WAVERLY, Ohio — George Wagner IV has been sentenced to life without the possibility of parole for his part in the murders of eight members of the Rhoden and Gilley families in Pike County in 2016.
Found dead that day were 40-year-old Christopher Rhoden Sr., 37-year-old Dana Rhoden, 20-year-old Hannah "Hazel" Gilley, 16-year-old Christopher Rhoden Jr., 20-year-old Clarence "Frankie" Rhoden, 37-year-old Gary Rhoden, 19-year-old Hanna May Rhoden, and 44-year-old Kenneth Rhoden.
In total, George was sentenced to eight consecutive life terms in addition to over 120 years in prison for firearm specifications attached to the charges and other charges he faced.
On Nov. 30, the jury found George guilty of all 22 counts he faced, including eight counts of aggravated murder and other charges associated with tampering with evidence, aggravated burglary, conspiracy and forgery.
George initially faced the death penalty, but the prosecution agreed to take that off the table in exchange forhis mother and brother's testimony against him and any others standing trial for the crimes.
Before delivering George's sentence on Monday, Judge Randy Deering heard from several of the victims' family members, who delivered tearful and occasionally angry victim impact statements.
To begin, Angela Canepa, special prosecutor during the trial, requested the maximum punishment from Deering. The murders were "so brutal and nonsensical," and Canepa urged Deering to focus on the impact the homicides still have on living family members — and on the fathers of Dana and Gary, who both died before a trial could be held.
The first impact statement read was done so by the families' victim's advocate, on behalf of Hannah Hazel Gilley's aunt. The statement recalled Hannah Hazel from childhood through much of her life, up to when she "met the love of her life, Frankie Rhoden," with whom she'd just had her first child. The two planned to marry and in October 2015, just six months before both Hannah Hazel and Frankie would be murdered, their son was born.
"Our family is in total shock," the statement read. "Why? Why did this happen? I guess now we know why. The Wagner family."
The statement lamented that neither George nor the rest of his family would face the death penalty for the murders, pointing out that Hannah Hazel had just been collateral damage in the family's "sick and twisted plan."
"They don't want the death penalty," read the statement. "They don't want to die. How ironic is that?"
Next, Hannah Hazel's mother, Andrea Shoemaker, approached the podium and asked Deering for permission to address George directly; Deering hesitated, but said he'd allow it to a point, despite preferring impact statements be made to him.
Shoemaker listed each of the victims and what they'd meant to Hannah Hazel and her family, recounting relationships that had been cut short because of the murders.
Hannah Hazel and Hanna May both left behind infants they'd been nursing when they were killed; both infants were found, covered in blood, in bed next to their dead mothers.
Hanna May's infant, who'd been just days old when her mother was murdered, had been conceived with Hannah Hazel's brother and was Shoemaker's first granddaughter, she said. Now, the girl is old enough to ask questions she should never have had to ask about her mother, Shoemaker said, and the family watches her mourn.
Shoemaker also lamented the loss of Frankie, who he'd said had great love for her daughter and his sons.
"Oh, how my heart aches to see you, to hug you, to have you pester me, to have you eat all of what I cook for dinner and lunch," she said.
She added George had claimed, during his testimony and throughout the trial, that he'd been close friends with Frankie — but in the end, the Wagners were cowards who'd killed him, she said.
"My grandson was made an orphan in one night," she shouted, slamming her hand on the podium between words. "He mourns for a dad so bad and that is something he will do for the rest of his life — is want his daddy."
Hannah Hazel had wanted nothing more than to watch her son grow up, hunt for eggs at Easter, joyfully open presents on Christmas morning, celebrate each birthday. When she and Frankie were murdered, their son's life, in a way, was also taken away from him, Shoemaker said, emphasizing that the list of victims made from the Wagners' crimes extended further than the eight whose lives were taken that night.
In fact, she said, her dad "mourned himself to death" over the loss of his granddaughter, Hannah Hazel, Shoemaker said, adding she feels George and his family were also responsible for his death.
"Children left with only a mom, children left with only a father and children without a mom and dad at all," she said. "All because the devils like the dark — devils hunt at night. Just like you, George Wagner IV and your evil family did."
Shoemaker angrily said she wished George and his family could still face the death penalty, though she knew the plea deal struck with the prosecution was the best way to guarantee everyone responsible for the homicides were fully held accountable. Still, she said she hoped he would die.
