OH Pike County: 8 in Rhoden Family Murdered Over Custody Issue, 4 Members Wagner Family Arrested#49

[Betty P]

JBB, I agree with you 100%. IMO, HG, FR & CRs, GR murders started at the same time. I think GW3 was infuriated with CRs because these once good friends, now hated each other. He wanted CRs but had to do it by ambush. I also believe that GW3 was whooped by CRs previously so thus the ambush plus, he had GW4 as extra muscle. JW was livid with HG for introducing CG to HR so JW wanted that evil deed for himself. Could JW do it alone? I think he lacks the intestinal fortitude so he had Momma help. JMO

Welcome, Justus Forall!

I do think many of the reasons the W's committed these murders were revealed on social media in the early days of the investigation. I've no doubt some of them, most likely JW and AW, were out on SM pushing conspiracy theories about the killers, but also revealing their motives by using fake accounts to trash the victims.

JMO, a lot of what they did, why they did it and their plan to set up the Manleys and blame the victims was revealed on social media in the weeks and months after the murders. I suspect they were very active with fake IDs, sock puppet accounts, etc. to spread misinformation and start rumors.

But in the process, they revealed some of what happened: the fights with the Rhodens weeks before the murders, details about the crime scenes, etc.

JMO, and all that may be used against them.

 

[Johnny B Bad]

JBB, I agree with you 100%. IMO, HG, FR & CRs, GR murders started at the same time. I think GW3 was infuriated with CRs because these once good friends, now hated each other. He wanted CRs but had to do it by ambush. I also believe that GW3 was whooped by CRs previously so thus the ambush plus, he had GW4 as extra muscle. JW was livid with HG for introducing CG to HR so JW wanted that evil deed for himself. Could JW do it alone? I think he lacks the intestinal fortitude so he had Momma help. JMO

I agree with you and I think that JW was the one going thru the woods that night collecting cameras/trail cams, he was the only one of the Wags fit enough to get it done quick, JMO
That’s the reason I believe that AW was there during the murders, it took all 4Wagners to pull the killings off, the killings time line could have started around 1:00AM, because CRobinson was at FRs around 10:30PM,and CH was at Dana’s house at 11:30PM,the Rhodens also had to have time to fall asleep, I wonder how long the Wags laid in the weeds waiting/stocking the victims that night, JMO

 

[Cool Cats]

At that point Reader was putting out statements like (and I am paraphrasing here as I don't have the link to the article where it was said) "family, friends, ect are lying and we want you to tell us what you know regardless of any criminal activity of your own involved. We are investigating a murder not other criminal activity." I think because of that text sent to James by Jake at 2:00AM Reader believed James knew more than he did or was involved with Jake and crew in the murders. So they put a GPS on his truck to see how many times he met with Jake and crew. They arrested him to force him under threat of charges to tell all he knew. Lenny said he was arrested because of that "text".

JMO

As Pike County sheriff is sworn in, he says Rhoden murders remain priority
"... Reader also said he believes the answers lie within the inner circle of relatives, friends, neighbors and close acquaintances of those who were killed.

“With the amount of personnel and resources we have committed to this case since April, I have no doubt that, had we been given truthful and accurate information from those who are closest to our victims, we would have had it solved by now,” Reader said in an interview at his office before the swearing-in..."

Is someone obstructing Pike Co. investigation?

Sheriff Reader: "Be truthful, or we will be coming to arrest and charge anyone that are obstructing any officials investigating this horrific crime."

"Including family, friends and neighbors of the victims, if necessary. This case will be solved, we are working for the 8 victims of murder. Anyone that has or attempts, to delay, hamper, or mislead authorities in any fashion will be charged and arrested. Period."

This is the first time Sheriff Reader has mentioned the family, friends and neighbors of the Rhoden family as possibly obstructing the investigation.

 

[Betty P]

As Pike County sheriff is sworn in, he says Rhoden murders remain priority
"... Reader also said he believes the answers lie within the inner circle of relatives, friends, neighbors and close acquaintances of those who were killed.

“With the amount of personnel and resources we have committed to this case since April, I have no doubt that, had we been given truthful and accurate information from those who are closest to our victims, we would have had it solved by now,” Reader said in an interview at his office before the swearing-in..."

Is someone obstructing Pike Co. investigation?

Sheriff Charles: "Be truthful, or we will be coming to arrest and charge anyone that are obstructing any officials investigating this horrific crime."

"Including family, friends and neighbors of the victims, if necessary. This case will be solved, we are working for the 8 victims of murder. Anyone that has or attempts, to delay, hamper, or mislead authorities in any fashion will be charged and arrested. Period."

This is the first time Sheriff Reader has mentioned the family, friends and neighbors of the Rhoden family as possibly obstructing the investigation.

Yeah, it sounds like LE were still believing the "tips" from the W's. JMO, the theory may have gone something like "the Rhodens were involved in big time drug dealing. They were killed by a cartel. BJM and JM knew about it, they helped whoever killed them by letting the killers know, yada, yada, yada..."

