OH - Pike Co - 8 in Rhoden Family Murdered - 4 Wagner Family Members Arrested #89

[poppyquiche]

The smirking, "I know more than you ever will" type of look in his eyes says it all to me. When I meet people like this, I don’t even try to speak because I know the only voice they want to hear is their own.

View attachment 556861

Jake Wagner gets chance for parole. See photos of sentencing

The judge in the 2016 Pike County massacre case gave Jake Wagner a chance of parole. See our gallery of the sentencing.

www.chillicothegazette.com

I don't even get what this guy's deal is. Just being contrarian? WHY would you want to go out of your way to be lenient to THESE PEOPLE?

It also makes me angry because there ARE people who probably DO deserve SOME moderate chance at societal redemption even after doing terrible things who are doing LWOP, and THIS heap of trash gets the glimmer of hope of getting out?? He sounded legit INSANE in his sentencing statement. I sure as heck don't want him in society with me ever. I hate when judges do stuff like this and I can't even understand HOW it benefits them. He's retired, right? Why does he CARE what happens to these people???

 

[INfisherman]

I don't even get what this guy's deal is. Just being contrarian? WHY would you want to go out of your way to be lenient to THESE PEOPLE?

It also makes me angry because there ARE people who probably DO deserve SOME moderate chance at societal redemption even after doing terrible things who are doing LWOP, and THIS heap of trash gets the glimmer of hope of getting out?? He sounded legit INSANE in his sentencing statement. I sure as heck don't want him in society with me ever. I hate when judges do stuff like this and I can't even understand HOW it benefits them. He's retired, right? Why does he CARE what happens to these people???

I wish I could give you & others the answers which you seek. The only things that cross my mind is he MAY feel he is saving money in some way AND he doesn’t feel that prison does much to change the majority of people which go through the penal system. Complete guesses on my part. Please do not take those speculations as me defending his decisions. The laws allowing just any retired judge to be put on a case (or whatever resulted in this occurring) really need to be looked at more closely, as this is just a kick in the face of justness. A change needs to be made - this just seems like small town, good ‘ol boy type of garbage which belongs south of the Ohio River.

Obviously someone, somewhere didn’t like how things had progressed & felt getting things moving forward was more important than pleasing the families & supporters of the victims.

I’m really stuck at whether the "rewarding" sentence of JW or allowing him to preach to the gallery was more stomach turning. That should have never been allowed & more people from the gallery should have walked out.

JMO

 

[poppyquiche]

I wish I could give you & others the answers which you seek. The only things that cross my mind is he MAY feel he is saving money in some way AND he doesn’t feel that prison does much to change the majority of people which go through the penal system. Complete guesses on my part. Please do not take those speculations as me defending his decisions. The laws allowing just any retired judge to be put on a case (or whatever resulted in this occurring) really need to be looked at more closely, as this is just a kick in the face of justness. A change needs to be made - this just seems like small town, good ‘ol boy type of garbage which belongs south of the Ohio River.

Obviously someone, somewhere didn’t like how things had progressed & felt getting things moving forward was more important than pleasing the families & supporters of the victims.

I’m really stuck at whether the "rewarding" sentence of JW or allowing him to preach to the gallery was more stomach turning. That should have never been allowed & more people from the gallery should have walked out.

JMO

Letting him bloviate for ANY amount of time was disgusting, and from what I’ve seen (extensively) of the judicial system MOST judges would have told him to STFU and sit down after a point. So my vote maybe goes to that, but it’s a close race. LOL

I’m mostly a textbook Bleeding Heart and I’m not necessarily opposed to giving *some* people the vague hope of another shot at life outside of prison after a very very VERY long time, but even I was like “what IS this?!” Whyyyyyy did he let him TALK SO LONG. This is not a man who should ever be out in society.

 

[Niner]

for Billy:

Docket Information
Date Docket Text
01/03/2025 MEMORANDUM CONTRA DEFENDANT'S MOTION IN LIMINE TO PRECLUDE THE INTRODUCTION OF EVIDENCE OF OTHER CRIMES WRONGS OR ACTS ALLEGED OF THE DEFENDANT UNDER EVIDENCE RULES 402 AND 404(B) FILED
Attorney: CANEPA, ANGELA R

01/03/2025 MOTION, ENTRY AND CERTIFICATION FOR APPOINTED COUNSEL FEES FILED

01/08/2025 JUDGMENT ENTRY - SETTING HEARINGS/PRE-TRIAL CONFERENCES FILED

01/08/2025 JUDGMENT ENTRY AND DECISION OF SUPREME COURT OF OHIO - THE AFFIDAVIT OF DISQUALIFICATION FILED DECEMBER 30, 2024 IS DENIED

