Pike County Massacre trial coming to Seneca County

TIFFIN — Seneca County will be the location for the final trial of one of the accused in a 2016 tragedy. George 'Billy' Wagner III, 55, is facing 22 charges, including aggravated murder, aggravated burglary, and tampering with evidence among other charges, according to Pike County Common Pleas court records. Wagner's charges stem from a 2016 event known as the "Pike County Massacre." According to reporting by WCPO 9 Cincinnati, eight members of the Rhoden and Gilley families were found dead in April 2016. The members include: • Kenneth Rhoden - 44• Christopher Rhoden Sr. - 40• Dana Rhoden - 37• Gary Rhoden - 37• Hannah 'Hazel' Gilley - 20• Clarence 'Frankie' Rhoden - 20• Hanna May Rhoden - 19• Christopher Rhoden Jr. - 16 Wagner and his wife, Angela, son, George Wagner IV, and son, Edward 'Jake' Wagner, were all charged in relation to the massacre. Pike County is located in Southern Ohio, south of Chillicothe and north of Portsmouth. According to reporting by WCPO 9 Cincinnati, Jake and Angela had pleaded guilty to "several counts of aggravated murder associated with the deaths" and that both are to have "new sentencing hearings after an appeals court ruling in June." As for George Wagner IV, WCPO reported that he was found guilty of the murders in 2022 and was sentenced to "eight consecutive life terms in addition to over 120 years in prison for firearm specifications." In a judgment entry filed in Pike County Common Pleas Court Oct. 9, 2026, the court decided the trial will take place in Seneca County following its November 2024 decision to change the venue in Wagner III's case. According to the entry obtained by the newspaper, Seneca County was selected for the following reasons: Seneca County possesses many similarities with Pike County including rural demographics, agricultural heritage and remoteness from urban areas Seneca County is outside the media market for print and broadcast media which have traditionally covered this case and related cases, and thus the taint from prior publicity should be lessened Seneca County possesses outstanding justice-related facilities (including ADA-compliant courtroom), correctional facilities, courtroom security features, experienced court personnel and capable clerk of court staff There exist extra available courtrooms so that seated judges in Seneca County will be less inconvenienced in their daily duties; very few counties have any extra courtroom facilities Other reasons include adequate hotel and restaurant facilities, law enforcement officials being willing to provide "necessary supervision for the defendant and incarcerated witnesses", and courtroom facilities being "sufficiently spacious." According to the entry, Seneca County Common Pleas Court Judge Steve Shuff is presiding over the case. The trial is scheduled for January 2027. Wagner III is currently incarcerated at Pickaway County Jail in Circleville.