On the fifth anniversary of a mass murder in Pike County, one of the suspects has pled guilty. Jake Wagner entered a plea to eight counts of aggravated murder in the deaths of the Rhoden family.
Our news partners at WCPO report in exchange for the guilty plea, Wagner will not face the death penalty. His mother, father, and brother still face charges.
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost on Thursday issued the following statement:
"I am incredibly proud of our team at the Bureau of Criminal Investigation whose dedication, perseverance and expertise lead to today's plea. The scope of this crime and subsequent investigation surpasses any other in Ohio's history. The dedicated men and women of BCI rose to the challenge in the pursuit of justice for the victims — and never gave up. BCI's work spans countless long nights, weeks and years and will continue until all responsible for these crimes are held accountable. Today's hearing finally brings some degree of closure to the surviving family members, and I pray that they might find peace in the face of this horror."
