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

[Covert Operative]

Why is Junk listed as the Judge instead of Hein?

He is the judge of Pike County court and it defaults to his name when entries are made.

 

[sunshineray]

He is the judge of Pike County court and it defaults to his name when entries are made.

I thought it was moved out of Pike County?

 

[Covert Operative]

I thought it was moved out of Pike County?

The judge did rule it would be, but there is an appeal on that and it will not be decided til April probably, so all the proceedings stay in Pike county for now. I believe even if it is moved entries will still be make in Pike county courtview.

 

[Covert Operative]

Canepa seems to be on her own. She's not getting any help. The wording of this is a little confusing but I guess it means that the judge removing the DP stands as is.

@pattinewberry


NEW in #PikeCountymassacre #BillyWagner case: The Ohio Court of Appeals denied a motion to stop the judge in Wagner's case from taking death penalty off the table should Wagner be convicted in the 2016 Pike County killings. 1/7

 

[Seattle1]

Patricia Gallagher Newberry

@pattinewberry

NEW in #PikeCountymassacre #BillyWagner case: The Ohio Court of Appeals denied a motion to stop the judge in Wagner's case from taking death penalty off the table should Wagner be convicted in the 2016 Pike County killings. 1/7
7:18 AM · Jan 16, 2025

The appeals court on Wednesday said rules do not allow it to stay (i.e. stop) proceedings in criminal cases before sentencing. The special prosecutor on Wagner's case filed the appeal, arguing she needed the threat of death to get Wagner's son & wife to testify against him. 2/7
7:18 AM · Jan 16, 2025

Still pending with the appeals court: An effort to stop Visiting Judge Jonathan Hein from moving Wagner's case out of Pike County. The trial -- venue and start date still TBA -- cannot go forward until the appeal is cleared. 3/7
7:18 AM · Jan 16, 2025

In other #PikeCountymassacre news, Billy Wagner's son and wife have been transferred from county jails to the state prison system. 4/7
7:18 AM · Jan 16, 2025


Edward "Jake" Wagner was admitted to the Correctional Reception Center in Orient on Monday. He was formally sentenced Jan. 3 to 32 years-to-life, with an opportunity for parole in 2050. He's admitted to shooting five of the eight 2016 victims to death. 5/7
7:18 AM · Jan 16, 2025

Angela Wagner was admitted to the Ohio Reformatory for Women in Marysville last Thursday. She was sentenced, also on Jan. 3, to 30 years for helping plan and cover up the crimes. 6/7
7:18 AM · Jan 16, 2025

Next in #BillyWagner's case: A Jan. 24 pretrial hearing in Pike County at 10 a.m. Here's
@enquirer
coverage of the Jan. 3 proceedings. 7/7



A day in Pike County court: Satan, Jesus, tears and a surprise sentence in Ohio massacre

From cincinnati.com

7:18 AM · Jan 16, 2025

 

[Covert Operative]

Patricia Gallagher Newberry
@pattinewberry

NEW in #PikeCountymassacre #BillyWagner case: The Ohio Court of Appeals denied a motion to stop the judge in Wagner's case from taking death penalty off the table should Wagner be convicted in the 2016 Pike County killings. 1/7
7:18 AM · Jan 16, 2025

The appeals court on Wednesday said rules do not allow it to stay (i.e. stop) proceedings in criminal cases before sentencing. The special prosecutor on Wagner's case filed the appeal, arguing she needed the threat of death to get Wagner's son & wife to testify against him. 2/7
7:18 AM · Jan 16, 2025

Still pending with the appeals court: An effort to stop Visiting Judge Jonathan Hein from moving Wagner's case out of Pike County. The trial -- venue and start date still TBA -- cannot go forward until the appeal is cleared. 3/7
7:18 AM · Jan 16, 2025

In other #PikeCountymassacre news, Billy Wagner's son and wife have been transferred from county jails to the state prison system. 4/7
7:18 AM · Jan 16, 2025


Edward "Jake" Wagner was admitted to the Correctional Reception Center in Orient on Monday. He was formally sentenced Jan. 3 to 32 years-to-life, with an opportunity for parole in 2050. He's admitted to shooting five of the eight 2016 victims to death. 5/7
7:18 AM · Jan 16, 2025

Angela Wagner was admitted to the Ohio Reformatory for Women in Marysville last Thursday. She was sentenced, also on Jan. 3, to 30 years for helping plan and cover up the crimes. 6/7
7:18 AM · Jan 16, 2025

Next in #BillyWagner's case: A Jan. 24 pretrial hearing in Pike County at 10 a.m. Here's
@enquirer
coverage of the Jan. 3 proceedings. 7/7

A day in Pike County court: Satan, Jesus, tears and a surprise sentence in Ohio massacre

From cincinnati.com

7:18 AM · Jan 16, 2025

I have that document and it is confusing the way it is worded to me at least. It kind of seems like the DP appeal is still to be decided, but I just am not sure.

 

[Covert Operative]

In this document the judge mentions several things to be discussed in future pretrials and one is a waiver of jury trial. I am not sure if maybe he is trying to throw a hint at Billy and his defense attorneys.

[td]01/14/2025[/td][td]JUDGMENT ENTRY - SETTING SUBJECT MATTERS FOR FURTHER HEARINGS FILED COPIES SENT BY KB[/td]

 

[PrairieWind]

In this document the judge mentions several things to be discussed in future pretrials and one is a waiver of jury trial. I am not sure if maybe he is trying to throw a hint at Billy and his defense attorneys.

