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

[arielilane]

@pattinewberry


Andrea Shoemaker: Victim children now see the Wagners on TV and she's had to explain who they are. "I want you to suffer," she said to #JakeWagner. "I hate you. You've ruined my life. YOu've ruined innocent children's lives."

#JakeWagner and #AngelaWagner sitting stoic in the jury box. Jake is looking directly at Andrea Shoemaker, as she screams at them from the gallery. Angela Wagner is looking down mostly.

 

[Betty P]

Her speech brought me to tears.

 

[arielilane]

@pattinewberry


Angela Canepa reading two statements next. Bobby Jo Manley's is first. Manley said: "You've destroyed my life and so many others. .. You are the devil." Manley was first to discover the victims in April 2016.


10:45 AM · Jan 3, 2025

 

[LMDlong]

Court TV is airing it now

 

[Betty P]

AC is reading statement of Gary Rhoden's step mother. Asks justice for Gary and his father, who grieved himself to death.

I guess these were the statements the judge threatened to not allow.

 

[arielilane]

@pattinewberry


Canepa also read a letter from Luke Rhoden, son of victim Kenneth Rhoden, asking for justice.


10:47 AM · Jan 3, 2025

 

[arielilane]

@pattinewberry


A niece named Liese read a letter on behalf of the Rhoden family called the Wagner family "master manipulators." To Jake, she said: "We are no longer family. You will be an afterthought to our family."


10:49 AM · Jan 3, 2025

 

[arielilane]

@pattinewberry


#RitaNewcomb attorney Frank Gerlach said Rita spent approximately eight days in jail, then wore an ankle monitor for a year. She recently had heart surgery, and is doing well on that. She has limited income of $981 a month in Social Security, Gerlach said, saying she has no funds


10:51 AM · Jan 3, 2025

 

[Betty P]

Judge getting ready to read Rita's sentence.

No additional jail time for Rita and 5 years of supervision. Will also still charge her for court costs. I guess the Wagner family wants her to continue to be punished because she helped the prosecution. She asked if she had to go to jail. He said no, if she behaves. He won't forgive the court costs/fines for 5 years, as long as she's still impoverished. Judge talked to Rita in a mean, disrespectful manner. JMO Apparently he doesn't like defenses who turn witness for the state. IIRC, that was echoed in the LTTE's that the Darke Co. LEO had published recently in the local news.

 

[arielilane]

@pattinewberry


Judge Hein said max sentence for #RitaNewcomb is 90 days and up to $750 in fines. He said she has had a clean record since then. He ordered five years probation. No jail time, but is imposing the fine and court costs, subject to her ability to pay.


#RitaNewcomb's response: "Do I have to go to jail?" Response is no. But yes, she's supposed to pay, as able. After five years, the court will forgive whatever she hasn't paid.


Hein clarified: 90 max, seven days served, balance suspended.

 

[arielilane]

@pattinewberry


#AngelaWagner is moving to the defense table with attorney Robert Krapenc. She is shackled at the ankles.


10:58 AM · Jan 3, 2025

 

[Betty P]

@pattinewberry


Judge Hein said max sentence for #RitaNewcomb is 90 days and up to $750 in fines. He said she has had a clean record since then. He ordered five years probation. No jail time, but is imposing the fine and court costs, subject to her ability to pay.


#RitaNewcomb's response: "Do I have to go to jail?" Response is no. But yes, she's supposed to pay, as able. After five years, the court will forgive whatever she hasn't paid.


Hein clarified: 90 max, seven days served, balance suspended.

Judge stated that Rita's income is something like $980 a month (can't recall exact amount).

 

[Betty P]

Angela's attorney now arguing on her behalf.

Angela's testimony matched Jakes, even though she didn't have advance knowledge of what Jake said in his proffer.

Apparently, she's a trusty(?) now and mentors young women. Ok.

 

[arielilane]

@pattinewberry


Krapenc on sentencing for #AngelaWagner: "Ms. Wagner is very cognizant" that the current judge is not obligated to follow the agreement reached with the prior judge in the case. But he recommends it -- 30 years w/o parole.

Krapenc: #AngelaWagner did not kill anyone but admits her role in preparing and covering up the crimes. "Ms. Wagner will continue to live up to her end of the deal." She's also completed 40-50 programs while incarcerated in Delaware County. She's a trusty, mentors other inmates.

 

[arielilane]

good grief can she not handle her own glasses?

 

[arielilane]

@pattinewberry


#AngelaWagner read a prepared statement. She stood with her attorney taking the classes off the top of her head to place on her nose. She said she spent her life trying to be the perfect person -- daughter, wife, mother.


11:07 AM · Jan 3, 2025

 

[Betty P]

Judge asking AC what she thinks of merging some numbers re sentencing and charges. 19 merges into 20 and 16 into something else. Seems a quibble by the judge. AC admitting to helping murder 8 people. That multiplier should make her sentence a long one.

Angela Wagner making her statement. Committed to change and God, etc.

 

[arielilane]

Angela Wagner up next - her lawyer says they understand Judge Hein won't just rubber stamp previous agreement for 30 years.


He says Angela was involved with these actions - but did not go to houses or pull trigger. She takes responsibility for her actions and that she testified against her son.

Lawyer says Angela will continue to live up to her end of deal - but doesn't specifically say she will testify against husband Billy Wagner in his upcoming trial. Says she is mentoring young women in jail.


Angela Wagner now giving her statement: Says she always tried to be opposite of what she's called now - controlling, strict etc. Says she just froze and didn't think. Didn't consider consequences or pain it would bring.


"I am so truly sorry" says she is not that woman anymore.


Angela Wagner now giving her statement: Says she always tried to be opposite of what she's called now - controlling, strict etc. Says she just froze and didn't think. Didn't consider consequences or pain it would bring.

@jamespilcher

 

[arielilane]

@pattinewberry


Speaking in a soft and hard-to-hear voice, #AngelaWagner offered regret and remorse over her role in the #PikeCountymassacre case. "I've committed myself to change," she said. "Each day I work on being a better me."


11:10 AM · Jan 3, 2025

 

[Betty P]

Judge now addressing Angela Wagner's defense attorney. He's praising the heck out of him and telling him he got a raw deal, etc. Complete opposite of how he talks to the prosecution.

He thinks calling this Pike County Massacre is wrong. He makes it sound like it wasn't that bad. He said it wasn't the worst massacre in state history. Wow.

So sympathetic to the defense and defendants (except Rita). JMO