Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine said that the detention was the reason for the massacre of the Rhoden family that killed eight members of a family in Pike County.

DeWine announced Tuesday the arrest of two other people a few hours after the announcement of the arrest of four members of a family closely related to business and family relations with the eight members of the family. 39, another family killed in April 2016 in Pike County, Ohio, in connection with these deaths.

Attorney General Mike DeWine said a Pike County grand jury on Monday accused the Wagner family members of aggravated murder. DeWine said prosecutors would seek the death penalty.

Angela Wagner, 48, her husband George "Billy" Wagner, 47, and their two sons, George Wagner IV, 27, and Edward "Jake" Wagner, 26, were each charged with the horrific death of the family Rhoden and Hannah Gilley. .

DeWine said that they had each been charged with eight counts of murder.

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine, Pike County Sheriff Charles S. Reader, and Pike County Attorney Robert Junk hosted a press conference at 4:00 pm. Tuesday, detailing the murders.

Two other people were arrested for concealing crimes: Rita Newcomb and Fredericka Wagner, mothers of Angela Wagner and George "Billy" Wagner, accused of falsifying documents of custody.

Authorities said Billy Wagner was arrested in Fayette County, Kentucky. Angela Wagner was arrested at home in Scioto County. Jake and George Wagner were arrested in Ross County. Fredricka was arrested at the Flying W family's farm, which had already been raided.

"They did it quickly, coldly, calmly and with a lot of attention – but not enough," Reader said.

He added that the suspects had left pieces to build a silencer and falsified documents.

More: Pike County: Death at the foot of the hills

More: Pike County: What We Know about the Arrests Made During the Rhoden Family Massacre

DeWine, who was elected governor of Ohio last week, had previously said that the investigation was centered on the Wagner family, but he had previously refused to treat them as suspects or people of any kind. interest.

And neither he nor the Pike County Sheriff, Charles Reader, explained in detail why the investigators spent two days searching the Wagners property in Ohio in 2017. Nor did they say that. who had prompted a press release to ask the public for information about the Wagners.

Christopher Rhoden Sr., 40, was killed. his older brother Kenneth Rhoden, 44; The former wife of Christoper, Dana Manley Rhoden, 38; their three children, Clarence "Frankie" Rhoden, 20; Hanna Rhoden, 19; and Chris Rhoden, Jr., 16; and a cousin Gary Rhoden, 38 years old.

Frankie Rhoden's fiancée Hannah Gilley, 20, was also a victim.

The killers saved three young children unscathed.

When he was telephoned Tuesday afternoon, Leonard Manley, Dana Manley's father Rhoden, declined to comment.

Wagners' lawyer said his clients were eagerly awaiting their appearance in court, but otherwise declined to comment.

"They are hoping for a thorough examination of the facts," said John Kearson Clark.

Authorities have repeatedly said that assassins were working to cover their tracks, adding complexity to what is the largest investigation into a homicide in the history of Ohio.

In April of this year, investigators received nearly 1,000 tips in this case, conducted nearly 500 interviews and processed more than 100 pieces of evidence.

The Wagners left Adams County, Ohio, to settle in Kanai, Alaska, in June 2017, telling The Enquirer that rumors that they were involved in Rhoden's death led them to to travel 4,107 miles.

"In reality, the goal was to create a better environment so that they do not talk about us. Sophia is getting older, so she will not hear it, "Jake Wagner told The Enquirer in June 2017, standing on the family's steps in Kanai. "And then it followed us here."

Sophia is the daughter of Jake Wagner and the victim Hanna Rhoden. Jake Wagner is also charged with illegal sexual behavior with a minor for having sexual contact with Hanna Rhoden when she was 15 years old and 20 years old.

DeWine said the Wagners also face a series of additional charges, including: conspiracy, corrupt activities, tampering with evidence, unlawful possession of a dangerous order, falsification, unauthorized use of property, interception wire, oral or electronic. communications, obstruction of justice and aggravated burglary.

More: Massacre of the Rhoden family: autopsy reports indicate that a victim was awake after being shot and killed

More: Second anniversary of the massacre of the Rhoden family: "I still have a lot of hatred"

John Kearson Clark, the Wagners' Ohio – based lawyer, said the authorities were harassing his clients, who had nothing to do with the murders and who had fully cooperated with him. investigation.

"The authorities (who use the media) want the public to believe that the Wagners are responsible and have fled," he told The Enquirer last year.

Enquirer will update this story.

More: Pike County: Death at the foot of the hills

Full coverage

►: Pike County: The Wagner Family Arrested in the Rhoden Family Massacre

►: Massacre of the Rhoden family: autopsy reports indicate that a victim was awake after being shot and killed

►: Second anniversary of the massacre of the Rhoden family: "I still have a lot of hatred"

►: Two years after the deaths in Pike County, the surviving child lives in fear. "He is trapped"

►: Mandate: Investigators install a GPS tracker on the truck of the brother of the victim of Rhoden

►: Massacre of the Rhoden family: the Wagner family tries to create a new house in Alaska despite the rumors

►: A police spokesman wrongly stated that SWAT was present during a search in Pike County for "suspects"

►: Lawyer: Mike DeWine harasses a family in the Rhoden case that was transferred to Alaska

►: Pike County: Death at the foot of the hills

Read or share this story: https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/crime/crime-and-courts/2018/11/13/pike-county-massacre-wagner-family-arrested-rhoden-family- homicides / 1373456002 /