OH - Pike County: 8 People From One Family Dead As Police Hunt For Killer(s) #35 *Arrests*

[Becky Starkey]

What blows my mind is that someone would pay $2000.00 for a dog when the shelters are full of great dogs to be had just for the asking.

JMO

I can't like this reply enough! Yes, please adopt, don't shop, thousands of dogs and cats are put to sleep in shelters every day. And if you ever seen dogs or cats in a mill, if your heart doesn't break, you need some serious time looking at your own life. The only way to stop mills is not to buy since our government won't do anything to stop it. I consider the type of breeding FW does as a type of mill, granted she takes care of them, but that's the only difference. Hopefully, no one is stupid enough to ever buy any animal from her again.

 

[taximama24]

I love the idea of the father being the CI. I can see FW running his life their entire marriage. My husband's aunt and her husband had a similar type marriage. She made him live in the basement. It was messed up! So I can clearly see him as getting his last revenge on her. It had to be somebody very close to them.

And especially if he and his daughter were close, as many dads and daughters are, and she confided in him before his death that she felt like this "family situation" was not fair to her and taking her livelihood and future away when it wasn't her burden to bear because she had nothing to do with it. The dad is still my working theory, did he mail a statement or evidence leads for LE to pursue close to his death, he had ways it could have been done on the down low.

 

[Becky Starkey]

Thanks, not much I can do right now, I miss her horribly, we spent so much time together. I made 48 hats and took them to her school with a note, that's all I can do.

Uggg, I can sort of relate to your feeling. My daughter and granddaughter moved in with us after her divorce, after my husband got transferred to a different state. They moved back a year ago, after seven years, I pretty much raised my granddaughter those seven years. We both miss each other greatly, not really a word for the empty hole left in my heart. I can't imagine it being for reasons of not being allowed to see her. Seems a lot of us here have similar stories. Lots of love to all you grandparents! That is one reason my heart breaks mostly for the Manleys. They lost their daughter and grandchildren and rarely see the great grandchildren. I wish there was something I could do to ease their pain and the pain they have yet to endure. The whole family through these trials, I can't imagine. Even the DP is too good for these monsters.

 

[Becky Starkey]

Looking at the Pike County jail roster, it looks like Rita Newcomb is still in jail, but Fredericka Wagner is out.

Currently Housed Inmates

No records I can find for the arraignment hearing yesterday

ETA: Since her daughter was at the hearing yesterday, assume she was the one who bailed her out.

I didn't see Rita getting out any time soon, her son said she doesn't even have electricity and uses kerosene. That "tough old bird" isn't going to help her evidently.

 

[rsd1200]

Great post. It makes me sad again to think of poor CR1, trying so hard to protect his family. He was poor, but he worked hard to take care of them, he did the best he could in a system where circumstances were often stacked against him. He and DR were far better parents than any of the W clan. It pains me to think of the last minutes of his life as the W family tormented him. I hope he didn't know that their plan was to destroy all the family members he loved.

Compared to FW, yes, they were poor. However, in general, they were not. They worked hard, the kids had nice clothing and nice vehicles to drive. FR had one of the priciest Derby vehicles in the area, DR had just gotten a new home, from her ex, with six acres of land, etc... No, the Rs just lived like they wanted to live. Their priority was not in fancy houses and having the most well-groomed lawn on the road. I mean, seriously, it's only grass, if it gets too tall, bush hog it and move on with your day. The vehicles on their land were there for a purpose, either for parts, or fix and sell them. They enjoyed their vehicles, and motorcycles, and having fun with their family, and just didn't seem to be materialistic. They had a couple grow ops to help make that fun happen. Many folks like them throughout the region.

 

[Becky Starkey]

Pike County, Ohio, massacre: The killings of 8 family members consumed investigators for 2½ years - CNN

Latest CNN article. Usual summary to date.



Maybe having those big news media outlets covering the case will help get more public access to the court records.

May be kind of hard to find enough lawyers to represent them, especially after the revenge thing and they have no money to pay them on top of the lawyers having to be DP certified.

 

[Betty P]

Court docs: Suspect filed for custody of child at heart of Pike County investigation days after slayings

WLWT obtained court documents that show Jake Wagner filed for custody of their daughter, Sophia, on April 28, 2016, six days after the murders. Sophia was two years old at the time and the only child belonging to any of the victims who was not present during the slayings.

In an affidavit signed by Jake Wagner, he said he and Hanna Rhoden had "approximately equal time with Sophia since her birth."

"Although Hanna and I were never married, one child was born during our co-habitation and exclusive romantic relationship, namely: Sophia May Wagner, born 11/18/2013 in Portsmouth, Scioto County, Ohio," the affidavit states.