I wonder who the neighbors were who the W's were trying to throw under the bus? Probably best not to speculate, as those people are innocent and were likely harmed by the W's giving false info to BCI about them.

 

[Betty P]

My 3 Cents Only.....

Reader said it was done by locals, this was in October 2016. So yes I am sure LE suspected them back then, but by May 2017 they had acquired more evidence and they stopped suspecting them, instead they became the only suspects and LE needed to prove it.

JM's lawyer thought they arrested James to put pressure on him to talk. He didn't talk (because he's not part of the conspiracy) and charges were dropped.

"..Manley’s attorney, James Boulger, told the Dayton Daily News that the charges were simply a tactical move from the start.

“I think they want to put some pressure on him,” Boulger told the newspaper. “Try to induce him to give them information that they think that he has. That’s what I think that they’re up to.”
Charges in Rhoden case dropped, pending grand jury

The laser focus got the Wagner's talking amongst themselves in Alaska and in their vehicles. They were likely bugged in Alaska because I think they were bugged before Alaska so there would already be Probable Cause Warrants filed, although they have to be updated due to expiration and address changes.

Interesting theory, IDK. Let me think about it. Not sure if they wiretapped vehicles, but they may have tapped the hotel where they stayed before leaving for AK

 

[Cool Cats]

Yeah, it sounds like LE were still believing the "tips" from the W's. JMO, the theory may have gone something like "the Rhodens were involved in big time drug dealing. They were killed by a cartel. BJM and JM knew about it, they helped whoever killed them by letting the killers know, yada, yada, yada..."

I wonder who the neighbors were who the W's were trying to throw under the bus? Probably best not to speculate, as those people are innocent and were likely harmed by the W's giving false info to BCI about them.

You mean the people they named as Chris's business partners?

No wonder they hauled BJM and some others out of bed to interrogate them! I agree, the Manley's may have been tied into the murders, "courtesy" of the Wagners, by linking them to drugs.
LE didn't believe BJM's timeline and I wouldn't be surprised if that is because of lies told by the Wagners. Lies that BJM was over at Chris's place early to water MJ plants or some such nonsense. The "drugs" were the Wagner's "out".

 

[Betty P]

I agree with you and I think that JW was the one going thru the woods that night collecting cameras/trail cams, he was the only one of the Wags fit enough to get it done quick, JMO
That’s the reason I believe that AW was there during the murders, it took all 4Wagners to pull the killings off, the killings time line could have started around 1:00AM, because CRobinson was at FRs around 10:30PM,and CH was at Dana’s house at 11:30PM,the Rhodens also had to have time to fall asleep, I wonder how long the Wags laid in the weeds waiting/stocking the victims that night, JMO

Did they collect the trail/security cams before or after the murders? The reason I ask is that AW's discovery lists several trail cam recordings.

 

[Cool Cats]

Interesting theory, IDK. Let me think about it. Not sure if they wiretapped vehicles, but they may have tapped the hotel where they stayed before leaving for AK

Hotels! Yes. Never thought of that. The indictments show they did a trash pull at a Jackson hotel and if they can do that, they can do wiretaps as well.

 

[Betty P]

You mean the people they named as Chris's business partners?

No wonder they hauled BJM and some others out of bed to interrogate them! I agree, the Manley's may have been tied into the murders, "courtesy" of the Wagners, by linking them to drugs.
LE didn't believe BJM's timeline and I wouldn't be surprised if that is because of lies told by the Wagners. Lies that BJM was over at Chris's place early to water MJ plants or some such nonsense. The "drugs" were the Wagner's "out".

The Wags spun so many lies to LE and on social media, JMO, they probably had a hard time keeping their story straight.

JMO, 90% of what came out in the news media during the first year after the murders was BS fed to BCI & Reader by the W's. I think they threw out a lot of chaff, pointed a lot of fingers and sent LE on a wild goose chase.

None of the Manleys were involved in this in any way, regardless of what W's may have said or LE did.

 

[Betty P]

Hotels! Yes. Never thought of that. The indictments show they did a trash pull at a Jackson hotel and if they can do that, they can do wiretaps as well.

JMO, that may have been BCI's finally had a "light bulb" moment. They immediately realized they'd just let the W's leave town with kids in tow and who knows how much evidence.

 

[Johnny B Bad]

Did they collect the trail/security cams before or after the murders? The reason I ask is that AW's discovery lists several trail cam recordings.

It’s not none as of now but if I was the master mind it would be a slender person going thru woods and trails behind the mobile homes removing th, who knows JW could have helped installed the cameras, JMO

 

[Sleuthinsleuther]

Hotels! Yes. Never thought of that. The indictments show they did a trash pull at a Jackson hotel and if they can do that, they can do wiretaps as well.

Also their Alaska home was ready for them when they arrived. And by ready I mean bugged

 

[RAISINISBACK]

As Pike County sheriff is sworn in, he says Rhoden murders remain priority
"... Reader also said he believes the answers lie within the inner circle of relatives, friends, neighbors and close acquaintances of those who were killed.

“With the amount of personnel and resources we have committed to this case since April, I have no doubt that, had we been given truthful and accurate information from those who are closest to our victims, we would have had it solved by now,” Reader said in an interview at his office before the swearing-in..."

