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Billy Wagner waives extradition to Ohio to face charges in Rhoden murders

782 views · Published 19 November 2018 · 2:06 · Indexed 21 October 2026

Channel: LOCAL 12 · 2018 · News & Politics

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LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKRC ) - George "Billy" Wagner waived extradition to Ohio Wednesday, a day after he was taken into custody on aggravated murder charges in the deaths of eight members of the Rhoden and Gilley families.

Wagner answered a couple of brief questions about his name and whether he would fight extradition during the brief court appearance.

Judge: What would you like to do at this time?

Wagner: I guess head back to Ohio.

Billy will be transferred to Ohio where he and his wife Angela Wagner and two sons, George and Jake Wagner, will face a laundry list of charges, including conspiracy and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activities and forgery.

"We believe the Wagners conspired together to develop an elaborate plan to kill the eight victims under the cover of darkness and then carefully cover up their tracks," said Attorney General Mike DeWine.

DeWine said the Wagners tampered with cell phones and a security system but they made mistakes. He said the Wagners killed the eight people in part because a disagreement over custody of a 2-year-old girl Jake Wagner and Hanna Rhoden had together. 

The little girl was in the Wagners' care the night of the murders in 2016. DeWine said the discovery of a homemade gun silencer in late October was a critical piece of evidence. Investigators and Rhoden family members thought the killers knew the victims because the dogs didn't bark during the murders.

"They studied the victims' habits and their routines. The knew the layouts of their homes. They knew where they slept," DeWine said.

Billy's mother, Fredericka Wagner, and Angela's mother, Rita Newcomb, are accused of lying to investigators. Fredericka is accused of forging custody documents. Newcomb and Fredericka Wagner will appear in court Thursday afternoon in Pike County.

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