The preliminary coroner’s autopsy reports released Wednesday in the eight, unsolved Pike County homicides of the Rhoden family included one revealing piece of information: Christopher Rhoden Sr., the victim who had been shot the most times, was shot through a door.
Multiple investigators previously had told The Dispatch that their belief was that Rhoden, who was killed in his own home, was awake the night of the shootings and had seen his killers approaching.
The rest of the one-page, individual autopsy reports provided little new information in the mysterious case that has lingered for 2 1/2 years, other than revealing specifically how many times each person was shot.
In addition to 40-year-old Christopher Rhoden Sr., the victims included his ex-wife, with whom he had reconciled, Dana Manley Rhoden, 37; their sons, Christopher Rhoden Jr., 16, and Clarence “Frankie” Rhoden, 20; their daughter, Hanna Rhoden, 19; Frankie’s fiancée, Hannah Gilley, 20; Chris Sr.’s brother, Kenneth Rhoden, 44; and Gary Rhoden, 38, a cousin to Chris Sr. and Kenneth.
All were shot to death overnight on April 22, 2016, in four separate homes in rural Pike County. Authorities have always said they suspect multiple killers.