Entire family slain among outrageous marijuana operation

'They thought this through, whoever did it.'

Pike County, Ohio saw eight murders on Friday with the youngest victim described as 16-years-old and the oldest at 44.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine released a statement on Sunday during a news conference to mention marijuana grow operations were discovered at three crime scenes in Pike County.

The victims were all members of the Rhoden family, who were methodically shot in the head while sleeping at four different residences.

According to CNN, the victims were later identified as Hannah Giley, Christopher Rhoden Sr., Christopher Rhoden Jr., Clarence "Frankie" Rhoden, Dana Rhoden, Gary Rhoden, Hanna Rhoden and Kenneth Rhoden.

Hanna Rhoden, who was 19-years-old, was shot in the head with her 4-day-old infant slept soundly beside her.

The child, as well as a 6-month-old and a 3-year-old survived the attack. So far, authorities have no suspects and, though marijuana plants were discovered at three of the four locations, officials have yet to officially claim the murders were drug slayings.

Though DeWine refused to classify the murders, he did explain: "This was a preplanned execution of eight individuals. 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."

According to USA Today, DeWine added, "I don't know if it's a bad guy or bad guys. It could be one, two, three, four. I don't think we know ... They thought this thing through, whoever did it."

Pike County Sheriff Charles Reader added the killer, or killers, specifically targeted the Rhoden family, and may still be a danger to the surviving members.

Reader stated: "We have a specific family that's been targeted but I don't think there's been a threat to any other members of the community. I cautioned them they are a target and I cautioned them, 'Be armed.' For the other citizens of this county, I don't believe that there is an issue. I've taken the precautionary measures to contact other sheriffs.

"If you are fearful, arm yourself. If you feel you need to protect yourself or family, do so."

The murder investigation is still underway, as well as further investigations into the marijuana operation.

Authorities did admit, "This operation was not for personal use; it was for something much bigger than that. It was a very sophisticated operation."

Recently, a spike in drugs, including meth, has been an issue for Ohio, which recently indicted 10 people for bringing in large shipments of crystal meth from California for distribution, as well as separate cases of heroin distribution.

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