01/09/2025 """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Event: PRE-TRIAL
Date: 01/24/2025 Time: 10:00 AM

01/09/2025 """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Event: PRE-TRIAL
Date: 02/19/2025 Time: 10:00 AM

01/09/2025 """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Event: PRE-TRIAL
Date: 03/21/2025 Time: 10:00 AM

01/09/2025 """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Event: PRE-TRIAL
Date: 04/25/2025 Time: 10:00 AM

01/10/2025 MOTION TO AMEND BILL OF PARTICULARS AND INDICTMENT FILED
Attorney: CANEPA, ANGELA R


Events
Date Type Event Judge
01/24/2025 10:00 AM PRE-TRIAL JUNK, ROBERT

02/19/2025 10:00 AM PRE-TRIAL JUNK, ROBERT

03/21/2025 10:00 AM PRE-TRIAL JUNK, ROBERT

04/25/2025 10:00 AM PRE-TRIAL JUNK, ROBERT

link: https://cpcourt.pikecounty.oh.gov/eservices/search.page.3.1?x=Ls9DqF3JtfA4yL88Rm01Hw

 

[GeorgiaRai]

This, to me, epitomizes the term "activist judge." I think Hein has a personal conviction against the death penalty & LWOP and is always in favor of redemption and rehabilitation. Which is all fine and good on a personal level, but IMO he let his personal beliefs override the facts and circumstances (not to mention prior agreements) of this case. His conscience dictated that he spare these defendants from the harshest sentences, regardless of what they deserved or what they had agreed to.

I also take issue with his statement that George deserved LWOP because he went to trial. The accused have a RIGHT to a fair trial. George exercised that right and was found guilty and given a fair and appropriate sentence for his involvement in these crimes, not as punishment for "going to trial." I think this was Hein's way of justifying the person with arguably the least involvement receiving the toughest punishment. Otherwise, he'd have to admit George's sentence was fair and the others were granted leniency for reasons that have nothing to do with testimony and evidence. If found guilty, I think Billy will get the lightest sentence of all, not based on testimony, but based on Hein's personal viewpoint. JMO.

 

[rescuemom]

I just need to weigh in on this thread even though I've only sort of paid attention to this case in the background over the years, because MY GOD Hannah May Rhoden's mom's PALPABLE fury during the victim impact statements combined with the absolutely INSANE narcissism of Jake and the general SHRUG behavior of Angela made me want to throw things at the screen. What a bunch of absolute GHOULS the Wagners are. I feel so bad for the Rhodens and everyone who cared about the victims.

The lengths to which people will go to "possess" children -- who are only in an "adult's" care for a mere 18 years -- is INSANE to me. I'll never ever understand it. How can you hate another adult more than you love a child who is your own flesh and blood?

It was Hannah Gilley's mom. Hanna May Rhoden's mom is dead!

 

[Betty P]

I don't even get what this guy's deal is. Just being contrarian? WHY would you want to go out of your way to be lenient to THESE PEOPLE?

It also makes me angry because there ARE people who probably DO deserve SOME moderate chance at societal redemption even after doing terrible things who are doing LWOP, and THIS heap of trash gets the glimmer of hope of getting out?? He sounded legit INSANE in his sentencing statement. I sure as heck don't want him in society with me ever. I hate when judges do stuff like this and I can't even understand HOW it benefits them. He's retired, right? Why does he CARE what happens to these people???

The whole decision is so "hinky". Why did the judge take action to prevent Jake and Angela from testifying against Billy? There was no rush to sentence them a few months early, especially when it was going to undermine the state's case against Billy.

I might understand why he took the DP off the table for Billy, but damaging the states case against him makes no sense.

 

[Caylee Advocate]

Well all I can say is.. keep your seat belts tightened cause it is going to be a LONG AND BUMPY RIDE.

 

[Betty P]

Well all I can say is.. keep your seat belts tightened cause it is going to be a LONG AND BUMPY RIDE.

It's a shame all the judge's shenanigans is causing stress for the families and is actually dragging out the process of trying
Billy. All of those pre-trial hearings now scheduled into April were supposed to have been completed by the end of 2024. Knowing he was going to make these disruptive changes, was the judge being dishonest about getting Billy's trial started promptly or was he just naive and experienced in thinking he could turn it all upside down and still move right to trial?

