OH Pike County: 8 in Rhoden Family Murdered Over Custody Issue 4 Members Wagner Family Arrested#44

[KentuckyMama]

My guess would be no. I thought DeWine said that there were only 4 people involved.

That's JMO.

I will have to go hunting for a source, but I remember DeWine saying, not a quote, there would be no further arrests, that they had everyone involved. If I remember correctly, this was at the press conference that announced the arrests of all six. I don't remember him saying *only* four were involved. I'm gonna see if I can find it. Would be nice to see further charges on FW if she did buy the vests or other items used with her Amazon account. JMO.
ETA

• 6 members of the Wagner family were arrested today
• George “Billy” Wagner III, 47; Edward “Jake” Wagner, 26; Angela Wagner, 48; and George Wagner IV, 27, are charged with aggravated murder
• Rita Newcomb, 65, and Fredericka Wagner, 76, are charged with obstructing justice, perjury

There is no evidence anyone else was involved in the killings, DeWine said.
“The people who did it are in custody,” he said.

The six were indicted in the deaths of Christopher Rhoden Sr., 40; Dana Manley Rhoden, 37; Hanna May Rhoden, 19; Christopher Rhoden Jr., 16; Clarence “Frankie” Rhoden, 20; Hannah “Hazel” Gilley, 20; Kenneth Rhoden, 44; and Gary Rhoden, 38.
Pike County murders: DeWine lays out charges in 2016 Rhoden killings

 

[Betty P]

Or maybe he had more decomposition because he had more gunshot wounds or because of the location of the gunshot wounds. For example, he was the only one shot in the torso and extremities.

But the Chris Sr. crime scene was different from the others so it does look like, from that perspective, that he was shot earlier but if so
then they would have had to wait around for Gary--- which makes no sense. It would be like going after Chris Jr. and HR first, then waiting for Dana to come home from work.

At trials we won't hear from the Wagners how events unfolded but the prosecution witnesses, with their expert forensic testimony, can reconstruct details of the crime scenes and answer some questions like.....

Where was Chris Jr. found? Was Chris Sr. shot earlier? Why were Chris and or Gary dragged through Chris's house? Was Dana found near the front door ? What about the dogs? If there was no forced entry then how did they enter the 4 homes? Why Kenny? Where did the dollar bills come from? Why all the terrible aggressive overkill but less gunshots for HR and Kenny? Why those 8?

Biggest question? JUST WHY?

Yes, hopefully, the public will get some of the answers we've been waiting for. We don't need to know all the details, but some idea of what happened that night and, as you say, why it happened. As for family, I'm assuming they've learned more details from LE by now. I hope many of their questions have been answered, too and that they will some day find peace.

 

[Betty P]

I will have to go hunting for a source, but I remember DeWine saying, not a quote, there would be no further arrests, that they had everyone involed. If I remember correctly, this was at the press conference that announced the arrests of all six. I don't remember him saying *only* four were involved. I'm gonna see if I can find it. Would be nice to see further charges on FW if she did but the vests or other items used in her Amazon account. JMO.

Yes, I read that again recently. Check his PC or an interview he did shortly after. I may have posted it in the Media & Timelines thread.

ETA: Found it

Authorities: Custody dispute played role in slaying of 8

Investigators said they don't anticipate more arrests.

"We believe we have the killers," said DeWine. "We don't believe that anybody else was involved. We have absolutely no evidence that anybody else is involved. And we want to make that very clear to the people of Pike County."

 

[Deleted member 237253]

Contact wounds as indicated by soot from the gun pressed to frankie's head. If forensical analysis was done on those silencers would they be able to retrieve soot if they were submerged in water?

 

[OhioBlues]

My latest theory is the W's wanted custody and they killed every person in HR's family that could have obtained custody over them. HG, GR and KR knew too much so they had to kill them too or 2 of them were at the wrong place at the wrong time.

If BW and CR fought (there is no proof this happened) then did KR and GR observe the theoretical fight. Maybe it's something like that.

I actually do believe that it was all about custody and certain people had to be taken out for them to walk-free. They thought they were going to get away with this.

 

[Betty P]

My guess would be no. I thought DeWine said that there were only 4 people involved.

That's JMO.

Agree. She hasn't been charged as such. If she admits to purchasing the BPVs, she can always say she had no idea they were going to be used in the murders.

 

[Cool Cats]

Yes, hopefully, the public will get some of the answers we've been waiting for. We don't need to know all the details, but some idea of what happened that night and, as you say, why it happened. As for family, I'm assuming they've learned more details from LE by now. I hope many of their questions have been answered, too and that they will some day find peace.

Exactly what I was thinking, that the family has gotten some answers, some inside information from LE that the general public doesn't know.

Like you, I hope answers can help them some day find peace. One of them said "those kids are all we've got left." The 4 little kids doing well and being happy can bring some peace. For family to be able to see them --- for family seeing Sophia get a happy forever home---for Sophia to know them and see her sister and cousins---these things I hope can bring them some peace.

 

[GoBuckeyes]

If they were business partners and IF Billy was still not financially secure, I could very well see how he and AW may have been jealous.

I finally decided to look at probate records again and it appears CSR had $75,623.61 in the bank. This seems like a lot of cash for his trade, especially since he just purchased Dana's place. My Opinion

I know you weren't judging. I mistook the "being closer to one brother" as you knew them but I see that you meant your brothers.

Yes the family was all close and very proud people. Just common everyday folks. We have Hillbillys, but they were Mountainwilliams *standing joke here*. They had a little more. Ha Ha.

It's all good and I just wish this was over with.

Standing joke here, too, prob most of Ohio I'd guess. lol It always makes me smile.

