On the morning of April 22, 2016, the bodies of eight members of the Rhoden family were discovered in four different homes in rural Pike County, Ohio. The victims were Christopher Rhoden Sr., 40; his ex-wife Dana Rhoden, 37; their three children, Clarence “Frankie” Rhoden, 20; Hanna Rhoden, 19; and Christopher Rhoden Jr., 16; Christopher Rhoden Sr.’s brother Kenneth Rhoden, 44; and a cousin, Gary Rhoden, 38. All eight victims had been shot to death in their beds while they were sleeping.

The murders sent shockwaves through the small community of Piketon, where the Rhoden family was well-known and well-respected. The family owned a successful sawmill business and were active members of the local church. There were no signs of forced entry at any of the crime scenes, leading investigators to believe that the killer or killers were known to the victims.

Who murdered us on April 22, 2016?

The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) and the Pike County Sheriff’s Office immediately launched an investigation into the killings. Over the next few weeks, authorities interviewed dozens of witnesses and searched for forensic evidence at the crime scenes. A $10,000 reward was offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the murders.

However, despite the efforts of law enforcement, the case remains unsolved to this day. In the years since the murders, authorities have released very little information about the investigation, citing the need to protect the integrity of the case. Some members of the Rhoden family and members of the community have criticized law enforcement for their handling of the case and the lack of progress in solving the murders.

In the absence of concrete information from authorities, rumors and speculation about the killings have circulated among the public. Some have suggested that the murders were related to the Rhoden family’s involvement in the local drug trade, while others have pointed to a possible family feud or a dispute over the Rhoden family’s sawmill business. However, there is no solid evidence to support any of these theories.

The Rhoden family massacre remains one of the most perplexing and tragic criminal cases in Ohio’s history. The loss of eight members of a close-knit family in such a violent and unexpected way has left the community of Piketon and the Rhoden family grieving and searching for answers. It is hoped that, one day, the killer or killers will be brought to justice and the Rhoden family can find some sense of closure.