The judge no longer has a valid claim that he's trying to save the county money or expedite the trial.

 

[INfisherman]

Well all I can say is.. keep your seat belts tightened cause it is going to be a LONG AND BUMPY RIDE.

I know we didn’t agree on another recent trial but I’m happy to say we do with this one, as unfortunate as the circumstances may be surrounding the recent events as well as those likely to come.

 

[Betty P]

Well all I can say is.. keep your seat belts tightened cause it is going to be a LONG AND BUMPY RIDE.

Just seeking opinions, but does anyone believe the judge will attempt to further damage the state's case against Billy or otherwise ensure he gets off with parole or acquittal? Are these the kind of actions the judge has taken in the past when presiding over murder trials?

 

[Cool Cats]

Jake then and now after 6 years

'I am guilty, your honor': Edward 'Jake' Wagner admits guilt in 2016 Rhoden family massacre in Pike County, Ohio

Edward "Jake" Wagner, father of the baby whose custody battle led to the 2016 killings of eight members of the Rhoden family in Ohio, pleads guilty.

www.jsonline.com

MSN

 

[Seattle1]

Last June, GW4's appellate lawyer's filed the defenses brief outlining the following nine possible errors. Perhaps now they can amend the brief and add Hein's most recent prejudicial statement i.e., GW4 deserved LWOP because he went to trial...

Given Hein's history here, any Honorable Judge would have long ago recused himself already. MOO

June 12, 2024 - WCHSTV

In the brief filed Monday, his lawyers said there were nine possible errors during the original trial.

Those include:

• Not dismissing the death penalty specifications against Wagner before the trial.
• Not dismissing several jurors for cause because they possibly knew the victims or their families, and allowing gruesome pictures to be shown that could have swayed those jurors.
• Allowing evidence of other crimes and misdeeds not related directly to the murders.
• Allowing Jake and Angela to testify as part of so-called “coercive plea deals.”
• Quashing attempts by George’s defense team to get access to Jake’s medical records.
• Allowing the prosecution to accuse George of lying and accuse his defense lawyers of coaching him to do it.

 

[Betty P]

Last June, GW4's appellate lawyer's filed the defenses brief outlining the following nine possible errors. Perhaps now they can amend the brief and add Hein's most recent prejudicial statement i.e., GW4 deserved LWOP because he went to trial...

Given Hein's history here, any Honorable Judge would have long ago recused himself already. MOO

June 12, 2024 - WCHSTV

In the brief filed Monday, his lawyers said there were nine possible errors during the original trial.

Those include:

• Not dismissing the death penalty specifications against Wagner before the trial.
• Not dismissing several jurors for cause because they possibly knew the victims or their families, and allowing gruesome pictures to be shown that could have swayed those jurors.
• Allowing evidence of other crimes and misdeeds not related directly to the murders.
• Allowing Jake and Angela to testify as part of so-called “coercive plea deals.”
• Quashing attempts by George’s defense team to get access to Jake’s medical records.
• Allowing the prosecution to accuse George of lying and accuse his defense lawyers of coaching him to do it.

TBH, like the other defense teams in this case, many of these assertions are a bit dubious, but they're just doing their job. Like other recent high profile trials (murders of Abby & Libby), local defense attorneys exaggerate their objections because they know they'll be repeated in the news/social media and possibly be accepted as factual by locals who might end up in the jury pool.

JMO, there's no evidence that Jake or Angela's plea deals were "coercive". IIRC, both defendants had their attorneys approach the prosecution to discuss plea deals, not the other way around. Both wanted to avoid the DP.

IIRC, Other Acts were allowed by Judge Deering because the state argued that the Wagner family was very enmeshed, mostly lived together, made all decisions together and controlled each others lives. Other Acts evidence was used to prove that the family had planned, committed and covered up other crimes in the past, as they did with the Rhoden-Gilley Massacre.

If Billy's attorneys think there were jurors in George's trial who were friends with the victims, they'll have to prove it. Nothing like that came up in voir dire that I recall.

Dismissing death penalty specifications was part of the plea agreement with Jake. The state made it clear that agreement would be honored after Jake testified in the 2 trials.

Quashing George's attempts to access Jake's medical records seems like a non-issue, JMO. It just seems like a defense tactic to publicly cast doubt on Jake's testimony both before and during the trial.

Accusing George of lying at his trial? Not sure how that's relevant to Billy's trial. It's also the job of the prosecuting attorneys to prove the defendant is being dishonest in a murder trial by presenting evidence to contradict them. Duh.