 

[GoBuckeyes]

Thankx! That explains why I've seen photos of them before. There are many photos online of Fred's horses and dogs and pigs etc....from the Flying W Farms Website, and photos of people with animals, so I thought they were actually employees.

I was curious if Fred's older son would come to court and support his mother, or even if they have a relationship at all. Details are sketchy.

We know now that RW is close to GW3 and was with him when he was arrested. And we know she visits him in jail or at least communicates with him, but it would be nice for her to have support from her other brother and sister -in-law.

They may still be close and offer emotional support, even if they don't appear w her in court. For some, they'd draw the line at showing support for 4 family members accused of murdering 8.

 

[Cool Cats]

They may still be close and offer emotional support, even if they don't appear w her in court. For some, they'd draw the line at showing support for 4 family members accused of murdering 8.

Unless they believe they are innocent.

 

[Dudly]

Contact wounds as indicated by soot from the gun pressed to frankie's head. If forensical analysis was done on those silencers would they be able to retrieve soot if they were submerged in water?

The "tattoo", I believe it is called, is from unburned and/or burning gunpowder. here is a description:
GUNSHOT WOUNDS

Definitions:
Fouling: Soot, residue of completely burned powder, dust-like, wipes off
Stippling (tattooing): Unburned powder and debris, causing punctate abrasions on target. Larger and heavier so travels farther. Does not wipe off.
Margin of abrasion: Characteristic of enterance wound but can be seen in shored exit.

Range of Fire:
Contact: muzzle of gun touches target
- Tight: fouling in tissue, muzzle stamp
- Loose: fouling on skin and in tissue, searing
Close: <6" Stippling & Fouling
Intermediate: 6-30" Stippling
Distant: >30" Neither
(Distances approximate and depend on many variables. For accurate assessment need to test fire weapon with ammunition used.)


Enterance: margin of abrasion, round or oval defect, size usu smaller than bullet (elasticity of skin), +/- fouling/stippling
Fouling/Stippling may be absent: clothes, hair, blood washes away soot, handling, efficient ammunition, type of powder.
Longer the barrel, further soot will travel; fouling with handgun seen with naked eye if fired up to distance of 2x barrel length
False Stippling: Suture removal, broken glass, insects, shotgun packing
Keyhole skull wound: shallow angle shot where bullet splits into 2 fragments
Graze: skin tags point to gun

Gunshot Wounds

And another with pictures:
Interpretation of Gunshot Wounds: Validated Science or Forensic Alchemy | The Truth About Forensic Science

 

[Dudly]

Exactly what I was thinking, that the family has gotten some answers, some inside information from LE that the general public doesn't know.

Like you, I hope answers can help them some day find peace. One of them said "those kids are all we've got left." The 4 little kids doing well and being happy can bring some peace. For family to be able to see them --- for family seeing Sophia get a happy forever home---for Sophia to know them and see her sister and cousins---these things I hope can bring them some peace.

What they did to those little kids lasts a life time. They can't be bounced on granpa's knee, can't get cookies from grandma, can't be taken for rides on a 4-wheeler by uncles, can't have mommy kiss it and make it better when they get a booboo. It really pi**es me off thinking about that. They have altered those kids life permanently.

 

[Johnny B Bad]

Unless they believe they are innocent.

Does anyone here think Ohio would bring the Wagners to court if they didn’t think they weren’t guilty, M.DeWine knows and the rest of LE from Ohio Thur Canada up to Alaska knows these people committed murder or they wouldn’t spent $100,000 of dollars saying so, it’s like that old saying if it walks like a duck and quack like a duck then it’s a duck

 

[Dudly]

They may still be close and offer emotional support, even if they don't appear w her in court. For some, they'd draw the line at showing support for 4 family members accused of murdering 8.

I believe they were interested in hearing exactly what the charges are against FW in case they get questioned about it. It doesn't mean they were there to support anyone. Just my opinion only...

 

[sunshineray]

Yes I agree and want to know why the cowards shot him? Why Kenny? Gary maybe because he happened to be living with Chris, but Kenny?

I think the common denominator was the MJ. DS did say he saw plants on the barn/garage floor at KR's.

 

[Betty P]

I think the common denominator was the MJ. DS did say he saw plants on the barn/garage floor at KR's.

IIRC, DS said he saw the remnants of it. If accurate, that means the Wags stole most of the plants. They also probably robbed KR for any cash he had. Maybe it wasn't enough, so they left the bills scattered around the crime scene.

 

[Dudly]

I think the common denominator was the MJ. DS did say he saw plants on the barn/garage floor at KR's.

One possibility is the Ws wanting in on the action, thinking that it was easy money, and being turned down, or maybe cut out, because of the custody issues. Just an opinion...

 

[Dudly]

IIRC, DS said he saw the remnants of it. If accurate, that means the Wags stole most of the plants. They also probably robbed KR for any cash he had. Maybe it wasn't enough, so they left the bills scattered around the crime scene.

It was flat(s) of small plants that DS said he saw in the garage. A number was never mentioned that I know of.

 

[sunshineray]

This article is very informative as to the shots.

Rhodens shot in head at point-blank range

Loomis do you know, was it ever explained in the media why they couldn't even take notes when viewing those reports?

"Reporters began inspecting the single-page reports Wednesday following an Ohio Supreme Court decision allowing journalists to view the preliminary results. Reporters were not allowed to copy documents or photos or even take notes."

 

[sunshineray]

One possibility is the Ws wanting in on the action, thinking that it was easy money, and being turned down, or maybe cut out, because of the custody issues. Just an opinion...

There are many possibilities for peripheral angst between the two families and only one we know for sure that played a central part, custody.