8 a.m.: A "Pray for Pike County" vigil is scheduled for 7 p.m. tonight at the Pike County Fairgrounds. The vigil is to honor the eight victims that were killed last Friday in their homes.
THURSDAY, APRIL 28
5:28 p.m.: A Rhoden family member, Kenny, called 911 stating he thought he was being followed after he left a Speedway parking lot. Rhoden told the 911 operator that at least two people had been following him for eight to 10 miles. He said that the forest green, newer model Chrysler had tried to cut him off
Noon: Funeral services were held for Gary Rhoden, 38, who was shot in the head three times, according to his father.
11:30 a.m.: Jeff Ruby withdrawals his reward of $25,000 for information that leads to a conviction in the Pike Co. murders case.
"With recent complex criminal developments in Pike Co case, we are withdrawing our reward and involvement. Grieving and praying for family," said Ruby in a Twitter post.
>>>>Videos: Pike County Killings
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27
7:12 p.m. :Funeral arrangements for the eight victims are announced.
Gary Rhoden visitation will be held at noon, Thursday, at Crockett L. Reed Funeral Home in South Shore, Ky. The burial takes place at Miller Cemetery in South Shore.
Hannah Gilley, 20, will be buried on Saturday in Hackworth Hill Cemetery, Otway. Visitation will be 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Botkin Hornback Funeral Home in Otway.
Visitation will take place on Monday for the six others at Roger W. Davis Funeral Home in West Portsmouth, Ohio. Visitation is from noon to 8 p.m. The burial is on Tuesday at noon at Dry Run Church of Christ in West Portsmouth.
6:04 p.m.: DeWine warns of Pike County warns of scam calls soliciting donations for the family of the Pike County victims. A caller who is claiming he is part of the Pike County Sheriff's Office is asking for money to benefit the the victims of the massacre.
3:11 p.m: Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine and Pike County Sheriff Charles Reader hold a press conference from Pike County. DeWine calls the crime scenes "shocking."
“This is an old fashioned, cold blooded, calculated massacre of eight human beings,” DeWine said.
TUESDAY, APRIL 26
11 a.m.: The autopsies of the eight victims have been released. The victims suffered from 32 gunshot wounds altogether with one victim being shot nine times.
Soft tissue damage was found on some victims which leads authorities to believe they may have been beaten before being shot, according to preliminary autopsy information. The bruising is consistent with initial reports from the 911 caller who first reported the crimes Friday.
6:30 a.m. Mike DeWine joined WHIO AM 1290's Larry Hangsen to discuss the investigation. He stated he plans to visit all four crime scenes later on in the week. DeWine said the investigation "is going to take a while." He said his office has received 300-plus tips.
>>>Photos: Scenes from Pike County
MONDAY, APRIL 25
3:50 p.m.: Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine told WHIO and Dayton Daily News he would not rule out cartel involvement in the eight deaths of the Rhoden family, although there is no evidence at this time to indicate that is the case.
DeWine added that he can’t definitively say the Rhoden family was involved in cockfighting, but when he visited one of the crime scenes Friday, he noticed roosters in cages that are normally associated with cockfighting.
He also stated that the marijuana grow operations authorities discovered on Sunday appears to be for commercial use.
3:01 p.m.: The relationships of the Rhoden family members killed Friday have been released by the attorney general's office.
Dana Rhoden, 37, and her ex-husband Christopher Rhoden Sr., 40, were among the deceased. Three children the former couple had together also were killed: Hanna Rhoden, 19; Christopher Rhoden Jr., 16; Clarence “Frankie” Rhoden, 20.
A brother of Christopher Rhoden Sr., Kenneth Roden, 44, was killed. Their cousin, Gary Rhoden, 38, was also shot to death. Clarence “Frankie” Rhoden’s partner, Hannah Gilley, 20, also was killed.
Children surviving the shootings: Hanna Rhoden’s 4-day-old daughter, Clarence “Frankie” Rhoden’s 3-year-old son, Clarence “Frankie” Rhoden and Hannah Gilley’s 6-month old son.
12:50 p.m.: Autopsy results are expected to be released Tuesday or Wednesday. "This investigation is very large, probably the largest in Pike County we have ever been a part of," Pike County Sheriff Charles Reader said. Reader said he suspected the killings were targeted. All the killings occurred during the nighttime hours.
12:19 p.m.: In August 2012, Ohio law enforcement officers found "a major marijuana grow site in Pike County with suspected ties to a Mexican drug cartel," according to a press release DeWine's office issued.