Jake Wagner wrote, "During our 2013 to 2015 co-habitation and exclusive romantic relationship, Hanna and I lived in either the home of my Mother or her Mother. At that time, Hanna continued to attend school and did not work and I worked on my family's farm as well as drove an eighteen-wheeler, which I share with my Brother. In late March 2015, Hanna decided that I worked too much and that I did not have enough time for her. Therefore, Hanna ended our co-habitation and exclusive romantic relationship. Hanna and I continued a non-exclusive romantic relationship while we shared the parenting of Sophia."

Jake Wagner said that Hanna told him in August, 2015 that she was pregnant with her second child. "I was happy even though Hanna explained to me that she could not be sure that the baby was mine," Jake Wagner said.

According to the affidavit, "In late September 2015, Hanna decided that she and I would not continue any romantic relationship while we continued to share the parenting of Sophia."

Jake Wagner's mother, Angela Wagner, signed a similar affidavit.

Jake Wagner was granted temporary custody of Sophia on May 4, 2016.

On June 16, 2016, a court entry was filed by Pike County Juvenile Court Judge Robert Rosenberger granting that reads, "After presentation of the evidence, the Court finds that there has been a change in the circumstances of the child and/or custodial parent, specifically: the Mother, Hanna May Rhoden is deceased; and that changing the residential parent and legal custodian is in the best interests of the child."

The entire article is a "must-read". It also states that a Rhoden family member told the reporter that Jake Wagner tried to get Hanna to sign over rights to Sophia in the weeks before the murders, but she refused.

He says they "co-habited" between 2013 and 2015, living at either her mother's home or his mother's. I wonder how much of all this is true.

 

[Becky Starkey]

Fire destroys family's top show horses

Mine too. Too much drama with RAW running into the barn and knocking down doors with his bare fists. Burning embers. The barn exploding with him diving out in the nick of time. Straight out of a movie.

I keep coming back to why the entire family had to die vs just HR. I wonder if HR knew that barn fire was arson to collect insurance money on those million dollar horses. Maybe JW told her or when things were good between her and the family and looked to last a lifetime they talked about it in front of her. They would have been certain she told her parents and that CR1 told KR as they were very close. Maybe the R's told them if they didn't back off on the custody they would go to the authorities about that high dollar insurance payout. If it was proved arson, not only would FW be charged but whoever set the fire and in addition FW would have had to pay back every cent the insurance companies gave her.

Twenty of the show horses, only about 30 inches tall but valued at nearly $1 million, died in the blazing barn early Tuesday.

I certainly think the R's knew all the W's dirty laundry, which is why FW was all too happy to let them to do it, IMO.

 

[KentuckyMama]

What are the chances the Wagner's placed the pot plants at the locations to make it appear this was a murder over drug deals gone bad? I don't think there has ever been proof of the grow ops shown? They may have planned this as part of the cover. It made a lot of people less sympathetic towards the Rs. Perhaps they thought it would be more likely to be chalked up to drug violence and forgotten or not as pursued by LE.

Also, I believe they went in two per location. I think AW or JW were possibly raised to the trailer windows as the first entry point as a means to gain entry then to unlock doors for another W to enter.

 

[Roxy Shayne]

Pike County massacre: Hearing canceled for Wagner son

JW court appearance for today has been canceled.

 

[Betty P]

What are the chances the Wagner's placed the pot plants at the locations to make it appear this was a murder over drug deals gone bad? I don't think there has ever been proof of the grow ops shown? They may have planned this as part of the cover. It made a lot of people less sympathetic towards the Rs. Perhaps they thought it would be more likely to be chalked up to drug violence and forgotten or not as pursued by LE.

Also, I believe they went in two per location. I think AW or JW were possibly raised to the trailer windows as the first entry point as a means to gain entry then to unlock doors for another W to enter.

IIRC, KR's daughter said in an interview that she knew her dad grew some MJ, but that it wasn't a large amount. He was quoted saying she didn't think the murders were cartel related.

 

[Betty P]

Pike County massacre: Hearing canceled for Wagner son

JW court appearance for today has been cancelled.

Interesting that he was appearing in Franklin County Court. Why not Pike County?

From the article:


Pike County prosecutor, Rob Junk says the Franklin Co. Courts “made some type of mistake” and Jake Wagner never should have been on their docket today. Wagner is one of 4 accused in the Rhoden murders. He is being held in Columbus but must be arraigned in Pike Co. @fox19

— Mike Schell (@Fox19_Mike) November 16, 2018

I noticed in the Pike Co jail roster that some of Rita Newcomb's charges had been changed. Junk said in the press conference the other day that some charges might be changed from the original GJ indictments. Wonder what he's up to?

