Tuesday 25 October 2022 07:13 PM Ohio man who shot five of eight family members testifies in deal to avoid death ... trends now
An Ohio man who shot five of eight family members in the Pike County Massacre said he had 'no choice' but to kill the mother of his child because she refused to give up custody.
Jake Wagner pleaded guilty last year to shooting five members of the Rhoden family in Pike County, Ohio on April 22, 2016. He was arrested along with other members of his family two years later.
He testified in court on Monday against his brother George Wagner IV, as a part of his plea deal to avoid the death penalty for himself and their parents - Billy and Angela Wagner - who were allegedly involved.
Prosecutors said the Wagner family at the time of the massacre became 'obsessed' with getting custody over Jake's then three-year-old daughter with Hanna Rhoden after they feared the child would be molested by Hanna's new boyfriend.
Hanna, then 19, was pushed by the Wagners to give custody to Jake but later wrote on social media months before the slayings that 'they will have to kill me first.'
Jake testified on Monday that Hanna's comment was his 'tipping point' and worried his toddler daughter was at risk for abuse.
'I had no other choice than to kill Hanna,' Jake said in the crowded courtroom.
George is not believed to have killed anyone, but he allegedly participated by voting in favor of the murders. He faces the death penalty if he is convicted. Angela previously pleaded guilty to helping plan the shooting and Billy has pleaded not guilty.
Jake Wagner (center) testified in court on Monday against his brother George Wagner IV as a part of a plea deal to avoid the death penalty. He pleaded guilty last year to shooting five members of the Rhoden family in Pike County, Ohio on April 22, 2016. Jake pictured in court in 2021
George Wagner IV was the first to go to trial for the murders. He previously pleaded not guilty
Jake Wagner, (right) previously pleaded guilty to the murder of Hanna Rhoden, with whom he had a daughter with, and seven of her family members. He has been sentenced to eight life terms. His brother, George Wagner IV, has pleaded not guilty
Their parents - Billy and Angela Wagner - who were allegedly involved.
Hanna, then 19, was pushed by the Wagners to give custody to Jake but later wrote on social media months before the slayings that 'they will have to kill me first.' She was shot in her sleep after she claimed Jake had to kill her in order to gain custody of the three-year-old they shared
The Wagner family planned the massacre for nearly three months and bought masks, ammunition and a device to cut off phone signal, Prosecutor Angela Canepa said.
On the night of the massacre, George, Jake and Billy drove to four separate homes across rural Ohio where the victims were killed and moved the bodies.
Hanna was the main target for the Wagners - but her brothers Chris and Frankie Rhoden and their father Chris Rhoden Sr. were also on their hit list.
She was shot multiple times as she slept next to her baby that she shared with another man.
Jake said he previously thought about pinning the murders on Hanna's boyfriend Corey Holdren.
All of the victims were shot in the head multiple times while they slept with Jake saying he was 'personally responsible' for five of the deaths.
Hanna's father Christopher Rhoden Sr, 40,
