WAVERLY, Ohio — George Wagner IV will spend the rest of his life in prison. On Monday, he was given a life sentence without parole for the 2016 Pike County murders.
Pike County Judge Randy Deering ordered Wagner to serve eight consecutive life sentences during the sentencing hearing Monday, one for each Rhoden family member that was killed in 2016.
“No sentence that the court may impose in this case will right the wrong of that has been inflicted on the victims and their families,” said Deering.
Wagner and other family members were arrested in 2018 for the murder of eight Rhoden family members. He showed no emotion as the judge read his sentencing.
“Murder is an irreversible act and although time may alleviate the pain and loss. It has obviously not now,” the judge said.
Members of the Rhoden family were emotional as they shared their memories of their lost loved ones. Many were angry, hoping he too experiences pain.
“The day you take your last breath, you will face your maker, and I pray they have no mercy on your soul and on that day I will finally have a little bit of peace,” said Lisa Weisel, a Rhoden family member.
Weisel said she is happy knowing Wagner will spend the rest of his life in prison, and she hopes this will bring some kind of sense of justice to other members of her family.
“Today, George was finally recognized for the heartless monster he is,” she said. “He will now face his consequences but they are definitely not enough.”
Wagner can appeal both the sentence and the verdict. His father, Billy Wagner, is set to go on trial for the murders next year.