[td]01/14/2025[/td][td]JUDGMENT ENTRY - SETTING SUBJECT MATTERS FOR FURTHER HEARINGS FILED COPIES SENT BY KB[/td]

That is interesting. I don't know if that is just a standard list of items the judge usually just covers in his pretrials, or if there has indeed been some indication that the Defendant may now want to waive his right to jury trial.

 

[Covert Operative]

That is interesting. I don't know if that is just a standard list of items the judge usually just covers in his pretrials, or if there has indeed been some indication that the Defendant may now want to waive his right to jury trial.

Canepa has accused him of trying to give hints to the defense, that sure seems like it may be one. I think he would probaby be much better off if he waives his jury trial.

 

[joe jones]

I have that document and it is confusing the way it is worded to me at least. It kind of seems like the DP appeal is still to be decided, but I just am not sure.

Reading that document I can't see where the DP has been reinstated, to me it reads that they have denied a stay of any further hearings to prepare for BW trial as that is in the remit of the trial judge, and the DP appeal is still pending,
I am no lawyer though so I may be interpreting it all wrong
So state and defence will be expected to prepare for trial and the higher court will make there ruling on DP when they see fit

 

[Covert Operative]

Reading that document I can't see where the DP has been reinstated, to me it reads that they have denied a stay of any further hearings to prepare for BW trial as that is in the remit of the trial judge, and the DP appeal is still pending,
I am no lawyer though so I may be interpreting it all wrong
So state and defence will be expected to prepare for trial and the higher court will make there ruling on DP when they see fit

I agree, that is how I read it. The DP appeal is still outstanding and to be decided either by him reconsidering it and if not then the court of appeals would rule.

 

[joe jones]

In this document the judge mentions several things to be discussed in future pretrials and one is a waiver of jury trial. I am not sure if maybe he is trying to throw a hint at Billy and his defense attorneys.

[td]01/14/2025[/td][td]JUDGMENT ENTRY - SETTING SUBJECT MATTERS FOR FURTHER HEARINGS FILED COPIES SENT BY KB[/td]

Waiver of trial by jury is listed as one of the things to be orally argued, maybe BW will be foregoing trial by jury after not only seeing how this judge Judges but how he isn't beholden to what has been argued/agreed upon before him,
Thanks for providing documents,
The judge is also signalling that he is not going to allow all the other acts charges, he states that some may be moved to another trial (not verbatim) and he is also going to be looking at the wording of the indictment
I like a judge that tells both sides to come prepared to argue specifics,

 

[Cool Cats]

Number W114481
DOB 10/15/1970
Gender Female
Race White
Admission Date 01/09/2025
Institution Ohio Reformatory for Women Status INCARCERATED

Offender Details

 

[Cool Cats]

Offender Details

appgateway.drc.ohio.gov

 

[Covert Operative]

Waiver of trial by jury is listed as one of the things to be orally argued, maybe BW will be foregoing trial by jury after not only seeing how this judge Judges but how he isn't beholden to what has been argued/agreed upon before him,
Thanks for providing documents,
The judge is also signalling that he is not going to allow all the other acts charges, he states that some may be moved to another trial (not verbatim) and he is also going to be looking at the wording of the indictment
I like a judge that tells both sides to come prepared to argue specifics,

It seems a little strange that the judge would be suggesting things for them to be arguing though, or it seemed he was.

 

[Cool Cats]

It seems a little strange that the judge would be suggesting things for them to be arguing though, or it seemed he was.

So I am having trouble following. Billy is going to trial?

 

[Covert Operative]

So I am having trouble following. Billy is going to trial?

I do not think so anytime soon, but as of right now he would have a trial at some point. There is still the venue issue for the appeals court to rule on and I am not sure that the DP thing is settled.

 

[Betty P]

In this document the judge mentions several things to be discussed in future pretrials and one is a waiver of jury trial. I am not sure if maybe he is trying to throw a hint at Billy and his defense attorneys.

As I said when Judge Hein first began to derail this case, he wants Billy to go to a bench trial. He will then declare that Billy is innocent and he will let him go home to his Mommy.

This is all about screwing up Billy's case, then using that as leverage to get GW4 also declared innocent. I presume, they will then leave Jake and Angela in prison.

Some folks, including defense attorneys, spent the better part of a year figuring out a way to get the Wagners declared innocent, out of jail and back at Flying W Farms. It wouldn't surprise me if they even figured out a way to get Jake's conviction thrown out.

I can't believe DeWine is letting this happen, but I'm not surprised that AG Yost and Junk are throwing Angela and the case under the bus. Even moreso because its such a high profile case with heavy national news coverage. Ohio has become such a corrupt state that the AG, governor, etc. don't care how badly the state will be criticized for allowing this to happen. All engineered by some crazy, barely qualified judge. As the other attorneys have said in LTTE's this is judicial misconduct, but that's normal in Ohio.

What will be interesting to see is how the Ohio news media will handle it. I can guarantee, most of them won't bother to criticize it when it happens. I hope I'm wrong.

These people, who murdered 8 innocent family members in their homes, asleep, will get off. The state of Ohio will have wasted millions of dollars building a good case, trying most of them, then allowing some crank retired judge set them all free. Way to go Ohio.

All JMO

 

[pittsburghgirl]

It would be interesting to hear what Gov. DeWine thinks of the new judge's decisions. What does he think about the judge completely and unfairly undermining the state's well constructed case against Billy Wagner?

I've had the same thought.

 

[pittsburghgirl]

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.

Jake initiated the deaths of 8 people, 4 of whom were young, and three of them young parents. He killed 5 of them personally. He should never see the light of day outside a prison.