Billy Wagner spared from death penalty in trial for Rhoden family massacre

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – George “Billy” Wagner III no longer faces the possibility of the death penalty in his trial for the Rhoden family massacre. 

Pike County court records show Judge Jonathan Hein dismissed the death penalty specifications on Billy Wagner’s case on Nov. 20. The judge cited concerns that handling litigation surrounding the death penalty would delay the trial or open it to potential for a retrial, and said all attorneys agreed to drop any consideration of the death penalty.

The judge also granted a request on Monday to move Billy Wagner’s upcoming trial out of Pike County. The defense said in their motion that if the trial remained in the county, it is likely jurors would have prior knowledge of the case and bias due to the “intense publicity” the crimes received. The exact location for the trial has not been specified at this time.

Billy Wagner’s trial was originally slated to begin in May but was delayed to a Jan. 6 start after a request from defense attorney Mark Collins in March. Billy Wagner is the last member of the family to await trial.

He faces eight charges of aggravated murder in connection to the killing of eight members of the Rhoden family, most of whom were shot while they slept. Three young children, including a baby, were found unharmed. Billy Wagner is accused of helping his sons, Edward “Jake” Wagner and George Wagner IV, kill the family members across four homes on April 22, 2016.

Prosecutors claimed the murders stemmed from a custody dispute over the daughter of Jake Wagner and Hanna May Rhoden, one of the victims. The other victims were Christopher Rhoden Sr., Dana Rhoden, Clarence “Frankie” Rhoden, Christopher Rhoden Jr., Hannah Gilley, Gary Rhoden and Kenneth Rhoden.

Billy Wagner, his wife Angela Wagner, and their sons Jake Wagner and George Wagner were arrested in 2018 and faced the death penalty. All originally pleaded not guilty, but Angela and Jake switched their pleas to avoid the death penalty.

George Wagner was convicted on 22 charges, including eight aggravated murder charges, but the judge dropped the death penalty consideration against him. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole.