Pike County, OH — Edward “Jake” Wagner, his mother Angela, and grandmother Rita Newcomb are scheduled for sentencing on January 3, 2024, just days before the trial of Wagner patriarch Billy, according to court records. The sentencing is set for 10 a.m., following a series of recent court filings related to the high-profile case.
Previously scheduled sentencing dates for Jake and Angela were canceled due to ongoing legal developments. Billy Wagner’s trial is currently slated to begin on January 6, although it remains uncertain whether this date will be maintained.
Both Jake and Angela Wagner entered complex plea agreements in 2021 that included provisions for their testimony in trials related to the 2016 murders of eight members of the Rhoden and Gilley families. In Angela’s plea deal, prosecutors agreed to dismiss eight counts of aggravated murder in exchange for a recommended 30-year prison sentence without the possibility of early release.
Jake’s plea is more intricate; he admitted guilt to 18 counts, including aggravated murder, with the understanding that the death penalty would be off the table for all Wagner family members in exchange for his cooperation in future trials. He faces the possibility of up to eight consecutive life sentences.
As the prosecution prepares for Billy’s trial, uncertainty looms over whether Jake and Angela will still be required to testify, given their upcoming sentencing. Billy Wagner is the last family member awaiting trial in this shocking case that has captivated the region. Further updates are expected as the trial date approaches.
