In its upcoming true-crime documentary, Oxygen plans to re-examine a string of gruesome murders in Pike County, Ohio. Titled The Pike County Murders: A Family Massacre, this documentary will dive deeper and present more details about the horrifying case.
In 2016, in an execution-style attack, unknown assailants shot seven adults and a 16-year-old boy of the Rhoden family in three houses and a nearby camper. Investigators believed that the perpetrators, known to the Rhoden family, premeditated the murders. Law enforcement executed at least five search warrants and interviewed more than 50 people in connection with the killings.
Did the authorities ever apprehend the killers? Or, is this case still wide open?
The aforementioned documentary will give the answers to all the burning questions. Here are more details of the documentary.
Pike County Murders: A family Massacre release date, time & more about the Oxygen docuseries
The three-part documentary series, titled The Pike County Murders: A Family Massacre, is set to premiere its first episode on Oxygen on Friday, November 24, at 8 p.m. EST. Meanwhile, the final two episodes will air on Saturday, November 25. The series will feature first-hand accounts of family members, friends, law enforcement, and experts.
The murders shook the entire nation and everyone wanted to know why someone had killed eight members of the same family. The authorities interrogated several people and got to know more about the family. The investigators also confirmed that some of the crime scenes had marijuana cultivation and cockfighting operations, making the situation even more complicated. Eventually, the investigation found no relation between these activities with the murders.
In November 2018, the investigation concluded with the arrests of George and Angela Wagner. The authorities charged the duo with planning and carrying out the murders, and they also arrested their sons on the same charges. One of their sons, Edward “Jake” Wagner pleaded guilty to eight counts of murder and other charges. Conversely, he testified against his own family during the trial.
The court found George guilty on all charges, while Edward “Jake” Wagner received a guilty verdict on multiple charges. Edward received eight consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole from the court.