ETA: Correction: Rita Newcomb's jail roster charges are the same as on the GJ indictments. My mistake, sorry.

 

[RAISINISBACK]

One question that has not been asked or answered. Where is JW's newly minted fiance? Did her parents read about the R murders and tell JW there was no way their daughter was going back to Ohio with him? Or is she sitting at FW's house patiently awaiting her boyfriends release from jail after he brilliantly explains to them he is innocent?

 

[RAISINISBACK]

Interesting that he was appearing in Franklin County Court. Why not Pike County?

From the article:


Pike County prosecutor, Rob Junk says the Franklin Co. Courts “made some type of mistake” and Jake Wagner never should have been on their docket today. Wagner is one of 4 accused in the Rhoden murders. He is being held in Columbus but must be arraigned in Pike Co. @fox19

— Mike Schell (@Fox19_Mike) November 16, 2018

I noticed in the Pike Co jail roster that some of Rita Newcomb's charges had been changed. Junk said in the press conference the other day that some charges might be changed from the original GJ indictments. Wonder what he's up to?

Which ones were changed?

 

[molly1255]

She may be the only one with a conscience, who truly loves the animals and the farm, and wants her quiet life back, and I doubt her life will ever go back to normal.

Is the birth order of F's children known? Was there an oldest son, a daughter in the middle with George Billy bringing up the rear?

 

[IQuestion]

Isn't there a church on her property? If you have your own church you can teach the SS all you want. Can't imagine anyone wanting to be a student of her brand of SS anymore though!

BECKYSTARKEY Very interesting info! Did the W's build a church on their property or was it already there?? Was/is the church open to the community? Could explain why she had no speeding or parking tickets.... never had to race to Sunday service with a bunch of kids in tow. (Oh the memories... the CHP pretty much knew our schedule, lol.)

 

[rsd1200]

She didn’t come home for her father’s funeral?

Unless she was blowing smoke, no, she didn't. I thought at the time, I'd have at least come alone, or asked if my family could assist me with a plane ticket, if I was that broke. If that were my daughter, and I knew she couldn't afford to come home, I'd have tried to help in some way. Also, some airlines provide bereavement travel assistance. So, I found it quite odd.

 

[rsd1200]

There is a cat breeder who lives in my neighborhood. One of her kittens escaped, was scared, and ran quite a distance. Someone reported noticing a kitten running up a tree on their way to work but didn’t remember where the tree was. Long story short, several of us were worried sick about this kitten and the breeder wasn’t even out looking.

Several of us were searching for the kitten, the breeder didn’t even seem concerned.

After a couple of days a neighbor was able to get the kitten. I gave him the breeder’s phone #. She didn’t respond. He let me know he couldn’t get her to call back, so I contacted her myself to let her know her kitten had been rescued. She said, “Thanks.”

After this incident I looked on her website and saw that she sold her kittens for $5,500.00 each.

What kind of kittens were they??? Bengal tigers???? I have an adopted cat, whose owner became allergic, and they paid nearly $400 for her, and I thought, she's gorgeous, but . However, I've never paid for a cat, they always just kinda show up here, folks drop them near a barn up the road, or I've had a weak moment and adopted one.

 

[Betty P]

Which ones were changed?

Nevermind, cancel that. They are the same for now. Getting mixed up reading all those indictments.

But, yeah, I do recall Junk saying there may be changes in the GJ indictments as the prosecutors deem necessary.
That's why I've been watching these arraignments carefully. Still not able to find any online docket info for any of the perps at PC courts web site, just charges listed on the jail roster.

 

[rsd1200]

Happy to help. I'll see if I can find a transcript of the DeWine/Reader/Junk press conference. There was a lot of info they discussed. DeWine made that point towards the end of his talk, but some news reports are still misunderstanding it.

Yeah, the windows are odd to me, too. IIRC, those things aren't very big, they don't have actual window sills, do they? But they were open in both CR1 and FR homes. Could have been some odd staging, attempts to foil LE on TOD, who knows? I think there were possibly some amateurish aspects to the planning of this massacre, things that make it confusing.

Thank you! I agree, I think they may have watched to many old Columbo, or CSI type shows and it became unbelievable as far as the direction they were trying to point toward.

The trailer windows, unless theirs are different, don't have "sill" to grab onto when you go in through them. You can do it if you are small enough, but it would be painful, going in or out, and with a trailer, especially as those were of an older type, I'd think. We lived with two other people, and I could almost hear what folks in the bedroom down the hall, were saying in their dreams.