A day in Pike County court: Satan, Jesus, tears and a surprise sentence

WAVERLY, Ohio – The 2016 killing of eight people in Pike County is often cited as one of Ohio’s most dramatic crimes.

The legal aftermath has been equally dramatic, with four hearings on Friday the latest example.

A victim’s mother called defendants Satan. A defendant said Jesus was on his side. The judge dressed down another defendant and two lawyers. Victims families sobbed and fled the courtroom.

And in the end, the judge imposed an unexpected lighter sentence for the man who admitted to shooting to death five of the eight Pike County victims.

Here are five of the most dramatic moments from a day in the Pike County Common Pleas Court, where three defendants were sentenced and one sat for a hearing.

Family members reunited in courtroom

Four members of the Wagner family were charged with killing seven Rhodens and a future member of the family. The Wagners have been separated since they were arrested, charged and jailed in the case in November of 2018.

On Friday, mother Angela Wagner and younger son Edward “Jake” Wagner sat just feet from each other in the courtroom jury box, awaiting sentencing. Angela’s mother, Rita Newcomb, sat a few feet in front of her at the defense table, also for sentencing. Guarded by at least 16 armed officers and flanked by attorneys, the Wagners and Newcomb could not speak to each other.

Angela Wagner, 54, mostly kept her eyes downcast. Jake Wagner, 32, mostly looked straight ahead at whoever was speaking. Rita Newcomb, 71, faced the judge.

But they all shot furtive glances at each other. And Jake Wagner gave his mother a noticeable nod and small smile as she was led past him, in tears, exiting a courtroom door.

None of the three saw family patriarch George “Billy” Wagner during their 10 a.m. sentencings. He was brought into the courtroom at 1 p.m. for a hearing in his upcoming murder trial in the Pike County case.

Victim’s mother unloads on Wagners

Before announcing sentences, Visiting Judge Jonathan Hein invited victim families to make what are called victim impact statements. The prosecutor read two. A cousin offered a tearful rebuke.

Andrea Shoemaker offered a fourth statement – with a voice and arms that rose in anger as she spoke.

The mother of victim Hannah Hazel Gilley called the Wagners evil and greedy, said she hates them and wished them death.

“You are the spawn of Satan,” she said, “and the Satan is Billy Wagner.”

Shoemaker said she has to explain the crimes to her now 10-year-old grandchildren – one whose mother was killed and one who lost both parents – because “they see your faces on the news.”

“You ruined my life,” Shoemaker said. “You ruined innocent childrens’ lives.”

‘Jesus made me get caught,’ Jake Wagner says

Before his sentencing, Jake Wagner asked to speak directly to the Rhodens. He stood and turned to them for religious-imbued comments that lasted more than 11 minutes.

Saying he was sorry for what he’d done, he said “I am not sorry I got caught. I 100% believe it was Jesus who made me get caught so he could answer my prayer, so he could become exactly who he’s supposed to be, to each of us, Lord, Savior.”

He spoke directly to Andrea Shoemaker, telling her “if you are a woman of some kind of faith, you should really read the Bible because hate won’t do it.”

Shoemaker did not hear the remarks, as she left the courtroom as Wagner spoke.

Wagner ended his address, after two warnings from the judge to wrap it up, wishing everyone in the courtroom would commit to Jesus to transform their lives. “I hope you all have been touched by that at least somewhat,” he said. “And I do pray for you all.”

Hein vs. two Angelas

Hein and Special Prosecutor Angela Canepa have been sparring since he took the case over in June.

He accuses her of talking over him and not following through on promises. She’s tried and failed to remove him from the case twice, unhappy with his rulings in Billy Wagner’s case.

On Friday, he shut her down from the start, when she failed to address sentencing questions at his direction.

Hein also directed strong comments at the other Angela in the courtroom.

After sentencing Angela Wagner to 30 years with no chance of parole – a sentence parties drafted in 2021 when she confessed to her role in preparing for and covering up the killings – he assailed her for not stopping the crimes.

When her husband and sons left the house to kill the Rhodens, she could have called authorities and turned them in, he said. “You were the only one who could have shut it down.”

A sentencing surprise, too

Jake Wagner likewise agreed to a sentence when he confessed to his central role in the Pike County crimes. He was prepared to serve a maximum of eight consecutive life sentences without parole for eight charges of aggravated murder, plus another 160 years on 15 other charges.

Hein recited those punishments from the bench – then stunned the courtroom by instead sentencing him to 12 years on gun charges and 20 years to life, to be served concurrently, for the murder charges. Wagner will be eligible for parole in 32 years, when he’s 64.

Hein said he went with the lesser sentence because Wagner assisted the prosecution, provided key evidence and testified against his brother.

Given that, Hein said he did not think the brothers should get the same sentence – despite the fact that Jake admitted killing victims and George denied any participation in the crimes. “How am I supposed to treat you the same?” Hein said.

Drama still to come

Billy Wagner’s hearing, following the sentencings, lacked drama by comparison. His attorneys argued against allowing the prosecution to bring up any of their client’s alleged other criminal acts when on trial.

The prosecution passed up the chance to offer more reasons to keep death as a possible penalty for Billy Wagner, citing a pending appeals of Hein’s removal of that in the Ohio Court of Appeals.

Hein ended the day in suspense, failing to announce where the trial will be conducted and when it will start. Those questions have lingered since he granted a change of venue in late November. The trial, which was supposed to start Monday, cannot begin until the appeal is settled.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: What happened in the Pike County massacre case Friday?

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