"I pray for you not to live," said Shoemaker. "I want you to die. Just like you and your evil family did my baby girl Hannah Hazel Gilley."
Chelsea Robinson, the mother of Frankie's oldest child — who was just 4-years-old at the time of the murder and was inside the home when his father and Hannah Hazel were shot to death — spoke, beginning with reading aloud a note written by the now-10-year-old.
"Dear George," she read. "I find myself wondering why you killed my daddy?"
The boy lamented being robbed of the ability to grow up learning things from his father, like how to hunt or work on derby cars — something many family members testified was one of Frankie's favorite hobbies.
"My mommy tried, but it's not as good as daddy was," read Robinson, sobbing. "I've been scared since that night, knowing bad guys came into my house while I was sleeping. I'm always scared now that I will lose my mommy. You did that to me. I just want you to know I hate you and your family."
George — along with his mother Angela and brother Edward "Jake" Wagner — is guilty of charges associated with shooting and killing the Rhoden family members "execution-style." The family's bodies were found on April 22, 2016.
The trial was the first time a person faced a jury for the deaths of the Rhoden family six years ago.
George's father, George "Billy" Wagner III, has maintained a plea of "not guilty" and is scheduled to face trial in 2023.
You can read recaps of each day of the trial in our coverage below:
- George Wagner IV found guilty of 8 murders
- After a nearly three-month trial, closing arguments concluded
- Prosecution delivers closing arguments
- Prosecution will no longer seek death penalty
- No jury, court holding procedural hearings
- State and defense rest, court paused for holiday week
- 'They should have death given to them,' George said should be fate of Rhoden killers
- George Wagner IV testifies in own defense
- Arguments over evidence, defense calls witnesses
- No jury Monday as defense and prosecution argue over evidence
- The prosecution rests its case after playing final wiretap recordings
- 'We get electrocuted...it's your fault," George told his brother in wiretap
- Jury dismissed early again over disagreements on wiretap recordings
- Prosecution tries to tie murder plot to movie plot
- Trial postponed to Monday over evidentiary issues
- Murders were about protection, not custody, said Angela
- Angela told the prosecution bloody shoeprints belonged to George
- Angela Wagner called to stand, opted out of recording
- Investigators describe recovering, testing murder weapons
- Jake Wagner finishes testimony as seventh week of trial wrapped up
- Photos of murder weapons are shown for first time as Jake testifies for third day
- Jake Wagner 'could not bear to think' or speak about his crimes after the murders
- 'I felt I had no other choice than to kill Hanna,' Jake Wagner told jury
- 'I was afraid they were going to kill me,' Jake's ex-wife testifies
- Texts between Hanna Rhoden and Jake Wagner detail ongoing custody argument
- Witnesses describe intertwined Wagner finances and a device found inside a well
- Clandestine recordings made by Jake, Wagner family finances presented
- Wire taps played for jury as court enters sixth week of testimony
- George Wagner IV's grandmother testifies
- Interview with Angela played for jury, Angela's half brother takes stand
- Texts highlight Wagner family dynamic, purchases for possible silencer
- Dozens of guns collected in search of Flying W Farm, but no murder weapons
- Jury shown evidence collected from Wagner belongings
- Evidence collected on Wagner property presented
- BCI agents testified to evidence
- Ex-wife of George Wagner IV describes 'strange and controlling' Wagner home
- Jury hears from George Wagner IV's ex-wife as fourth week of testimony begins
- Family members tearfully describe the day of the homicides
- Bloody shoe prints, cell phone records are focus
- Experts testify about ballistics, shoeprint evidence
- Third week of trial moves on to Kenneth Rhoden's home
- Evidence presented from third crime scene
- Scene where Dana, Chris. Jr and Hanna May Rhoden were killed is focus
- Testimony focuses on second of four crime scenes
- Coroner describes two of eight victims autopsied
- Forensic testimony continues into Monday
- Forensic evidence takes center stage
- Testimony centers on Kenneth Rhoden, final victim discovered
- Emergency responders testify about chaotic scenes
- Witnesses describe discovering their family members' bodies
- Opening statements detail grisly moments in the six-year-old murder case
- Read a full timeline of the Pike County murder investigation
