Jake Wagner and his mother, Angela Wagner, were sentenced on Friday for their involvement in the brutal 2016 murders of eight members of the Rhoden family in Pike County, Ohio. The crime, described as the most heinous in modern Ohio history, has been widely discussed for its chilling details.
Jake Wagner, who had previously pleaded guilty to aggravated murder and other charges, was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 32 years. This was a surprising development as Wagner had initially agreed to serve eight consecutive life sentences without parole. Judge Jonathan Hein, however, took into account Wagner’s cooperation with authorities in solving the murders and the sentences of other involved participants before making his ruling.
Angela Wagner, who helped plan the murders, was sentenced to 30 years in prison, with credit for six years already served. Rita Holcomb, Angela’s mother, was sentenced to probation for lying to investigators during the investigation.
The case stemmed from a dispute over custody of a child, which led to the tragic deaths of seven adults and a teenager. Wagner’s brother, George Wagner IV, who chose to go to trial instead of cooperating with authorities, had been sentenced earlier to eight consecutive life terms without parole.
During the hearing, Andrea Shoemaker, mother of one of the victims, expressed her anger toward Jake and Angela Wagner, calling Jake the “spawn of Satan.” In contrast, Jake Wagner expressed remorse and said that he was “glad” he was caught, claiming that it was through divine intervention.
The sentencing of Jake and Angela Wagner brings closure to one chapter of this haunting case, though the crimes have left a lasting impact on the community and the surviving members of the Rhoden family.