JMO, IANAL

 

[Caylee Advocate]

Just seeking opinions, but does anyone believe the judge will attempt to further damage the state's case against Billy or otherwise ensure he gets off with parole or acquittal? Are these the kind of actions the judge has taken in the past when presiding over murder trials?

Dunno... maybe.

 

[Betty P]

Duplicate

 

[Covert Operative]

Just seeking opinions, but does anyone believe the judge will attempt to further damage the state's case against Billy or otherwise ensure he gets off with parole or acquittal? Are these the kind of actions the judge has taken in the past when presiding over murder trials?

I wonder since he dimissed the DP against Billy if that will give him more flexibility in sentencing Billy less severely. I am sure he has to go by the statues and sentencing structures in the state of Ohio, but if it's not a capial case he may have more flexibility with the sentence he gives.

I also wonder if Jake does not testify can the physical evidence that was obtained because of his confession/proffer be brought into the trial.

 

[sunshineray]

Last June, GW4's appellate lawyer's filed the defenses brief outlining the following nine possible errors. Perhaps now they can amend the brief and add Hein's most recent prejudicial statement i.e., GW4 deserved LWOP because he went to trial...

Given Hein's history here, any Honorable Judge would have long ago recused himself already. MOO

June 12, 2024 - WCHSTV

In the brief filed Monday, his lawyers said there were nine possible errors during the original trial.

Those include:

• Not dismissing the death penalty specifications against Wagner before the trial.
• Not dismissing several jurors for cause because they possibly knew the victims or their families, and allowing gruesome pictures to be shown that could have swayed those jurors.
• Allowing evidence of other crimes and misdeeds not related directly to the murders.
• Allowing Jake and Angela to testify as part of so-called “coercive plea deals.”
• Quashing attempts by George’s defense team to get access to Jake’s medical records.
• Allowing the prosecution to accuse George of lying and accuse his defense lawyers of coaching him to do it.

"Quashing attempts by George’s defense team to get access to Jake’s medical records"

Well that's a new one to me. I watched the trial and granted that was awhile ago, but I don't remember EJW's med records being mentioned?

I guess maybe GWIV wanted EJW's medical records to prove he was unstable and couldn't get them? Wonder why his lawyers couldn't get them?

 

[sunshineray]

for Billy:

Docket Information
Date Docket Text
01/03/2025 MEMORANDUM CONTRA DEFENDANT'S MOTION IN LIMINE TO PRECLUDE THE INTRODUCTION OF EVIDENCE OF OTHER CRIMES WRONGS OR ACTS ALLEGED OF THE DEFENDANT UNDER EVIDENCE RULES 402 AND 404(B) FILED
Attorney: CANEPA, ANGELA R

01/03/2025 MOTION, ENTRY AND CERTIFICATION FOR APPOINTED COUNSEL FEES FILED

01/08/2025 JUDGMENT ENTRY - SETTING HEARINGS/PRE-TRIAL CONFERENCES FILED

01/08/2025 JUDGMENT ENTRY AND DECISION OF SUPREME COURT OF OHIO - THE AFFIDAVIT OF DISQUALIFICATION FILED DECEMBER 30, 2024 IS DENIED

01/09/2025 """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Event: PRE-TRIAL
Date: 01/24/2025 Time: 10:00 AM

01/09/2025 """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Event: PRE-TRIAL
Date: 02/19/2025 Time: 10:00 AM

01/09/2025 """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Event: PRE-TRIAL
Date: 03/21/2025 Time: 10:00 AM

01/09/2025 """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Event: PRE-TRIAL
Date: 04/25/2025 Time: 10:00 AM

01/10/2025 MOTION TO AMEND BILL OF PARTICULARS AND INDICTMENT FILED
Attorney: CANEPA, ANGELA R


Events
Date Type Event Judge
01/24/2025 10:00 AM PRE-TRIAL JUNK, ROBERT

02/19/2025 10:00 AM PRE-TRIAL JUNK, ROBERT

03/21/2025 10:00 AM PRE-TRIAL JUNK, ROBERT

04/25/2025 10:00 AM PRE-TRIAL JUNK, ROBERT

link: https://cpcourt.pikecounty.oh.gov/eservices/search.page.3.1?x=Ls9DqF3JtfA4yL88Rm01Hw

Why is Junk listed as the Judge instead of Hein?

 

[Niner]

Why is Junk listed as the Judge instead of Hein?

Do not know why - they just have not updated that part of the court site...