George “Billy” Wagner III no longer faces the possibility of the death penalty in his trial for the Rhoden family massacre.

A previous report can be seen in the player above. WAVERLY, Ohio (WCMH) — The 2025 trial for the Wagner family patriarch’s in the killing of the Rhoden family will not take place in Pike County. Pike County court records show that Judge Jonathan Hein granted a request Monday to change the venue for the

WAVERLY, Ohio (WKRC) - A visiting judge has granted the defense's motion to move Billy Wagner's trial out of Pike County. Billy Wagner faces murder and other charges in the shooting deaths of seven Rhoden family members and Hannah Gilley.

The trial date for Billy Wagner, accused in the 2016 Pike County massacre where eight members of the Rhoden family were killed, is set for January. However, recent developments at a pre-trial hearing have thrown the case into uncertainty.

The father of the family charged in the murders of eight people in one night in Pike County could find out Wednesday if his trial will be moved.

The trial of George "Billy" Wagner III, accused in the 2016 massacre of the Rhoden family, will be moved out of Pike County, a judge ruled Monday. According to court documents, Judge Jonathan P. Hein approved the venue change due to extensive media coverage and the potential for bias among local jurors.

Despite a flurry of activity in the case against George “Billy” Wagner III in recent days, big questions remain with his trial in the 2016 Pike County massacre case just more than six weeks away.