Sure looks like
#jakewagner; albeit six years older than when I sat across from him at his home in Peebles. This will be the first time he has seen his brother since their arrest in November of 2018.
#GeorgeWagnerIV #pikecounty. Headed up to court now.
Jake Wagner, 29, testified this morning that it was his father's idea around January 2016 to "do something" about Hanna Rhoden. And he said he was initially against it 1/8
He said he was growing increasingly worried that the daughter he and Rhoden shared may become a victim of child or sexual abuse. "I had a fear for my own daughter." 2/8
"At first I blowed up and said that was my daughter's mother,'' said Wagner, who is the younger brother of
#GeorgeWagnerIV who is on trial in the eight shooting deaths of member of the Rhoden family. 3/8
He said he thinks that "he thinks" his mother, Angela Wagner was there for the conversation. But then, he and Hanna Rhoden had an an argument and after that "I went to my father and told him we had to do it." 4/8
At that point, he testified that he and his father, George "Billy" Wagner — who has pleaded not guilty and his trial is pending — began to plan the homicides. At first, Wagner testified that he wanted to kill Hanna and her then boyfriend, Cory Holdren. 5/8
He said he thought he could make it look like a murder-suicide. But he determined he couldn't get access to the couple. His father said there was no way they could kill Hanna without killing her father, Chris Rhoden, Sr. 6/8
So then the plan become that they would kill Hanna; her father, Chris Sr., 40; her brother, Frankie, 20; and her uncle, Kenneth, 44. However, Wagner said they knew the others living with them would likely have to be killed as well. 7/8
"I think the proper word would be they would be witnesses,'' he said. His father would plan the timing and the "surroundings. Jake Wagner's role: Buy a truck to avoid detection and get firearms and silencers. 8/8
When he walked into the courtroom, handcuffed by a leather belt around his waist and in a mis-matched jail uniform, he sat and looked directly at his brother and held the stare for a few seconds. His brother looked down, as he often does doodling and writing on a legal pad. 1/6
At one point when lawyers were on a sidebar at the bench, Wagner scanned the packed courtroom and seemed to lock eyes with someone sitting among the family members. "I'm sorry" he mouthed. 2/6
Then he looked down, blinked quickly and cleared his throat. Throughout his testimony, he has shown little emotion and often pauses appearing to look for the right word. He often asks Special Prosecutor Angela Canepa to repeat her questions. He has impaired hearing. 3/6
His hair is shorter, pulled back in a short ponytail, has a closely shaved mustache and goatee and is wearing glasses. 4/6
Wagner's testimony is key to the largely circumstantial case against his brother. There is much more testimony ahead, but Wagner has only said his brother was with him and his father when they bought the Chevy pick-up truck from his great-uncle to be used in the homicides. 5/6
More to come after lunch break. Headed back to secure my seat in the very packed courtroom. 6/6
CORRECTION (typing too fast) Should be Corey Holdren (who, by the way, previously testified in the case). Unknown if he was aware of this plan.
https://twitter.com/chrisgraves
