Welcome to the Piketon Massacre, a production of I Heart Radio and KT Studios.

Growing up around him, he was such a sweet heart, everything.

Jake Wagner, he originally pleaded not guilty to the murder of eight rodent family members.

Seeing him say that he was guilty, I am guilty.

It just gives you a complete chill.

Take admitted to personally killing five of the eight and to trying to burn and get rid of evidence.

He'll now avoid the death penalty and spend the rest of his life in prison.

If I done something to making that outrageously mad, he could have killed me too.

Wagner showed little to no emotion in court today just answering yes or no to the judge.

But his life was controlled all the time.

Special prosecutor said the Wagner's were a cult-like family.

I think it was still Angela behind the scenes controlling everything like a little puppet master.

This is the Piketon Massacre Return to Pike County, season two, episode two, cinnamon and hay.

Om Courtney Armstrong, a television producer at KT Studios with Stephanie Leidacher and Jeff Shein.

On April 22nd, 2021, Jake Wagner pleaded guilty to 23 counts, including eight aggravated murder charges in the rodent murder case.

The motive behind the killings back in 2016, according to prosecutors, was a custody dispute between Jake and victim Hannah May Rodin over their young daughter.

As it stands, the other three Wagner's accused in the murder is Jake's father Billy, mother Angela and brother George have all pled not guilty.

The day that Jake appeared in court for his plea deal, we cut up with Christina Howard.

Her sister Tabby had a relationship with the accused eldest son, George Wagner.

The two were married and had a son together, but eventually divorced.

When you found out for a fact that Jake was guilty, what was your reaction?

My reaction was like, wow, in a way kind of speech was.

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