Is someone obstructing Pike Co. investigation?

Sheriff Reader: "Be truthful, or we will be coming to arrest and charge anyone that are obstructing any officials investigating this horrific crime."

"Including family, friends and neighbors of the victims, if necessary. This case will be solved, we are working for the 8 victims of murder. Anyone that has or attempts, to delay, hamper, or mislead authorities in any fashion will be charged and arrested. Period."

This is the first time Sheriff Reader has mentioned the family, friends and neighbors of the Rhoden family as possibly obstructing the investigation.

Thank you CC. I knew I read it but as usual too lazy to look it up. lol Well today a good excuse as I am really ill with some stomach virus.

 

[RAISINISBACK]

Yeah, it sounds like LE were still believing the "tips" from the W's. JMO, the theory may have gone something like "the Rhodens were involved in big time drug dealing. They were killed by a cartel. BJM and JM knew about it, they helped whoever killed them by letting the killers know, yada, yada, yada..."

I wonder who the neighbors were who the W's were trying to throw under the bus? Probably best not to speculate, as those people are innocent and were likely harmed by the W's giving false info to BCI about them.

Probably Lenny.

JMO

 

[Cool Cats]

Thank you CC. I knew I read it but as usual too lazy to look it up. lol Well today a good excuse as I am really ill with some stomach virus.

Sorry about your stomach virus Raisin, and I'm not saying this just to say it. I care, we all care and want you-----good to go!

Hey, we have 4, no, 5 trials coming up. Batten down the hatches ya'all, we are all in for a bumpy ride! LOL..

Not trying to make light of it, I know it's very serious business. The Rhoden family matters and should not be forgotten......ever.

 

[RAISINISBACK]

Sorry about your stomach virus Raisin, and I'm not saying this just to say it. I care, we all care and want you-----good to go!

Hey, we have 4, no, 5 trials coming up. Batten down the hatches ya'all, we are all in for a bumpy ride! LOL..

Not trying to make light of it, I know it's very serious business. The Rhoden family matters and should not be forgotten......ever.

Thank you CC. Probably something my grandkids dragged in.

 

[Kyshoegal]

The W4 might claim that there wasn't a fight but Chris Graves (Cincinnati Enquirer) did ask about the fight.


The Cincinnati Enquirer has an article dated 11/18/2018 (behind a paywall) that includes this:

Angela Wagner said in an email to The Enquirer on June 2, 2017.

Relatives of some of the victims describe the relationship differently. They said Jake Wagner and his dad argued and fought with the Rhodens in the weeks just prior to the killings.

Jake Wagner balked at that: “No, I did not go to Hanna’s home three weeks prior to April 22 and kick in the door demanding she sign over custody of Sophia,’’ he wrote in that June 2017 email. “I did not want that. I wanted to continue what we were doing. It was working just fine.”

Rhoden family massacre: Arrests throw child custody issue back to Ohio courts

This just made me think of something, by Angela making that comment “They were just putting down on paper what they were already doing," during my custody despute I was advised to document EVERYTHING. Every threat, date/time of communication (scheduled & unscheduled), calls, messages..all of it. So I wonder if she's going to try and use that as an explanation or defense for the stalking of HR??? JMO, thoughts

 

[Kyshoegal]

Sorry about your stomach virus Raisin, and I'm not saying this just to say it. I care, we all care and want you-----good to go!

Hey, we have 4, no, 5 trials coming up. Batten down the hatches ya'all, we are all in for a bumpy ride! LOL..

Not trying to make light of it, I know it's very serious business. The Rhoden family matters and should not be forgotten......ever.

Sometimes I think it gets lost how tragic some of these cases are. There were a lot of lives changed forever in one night. Children that will never know their mom/dad/grandmother..I don't know why but I'm concerned that GW4 is going first. I think I just felt his was the weakest case (IMO) but then again we don't know exactly what they have so I'll keep hoping that justice is served.

 

[Loomis124]

Wagner is also trying to prevent a witness she claims may be "unavailable" from testifying at her trial.

Angela Wagner to appear in court for pretrial hearing in Rhoden family murders

Just sharing.

 

[Cool Cats]

Sometimes I think it gets lost how tragic some of these cases are. There were a lot of lives changed forever in one night. Children that will never know their mom/dad/grandmother..I don't know why but I'm concerned that GW4 is going first. I think I just felt his was the weakest case (IMO) but then again we don't know exactly what they have so I'll keep hoping that justice is served.

Perhaps because of the lack of DNA necessary for a direct tie---Thus relying on a overwhelming berth of circumstantial evidence?

They are throwing the "kitchen sink" at them. Enough will stick for a conviction. Many cases rise and fall based only on the circumstantial evidence.

DNA Found At Rhoden/Gilley Crime Scenes

The recent discovery filed in both George IV and Edward Jake Wagner’s criminal cases indicate extensive DNA was found upon BCI investigation. Records also reflect firearms were recovered. What we (the public) don’t know at this time is what the DNA is indicative of. Time will tell.