Rhoden family finds 'little bit of peace' in George Wagner IV's conviction

Céilí Doyle and Patricia Gallagher Newberry, The Columbus Dispatch
·4 min read

WAVERLY, Ohio – Clenching one fist and clutching a crumpled tissue in the other, Geneva Rhoden, matriarch of the Rhoden family, trembled in the minutes before the jury returned to the courtroom and found George Wagner IV guilty on all 22 counts in the 2016 murders of her family.

Geneva's son, Tony Rhoden, gripped his mother's hand – the woman he calls "the rock of the family" – as Judge Randy Deering methodically called out each guilty count.

Special Prosecutor Angela Canepa speaks privately to Geneva Rhoden after the jury convicted George Wagner IV for aggravated murder of eight Rhoden family members. Victims Kenneth and Chris Rhoden Sr. were two of Geneva Rhoden's sons.
Special Prosecutor Angela Canepa speaks privately to Geneva Rhoden after the jury convicted George Wagner IV for aggravated murder of eight Rhoden family members. Victims Kenneth and Chris Rhoden Sr. were two of Geneva Rhoden's sons.

Standing outside the Pike County Courthouse on Wednesday shortly after 5 p.m., just after the jury ended eight hours of deliberations, Tony Rhoden bowed his head slightly while addressing the public.

"I would like to thank the citizens of Pike County," he said. "I would like to thank the citizens of the state of Ohio for bearing this burden that should have never happened to this family in southern Ohio."

Tony Rhoden, brother of victims Kenneth and Chris Rhoden Sr., tells reporters the child at the center of the homicide case is "very well, being taken care of." George Wagner IV and his family killed the Rhodens in an effort to win custody of Sophia, then 2 1/2 years old, prosecutors argued. Her parents, Edward "Jake" Wagner and victim Hanna May Rhoden, were no longer a couple at the time of the killings.

Rhoden said he felt sorry for Wagner IV and recognized the man's humanity, although nothing will ever bring back his eight murdered family members.

"There is a judge and jury on this Earth," he said. "But there is a God. You gotta believe in somebody."

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He described the prosecution and state's efforts for the first two years as one long-winding rabbit hunt, comparing the Wagner family's attempts to evade capture to a rabbit running in and out of a bunny hole.

But on Wednesday evening, almost exactly four years after Wagner IV and five other family members were arrested for their roles in the homicides, Tony Rhoden said his family is looking forward to a final conviction. That could come next spring when George "Billy" Wagner III will face the same 22 counts as his son.

"(There's) a little bit of peace," Rhoden said, "but still a long road to go."

All 12 jurors and five alternates declined to talk to the media on their way out of the courthouse. In the courtroom, each confirmed their decision to convict Wagner IV on eight counts of aggravated murder and 14 related charges.

Pike County Prosecutor Rob Junk offered emotional thanks to the large team that investigated and prosecuted George Wagner IV. He said the trial was the longest he'd ever handled in Pike County, and likely the longest ever in the state.
Pike County Prosecutor Rob Junk offered emotional thanks to the large team that investigated and prosecuted George Wagner IV. He said the trial was the longest he'd ever handled in Pike County, and likely the longest ever in the state.

Prosecution commends jury, Rhoden family

Two hours after the verdict, prosecutors and investigators also thanked the jury, the governor and the people of Pike County for their support in the case.

During a press conference less than a mile down Route 23 from the courthouse, Pike County Prosecutor Rob Junk saved special thanks for the Rhoden family's patience and understanding over the past 6 ½ years.

"Good won today and evil lost," he said, as he choked back tears.

Members of the extended Rhoden family embrace after a jury convicted George Wagner IV of 22 different counts in the 2016 shooting deaths of seven Rhodens and one future member of the family.
Members of the extended Rhoden family embrace after a jury convicted George Wagner IV of 22 different counts in the 2016 shooting deaths of seven Rhodens and one future member of the family.

The long-time prosecutor, who has served Pike County for over 25 years, also thanked state officials for legal and financial support.

"As a small county there's no way we'd be able to this alone," Junk said. "We are a poor county ... but as you've probably seen, we've got a lot of good people here."

Junk's co-counsel special prosecutors Angela Canepa and D. Andrew Wilson stood alongside Junk at the podium in addition to lead investigator Ryan Scheiderer, retired Pike County Sheriff's Major Al Lewis and Pike County EMA Director Timothy Dickerson, who was one the first responders to the 2016 crime scene.

Canepa said she had come to consider the Rhodens as practically members of her own family.

"There was no reason for (the Rhodens) to die," she said. "No reason. I know today's verdict does not bring your loved ones back, I know that, but I hope it brings some semblance of peace that another one of those monsters is put away."

Wilson agreed, adding that the surviving Rhodens showed grace, dignity and restraint throughout a trial that began on Aug. 29.

George Wagner IV sat still and stoic, mostly with downcast eyes, as Pike County Common Pleas Court Judge Randy Deering read the jury verdict in his murder trial. The jury found him guilty on eight counts of aggravated murder and 14 related charges in the 2016 shooting deaths of Pike County's Rhoden family.
George Wagner IV sat still and stoic, mostly with downcast eyes, as Pike County Common Pleas Court Judge Randy Deering read the jury verdict in his murder trial. The jury found him guilty on eight counts of aggravated murder and 14 related charges in the 2016 shooting deaths of Pike County's Rhoden family.

"You represented your family," Wilson said. "I'm sure that you stood vigilant for them through this process."

Tony Rhoden nodded at Wilson's acknowledgement. For now, the Rhodens will go home.

"We're going to enjoy our family," he said. "We love the ones we got and never let go."

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Rhoden family finds solace, heartache in George Wagner IV's conviction