Ohio man sentenced to life for role in murder of 8 family members.

George Wagner IV was sentenced to life in prison with no hope of parole on Monday for his role in the murders of eight members of the Rhoden family in Ohio in 2016. Wagner was found guilty on eight counts of aggravated murder and other charges related to conspiracy and attempts to cover up evidence in the killings last month.

The murders were committed over a custody dispute involving Wagner’s brother, Edward “Jake” Wagner, and one of the victims, Hanna Rhoden, who shared a toddler daughter. The other victims were Hanna Rhoden’s parents, Christopher Rhoden Sr. and Dana Rhoden, her brothers Clarence “Frankie” Rhoden and Christopher Jr., Clarence Rhoden’s fiancée Hannah Gilley, Christopher Rhoden Sr.’s brother Kenneth Rhoden, and a cousin, Gary Rhoden. All of the victims were shot in or near their homes in rural southern Ohio.

During the sentencing hearing, family members of the victims took the stand and spoke about the pain and suffering they have experienced since the murders. Bobby Jo Manley, Dana Rhoden’s sister, said, “There’s a special place in hell for you and your entire family. I hope your life is long and miserable. I hope you think of my family and what you have done every day for the rest of your miserable existence.”

Andrea Shoemaker, Gilley’s mother, said she takes solace in the fact that all of the defendants will likely spend the rest of their lives in prison and not be able to raise children. “How sick and twisted is the Wagner family? Thank God none of you get to raise to those kids to be adults because those poor babies would’ve turned out like you, George Wagner, and the rest of your family are,” Shoemaker said.

Wagner, who was not accused of shooting anyone, testified at his trial that he was unaware of his family’s plans to commit the murders. The death penalty had been taken off the table in an agreement between prosecutors and other members of the Wagner family in exchange for their testimony against him.

Both Wagner brothers and their parents, Angela Wagner and George “Billy” Wagner III, were charged in connection with the murders. George “Billy” Wagner III has pleaded not guilty, while Angela Wagner pleaded guilty to a role in planning the murders in exchange for a 30-year sentence. Jake Wagner confessed to shooting five of the Rhoden family victims in exchange for the death penalty being removed as a possible punishment.

The events surrounding the Rhoden family murders have caused immense grief and trauma for the loved ones of the victims. The trial and sentencing of George Wagner IV bring some closure, but the pain of losing eight members of their family will likely never fully go away.