Investigators discovered about 1,200 marijuana plants — which were destroyed — and they also found evidence of two abandoned campsites they believe belonged to Mexican nationals. Authorities have made no connection between this incident in 2012 and the operations found on the Rhoden properties.
SUNDAY, APRIL 24
5:35 p.m.: Ohio Attorney Gen. Mike DeWine said marijuana grow operations were found at three of four crime scenes during a news conference in Piketon.
“This was a pre-planned execution of eight individuals,” DeWine said. “It was a sophisticated operation and those who carried it out were trying to do everything they could do to hinder the investigation and their prosecution.”
Five search warrants have been conducted, but DeWine and Pike County Sheriff Charles Reader would not say the location of the fifth search. Both said the investigation would be a lengthy process.
Reader said he advised members of the Rhoden family to arm themselves as a precaution.
Seven autopsies have been completed and an eighth will be completed Monday.
4:15 p.m.: A news conference slated for 4:30 p.m. has been delayed to 4:45 p.m. in Pike County, to be conducted by Ohio Attorney Gen. Mike DeWine and Pike County Sheriff Charles Reader.
11 a.m.: About 100 people attend a servive at Union Hill Church, where speakers underline the importance of valuing the time people have and preparing themselves for the afterlife.
“Who knows what tomorrow is going to bring?” pastor Phil Fulton told the audience.
SATURDAY, APRIL 23
5:43 p.m.: The Ohio Attorney General's Office releases the names of the eight shooting victims in Pike County. They are:
- Hannah Gilley, 20
- Christopher Rhoden Sr., 40
- Christopher Rhoden Jr., 16
- Clarence "Frankie" Rhoden, 20
- Dana Rhoden, 37
- Gary Rhoden, 38
- Hanna Rhoden, 19
- Kenneth Rhoden, 44
2:53 p.m.: The Piketon police release two 9-1-1 recordings from the April 22 slayings.
The first call came from a woman at 7:49 a.m. She told a dispatcher she walked into a home in the 4000 block of Union Hill and “found them all dead.:
The second call at 1:29 p.m. came from a man who called from the 700 block of West Fork Road. He said he found his cousin dead with a gunshot wound.
2 p.m.: A Cincinnati restaurant owner Jeff Ruby is offering a $25,000 reward for information that leads to the conviction of those responsible for the shootings, according to the Ohio Attorney General's Office.
Noon: Through a statement, the Rhoden family asks "that everyone be respectful of their family of their loss at this time." They also plead for anyone with information to call state authorities.
11 a.m.: Local law enforcement and investigators from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation worked through the night to gather information, talk to individuals and execute search warrants.
The evidence they gathered from the crime scenes is being processes and analyzed. No arrests have been made at this time, according to the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.
FRIDAY, APRIL 22
9 p.m.: Ohio Attorney Gen. Mike DeWine and Pike County Sheriff Charles Reader conduct another news conference. The families of the victims have been notified. The AG announces law enforcement has interviewed more than 30 people in connection to the family and this investigation, with more pending. The work at the crime scenes will go throughout the night with deputies out in force. The sheriff warns those responsible: "We're coming."
4 p.m.: Pike County Sherriff Charles Reader and Ohio Attorney Gen. Mike DeWine hold a news conference. It was revealed that the victims may have been killed in their sleep and there is a shooter at large.
Reader announced that three young children survived, ages 4 days old, 6 months old and 3 years old. At this time they were still trying to identify all the victims and notify next of kin.
DeWine and Reader urge that anyone with information call 1-855-BCI-OHIO (224-6446) or the Pike County Sheriff’s Office at 740-947-2111.
2:33 p.m.: An eighth body was found in a home about 10 minutes away from the first three crime scenes.
11:53 a.m.: Ohio Gov. and Republican Presidential candidate John Kasich has offered his thoughts on Twitter.
11:30 a.m.: It was unknown at this time if the gunman was among the seven bodies shot "execution-style," according to the Ohio Attorney General's Office. The victims are believed to be of the same family.
11:19 a.m.: More than a dozen agents from the Ohio Attorney General's Office are arriving at the scene of multiple homicide crime scenes on Union Hill Road in Pike County, which is about an hour and 40 minutes from Dayton. An attorney general's office spokesperson said The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation has agents from its special investigation unit, crime scene unit, cyber crimes unit and the criminal intelligence unit.
10:07 a.m.: It was confirmed that seven people were found dead.
7:53 a.m.: A 9-1-1 call was placed to Pike County Sherriff's Office stating deputies were needed at 4077 Union Hill Road and two males were possibly deceased. Deputies responded to the call were flagged down and given two additional addresses where they found more victims.
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