“Our society reveres mothers for taking care of their children and teaching them to do the right thing, even when it’s hard,” Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said in a statement regarding Angela’s plea agreement. “But by actively plotting the murder of an entire family and encouraging her own kids to carry out the violence, Angela Wagner abjectly failed in her responsibilities.”
George IV was found guilty last December of murder, conspiracy, burglary and tampering with evidence. His brother and mother testified during his trial, Jake confessing on the stand to killing five of the victims himself and wounding a sixth.
Jake testified that George didn’t fire a shot but helped plan, prepare and cover up their crimes.
“Today, the Rhoden and the Gilley families could take some comfort knowing that George Wagner has been convicted, and he will be punished as well his brother Jake and his mother Angela,” DeWine, the former AG who was elected governor of Ohio in 2019, said in a statement at the time.
George, then 31, was sentenced to eight terms of life in prison without the possibility of parole, to run consecutively, plus 121 more years.
Dad Billy remains in custody. He was recently denied a request for a change of venue and a date of May 6, 2024, has been set for the start of his murder trial, according to WXIX.
DeWine said after George was convicted, “Billy Wagner’s fate will also be determined, and I will remain steadfast in my belief that everyone who was involved in these murders will get what they deserve.”
The Pike County Murders: A Family Massacre premieres Friday, Nov. 24, at 8 p.m. on Oxygen, with episode two to follow. The series concludes Saturday, Nov. 25, at 9 p.m.
(E! and Oxygen are both members of the NBCUniversal family.)
