"There was an obsession with control of the children," Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine said at a Tuesday news conference announcing the long-awaited arrests in the massacre of an entire Pike County family.

Arrested and charged with murder and a slew of other charges were Angela Wagner, 48, her husband George "Billy" Wagner, 47, and their two sons, George Wagner IV, 27, and Edward "Jake" Wagner, 26.

At the center of the case is Sophia Wagner, 4, the daughter of Jake Wagner and Hanna Rhoden.

Christopher Rhoden Sr., 40; his older brother, Kenneth Rhoden, 44; Christopher's former wife, Dana Manley Rhoden, 38; their three children, Clarence "Frankie" Rhoden, 20; Hanna Rhoden, 19, and Chris Rhoden, Jr., 16; and a cousin Gary Rhoden, 38, and Hannah Gilley, 20, were all killed in their homes April 22, 2016. Most were asleep while the Wagners allegedly executed a meticulously planned attack to wipe out the family, DeWine said Tuesday.

Two others have been arrested in connection with a cover-up of the crimes: Rita Newcomb and Fredericka Wagner, mothers of Angela Wagner and George "Billy" Wagner are accused of forging custody documents.

Authorities said Billy Wagner was arrested in Fayette County, Kentucky. Angela Wagner was arrested at her home in Scioto County. Jake and George Wagner were arrested in Ross County. Fredricka was arrested at the family's Flying W farm in Lucasville, which had been previously raided. Rita Newcomb was arrested at her home in South Webster, Ohio.

"They did this quickly, coldly, calmly and very carefully – but not carefully enough," said. Pike County Sheriff Charles Reader.

Prosecutors allege Angela Wagner purchased several items in the months leading up to the deaths of the Rhoden family and Hannah Gilley.

"...specific shoes from Walmart, 'brass catcher(s),' items with which to build 'brass catchers,' ammunition, a magazine clip, a 'bug' detector, and or items with which to build a 'silencer(s),' and/or various other items in preparation for these crimes," the indictment states.

Brass catchers are used to collect discharged bullet casings.

Prosecutors also say members of the family forged custody documents in their efforts to keep Sophia Wagner.

The attorney for the Wagners, John Kearson Clark, in a statement said his clients were innocent and looked forward to their trials. Clark said the family hopes the true culprits were brought to justice.

"They are hopeful for a thorough vetting of the facts," Clark said.

Authorities have repeatedly said the killers worked to cover their tracks, adding complexity to what is the largest homicide investigation in Ohio history. DeWine reiterated that point Tuesday saying authorities estimate that they conducted tens of thousands of hours of investigative work, followed more than 1,100 tips from the public and conducted 550 interviews.

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Dismissed by DeWine and Reader was the theory that the slain Rhoden family members had a soured marijuana business relationship.

They also said they don't believe anyone else is involved.

The Wagners moved to Kenai, Alaska, from Adams County, Ohio, in June 2017, telling The Enquirer the speculation of their involvement in the Rhoden deaths drove them to move 4,107 miles.

“Really the point to moving up here was to basically get into a better environment so they wouldn’t talk about us. Sophia is getting older, so she wouldn’t hear it,” Jake Wagner told The Enquirer in July 2017, standing on the family’s front porch in Kenai. “And then it followed us here.”

DeWine said the family moved back to the area in the spring of 2018.

What's next?

While the trial is planned to be held in Pike County Common Pleas Court, Pike County Prosecutor Rob Junk did acknowledge the possibility of a defense attorney asking a judge to move the trial out of the county due to the publicity of the case.

Further complicating and delaying the case is the complexity of it being a capital punishment case, meaning the defense attorneys would need a special qualification to represent the Wagners.

There wasn't a schedule for arraignment for the family Tuesday evening, however each person charged was in custody at various jails in Ohio and Kentucky.

The Wagners are also facing a series of additional charges including: conspiracy, engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, tampering with evidence, unlawful possession of a dangerous ordinance, forgery, unauthorized use of property, interception of wire, oral, or electronic communications, obstructing justice, and aggravated burglary.

Reached for comment Tuesday afternoon, Leonard Manley, father of Dana Rhoden Manley, declined to comment on the Wagners' arrest.

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Comprehensive coverage

►:Pike County: Wagner family arrested in the Rhoden family massacre

►:Rhoden family massacre: Autopsy reports indicate one victim was awake when fatally shot

►:On the second anniversary of the Rhoden family massacre: 'I still got a lot of hate'

►:2 years since Pike County slayings, surviving child lives with fear. 'He's trapped by it'

►:Warrant: Investigators put GPS tracker on truck of Rhoden victim's brother

►:Rhoden family massacre: Wagner family tries to create new home in Alaska amid rumors

►:Police spokesman wrongly says SWAT present at Pike County raid for 'suspects'

►:Lawyer: Mike DeWine is harassing family in Rhoden case that moved to Alaska

►:Pike County: Death in the foothills