E|191 The Pike County Massacre - Part Two (Bonus)

E|191 The Pike County Massacre - Part Two (Bonus)

From Criminal Mischief

July 21, 2026 · 26 min

About this episode

This episode explores the investigation into the Pike County Massacre, focusing on the Wagner family and the dynamics that may have contributed to the crime.

Criminal Mischief The Pike County Massacre – Episode Two: The House of Wagner For more than two years, investigators searched for the people responsible for one of the most shocking mass murders in modern American history. The evidence was painstakingly collected, hundreds of interviews were conducted, and countless theories—from drug cartels to family feuds—were examined. Yet as detectives slowly assembled the pieces, one family kept appearing at the center of the puzzle. The Wagners. In this second episode, Carolyn Ossorio follows the investigation as law enforcement begins narrowing its focus to a family that, from the outside, appeared hardworking, successful, and deeply devoted to one another. But behind that carefully maintained image was a rigid hierarchy led by Angela Wagner—a mother whose influence over her husband and sons has become one of the most unsettling aspects of the case. As investigators dug deeper, they uncovered a family dynamic defined by loyalty, control, and an unwavering belief that blood came before everything else. Prosecutors would ultimately argue that this culture of obedience helped lay the groundwork for an unimaginable crime. This episode…

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Host: Carolyn Ossorio

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Places: Ohio

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