28,217: Population
2,158: Piketon population
300: Estimated jobs at county’s largest employer, United States Enrichment Corp.
200: Estimated jobs at county’s second largest employer, Ohio Valley Veneer
11: Number of churches in Piketon
8.6: Percent unemployed in Pike County
(Sources: U.S. Census, Pike County, Churchfinder.com, and Ohio Job and Family Services)
If you have details…
Mike DeWine’s office is asking anyone with information that could help in the investigation to call (855) BCI-OHIO, or the Pike County Sheriff’s Office at (740) 947-2111.
Attorney General Mike DeWine spent a full day in Pike County receiving a full review of evidence in the Pike County shootings that killed eight members of the Rhoden family.
"I've likened it to a 1,000-piece puzzle," DeWine told WHIO and the Dayton Daily News on Thursday. "You find one piece, you put it in a puzzle. You find another piece and you put it in a puzzle, but it takes a while before you start to even see any kind of picture."
After Friday’s review of evidence, DeWine’s office declined to say whether investigators are any closer to solving the case.
This case has developed for five weeks — and this news organization has provided you up-to-the-minute details since word of the shooting reached our 24-hour breaking news team.
Here’s a look at key details as they developed:
WEEK ONE
April 22
- Reports came in on April 22 that an "execution-style" killing in rural Ohio took the lives of eight people.
- Videos from Pike County show the emergency response to the crime scenes. Soon, NewsCenter 7's Mike Campbell learned there was a potential new scene in the investigation [VIDEO]. Information began to drip in from investigators, including a chilling detail that a mother was killed in her bed with a 4-day-old baby "right there," according to Mike DeWine.
- DeWine and the local sheriff began sharing details with the public during press conferences [VIDEO] that occurred throughout the hours after the incident [VIDEO].
April 23
- Investigators kept working and building a case. One Pike County woman said she locked her doors and stayed inside after the shooting [VIDEO].
- The surviving family of the Rhodens soon released a statement asking the public to share details with police. And the names of the victims were released as residents relayed their fears about the killings.
April 24
- A weekend prayer service was held for the killed Pike County residents [VIDEO]. This moment-by-moment timeline tells when the events occurred.
- We looked, too, at how the 911 calls could give insight into the case [VIDEO].
April 25
- Authorities in Pike County said they are running down "every tip" in the case. The father of a Pike County victim described his daughter, Dana [VIDEO].
- Meanwhile, residents reacted to the Pike County shootings [VIDEO] and a memorial was held for the friends of the slain victims [VIDEO]. The Attorney General's office also released the family tree of the Rhoden family [VIDEO] and gave a press conference update on the investigation.
- NewsCenter 7 looked at how rural counties are attractive to marijuana growers [VIDEO]. Restaurant owner Jeff Ruby told us about why he posted a reward for the capture and conviction of the Pike County perpetrators. Ruby would later revoke his reward.
April 26
- We learned preliminary autopsy information from the coroner's office [VIDEO]. The autopsy information revealed victims were bruised and shot a total of 32 times.
- We reported past incidents in Pike County had connections to Mexican cartels. DeWine said he is not ruling out the possibility of a connection in the Rhoden case. And investigators remained on the scene — and would remain there for weeks [VIDEO].
April 27
- In fact, so many deputies were needed to secure scenes that Butler County sent personnel to assist.
- DeWine called the shootings a "cold-blooded massacre." He toured the crime scenes in Pike County [VIDEO]. Within days of the shootings, scammers started targeting the public asking for donations to help the family. DeWine released a notice warning those calls are false.
- A visitation was held for Gary Rhoden, 38, who died in the shootings. And neighbors of the Rhoden family said they worried about what would happen next [VIDEO].
April 28
- Pike County's history of marijuana busts [VIDEO] received closer scrutiny after it was learned a marijuana grow operation was found at the crime scenes. Still, a DEA agent said a cartel presence would be unusual for rural Ohio.
- The first victim in the Pike County shootings was laid to rest. Meanwhile, one surviving member of the Rhoden family said an incident made him "fear for my life." We looked at four possible motives in the Pike County shootings. And Kenneth Rhoden spoke about his son, Gary, who was laid to rest today [VIDEO].
April 29
- An expert told us Pike County shootings likely business, not personal. We took a look at where the Pike County crime scenes are located [VIDEO]. Residents said they were still concerned with the case and talked about the tragedy [VIDEO]. And other residents told us about the way of life in Pike County [VIDEO].
READ OUR SPECIAL REPORT: ‘Cold-blooded, calculated massacre’: 8 dead in Piketon; One week later
WEEK 2
April 30
- Victim Hannah Gilley, 20, was laid to rest near her childhood home. Gilley was the only non-Rhoden killed in the shootings. We took a look at developments in the case, still unsolved.
May 1-2
- The community continued its support of of the survivors. As visitation drew large crowds for the members of the Rhoden family.
May 3
- Funeral services were held for several of the victims in the Pike County massacre. Community members expressed a hope for healing. Investigators began to tow vehicles from the Pike County crime scenes.
May 5
- Pike County residents expressed to us: Reports of hillbillies on drugs unfair. Residents said they're proud of their community and upset with some news reports.
WEEK THREE
May 12
- The caller of a frantic 911 call told news organizations, 'thank God they didn't take the babies.' The state announces they're moving the homes where the Pike County shooting victims were found.
May 13
- We looked at how the Pike County massacre differs from most mass killings — a look at 121 other recent mass shootings. Developments were slim, but details trickled in.
WEEK FOUR
May 20
- Four weeks after the murders, investigators still don't indicate they're closer to finding answers.
WEEK FIVE
May 27
- DeWine heads to Pike County for a review of the evidence in the shootings. Meanwhile, death certificates are filed for the Pike County victims.