Gary Dwayne Rhoden, a 38-year-old male of Caucasian ethnicity, tragically lost his life on April 22, 2016, in Piketon, Ohio. His death was part of a larger, devastating event known as the Pike County shootings, which claimed the lives of eight members of the Rhoden family in execution-style murders. The victims were found in four different locations, with Gary Dwayne Rhoden being one of the adults shot near the front door of his trailer home on Union Hill Road.
The investigation into
these murders became one of the largest in Ohio's history. Authorities initially believed that at least two shooters were involved, and the crime scenes revealed the presence of marijuana cultivation and cockfighting operations. However, a direct connection between these activities and the killings was not confirmed.
In November 2018, four members of the Wagner family were arrested and charged with the murders. Edward "Jake" Wagner, an ex-boyfriend of victim Hanna Rhoden and father of her three-year-old daughter, pleaded guilty to all eight murders and testified that he shot five of the victims. The other Wagner family members, including George "Billy" Wagner III, Angela Wagner, and George Wagner IV, were also convicted and received various sentences ranging from life imprisonment to lesser charges.
The Pike County shootings remain a tragic chapter in the history of Piketon, Ohio, and the Rhoden family continues to seek justice for their loved ones.
