Pike County massacre: Wagner family trials

Developing StoryLast updated MAY 6
SUMMARY

A judge indicated on April 21, 2026, an intention to dismiss the death penalty specification for Billy Wagner, surprising prosecutors, and signaled he would sentence Jake and Angela Wagner before Billy Wagner's trial. As of March 31, 2026: Jake Wagner has agreed to testify against his father, George "Billy" Wagner III, as part of a plea deal, with Billy Wagner's trial tentatively scheduled for October 2026. Edward "Jake" Wagner pleaded guilty to aggravated murder and was sentenced to life with parole after 32 years, Angela Wagner received 30 years for conspiracy, and George Wagner IV was sentenced to life without parole for eight counts of aggravated murder. An Ohio Appeals Court reinstated the death penalty possibility for George "Billy" Wagner III on February 10, 2026, following the 2016 Pike County massacre of seven Rhoden family members and Hannah Gilley. Billy Wagner's trial has been moved out of Pike County due to difficulty seating an unbiased jury.

Timeline

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April 2026 — 1 developments

  1. A judge indicated an intention to dismiss the death penalty specification for Billy Wagner in November 2024, a decision that surprised prosecutors.

    A judge indicated an intention to dismiss the death penalty specification for Billy Wagner in November 2024, a decision that surprised prosecutors. The judge also signaled he would sentence Jake and Angela Wagner before Billy Wagner's trial.

March 2026 — 1 developments

  1. Jake Wagner has agreed to testify against his father, George "Billy" Wagner III, as part of a plea deal.

    Jake Wagner has agreed to testify against his father, George "Billy" Wagner III, as part of a plea deal. This development comes as Billy Wagner's trial, which has been moved out of Pike County and is tentatively scheduled for October, faces the possibility of the death penalty being reinstated.

February 2026 — 6 developments

  1. Edward "Jake" Wagner pleaded guilty to aggravated murder and was sentenced to life with parole after…

    Edward "Jake" Wagner pleaded guilty to aggravated murder and was sentenced to life with parole after 32 years, while Angela Wagner received 30 years for conspiracy to commit aggravated murder, and George Wagner IV was sentenced to life without parole after being found guilty of eight counts of aggravated murder. Billy Wagner's trial for the 2016 Pike County massacre is now scheduled for March 2026.

  2. Billy Wagner made his first court appearance since the death penalty was reinstated in his Pike County massacre case.

    Billy Wagner made his first court appearance since the death penalty was reinstated in his Pike County massacre case. He is the last of his family members to face trial for the 2016 murders of seven Rhoden family members and Hannah Gilley.

  3. An Ohio Appeals Court has overturned a previous ruling, reinstating the possibility of the death penalty for George "Billy" Wagner III in the Pike County massacre case.

    An Ohio Appeals Court has overturned a previous ruling, reinstating the possibility of the death penalty for George "Billy" Wagner III in the Pike County massacre case. His defense team intends to appeal this decision to the Ohio Supreme Court. This development follows arguments in court regarding the death penalty specifications.

  4. George "Billy" Wagner III's trial in the 2016 Pike County massacre is now expected to begin no earlier than October 2026.

    George "Billy" Wagner III's trial in the 2016 Pike County massacre is now expected to begin no earlier than October 2026. A judge ruled on February 9, 2026, to move the trial out of Pike County due to the difficulty of seating an unbiased jury. Plea deals were also discussed during a pre-trial hearing.

  5. George "Billy" Wagner III returned to court on February 9, 2026, for a pre-trial hearing where plea …

    George "Billy" Wagner III returned to court on February 9, 2026, for a pre-trial hearing where plea deals were discussed, and attorneys debated whether he should face the death penalty. The judge noted the case is "past due" and needs resolution.

  6. George Billy Wagner III, the central figure in the 2016 Piketon Massacre, is scheduled to appear in court on February 9, 2026.

    George Billy Wagner III, the central figure in the 2016 Piketon Massacre, is scheduled to appear in court on February 9, 2026. He has been held since his November 2018 indictment and has pleaded not guilty to 22 charges, including eight counts of aggravated murder. A trial date and location are still pending.

April 2025 — 1 developments

  1. A pre-trial hearing was held on April 25, 2025, for George "Billy" Wagner concerning the Pike County massacre.

    A pre-trial hearing was held on April 25, 2025, for George "Billy" Wagner concerning the Pike County massacre. The defense filed a motion for a change of venue, which the state opposed. The prosecution also has pending appeals regarding the dismissal of death penalty specifications and the change of venue.

January 2025 — 1 developments

  1. Rita Newcomb, Angela Wagner's mother, is sentenced to five years of probation for lying to investigators.

    Rita Newcomb, Angela Wagner's mother, is sentenced to five years of probation for lying to investigators.

November 2024 — 2 developments

  1. An Ohio judge has granted a defense request to move George 'Billy' Wagner III's trial out of Pike County.

    An Ohio judge has granted a defense request to move George 'Billy' Wagner III's trial out of Pike County. The judge cited pretrial publicity as the reason for the change of venue. Wagner is accused in the 2016 massacre of eight members of the Rhoden family.

  2. George "Billy" Wagner III will not face the death penalty if convicted in the Pike County massacre.

    George "Billy" Wagner III will not face the death penalty if convicted in the Pike County massacre. A judge dismissed the death penalty specifications due to missed deadlines for an agreement between prosecutors and Wagner's lawyers. Additionally, the judge ruled that Wagner's trial will not be held in Pike County because of extensive pre-trial publicity.

May 2024 — 1 developments

  1. George 'Billy' Wagner III's defense team has appealed the reinstatement of the death penalty specification to the Ohio Supreme Court.

    George 'Billy' Wagner III's defense team has appealed the reinstatement of the death penalty specification to the Ohio Supreme Court. The court will now decide whether to hear the case, leaving Wagner's trial in limbo.

June 2019 — 1 developments