazel" Gilley, 20, was also killed, along with the elder Christopher Rhoden's brother Kenneth Rhoden, 44, and cousin Gary Rhoden, 38.

Just last week, a homemade firearm suppressor was the final piece of the puzzle for investigators.

"What solved this case was just hard tough police work day after day after day," DeWine said.

Also arrested Tuesday on separate charges for allegedly misleading investigators were Rita Newcomb, 65, of South Webster and Fredericka Wagner, 76, of Lucasville. Newcomb is Angela Wagner's mother and Fredericka Wagner is Billy Wagner's mother.