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

[justtrish]

@jamespilcher


Hein says sentences were a case of "gender bias" given that Angela was involved in everything except pulling trigger and could have stopped it and got good deal.


I just spoke to Jake's lawyer - who says Jake still bound by original plea deal to testify against father Billy in his upcoming trial. But that he hasn't specifically asked Jake if he will do that.
@local12


12:47 PM · Jan 3, 2025

Wow.. well I don't agree here. I mean if she went along that night I would agree. I think she agreed first to a deal if I recall correctly. I think she did set it all in motion, but those 3 men are all grown adults that could have said NO. They are the ones that drove there, carried those guns, stalked the victims, waiting and then brutally murdering them. THEY could have stopped at any time.

Also she's much older so her 30 years makes it very likely she will die in prison. Now her murdering son could be free while he has plenty of life left to live. I mean he's the one that looked his victims in the face and shot them.. over and over. I am so disgusted by this judge.

 

[joe jones]

The judge sent a wrong message today, imo.

I think he sent a great message cooperate and see what deal you can get, for LE and State they want as many criminals to cooperate as they can get

 

[Betty P]

I think he was fully respectful towards the law, and as he kept saying he doesn't take into account the victim impact statements or the statements of the defendants, he is there to apply the law, and I doubt he went out on a limb to change the plea agreements on his own, he is retired so he was chosen to sentence AW and JW, plus try BW,
His record will be known to those who selected him, so they would have had a good idea of what he may do, they could have selected a judge who would have kept the pleas as they were
So to me he in that Judicial circuit was not the only one who saw issues with the plea agreements, he was possibly not the only Judge who felt they needed ammending

Yeah, because murdering 8 innocent people in their homes, while asleep with their babies is no big deal. /s

 

[arielilane]

Ohioans really need to do their homework when going to the polls. jmo

 

[justtrish]

I think he was fully respectful towards the law, and as he kept saying he doesn't take into account the victim impact statements or the statements of the defendants, he is there to apply the law, and I doubt he went out on a limb to change the plea agreements on his own, he is retired so he was chosen to sentence AW and JW, plus try BW,
His record will be known to those who selected him, so they would have had a good idea of what he may do, they could have selected a judge who would have kept the pleas as they were
So to me he in that Judicial circuit was not the only one who saw issues with the plea agreements, he was possibly not the only Judge who felt they needed ammending

If something was wrong with the plea agreements then why didn't they renegotiate the plea agreement? It's kinda late to be changing things because I think the state would take those defendants to trial if they knew the judge would change it to Jake having a chance at being a free man.. no way they would EVER agree to a deal that allows Jake to be released alive. So I find this really disturbing.

Sounds to me like a retired judge has nothing to lose so his actions aren't exactly going to get him fired right?

 

[IceIce9]

This is not justice.

 

[arielilane]

I dont believe anything the judge said! period. He's a scary person, imo.

 

[MTW2011]

preface: I don’t support this Judge nor do I think he’s some amazingly fair and balanced one but….please excuse my unpopular opinion once again

Prosecutor Canepa has known for a long time how this judge acts and runs his courtroom, I really hoped by today that maybe just maybe she would’ve acted slightly differently just in an effort to appease him. He’s told her to file written objections, he’s said she keeps not doing that and voicing them on court and today, of all days, he says was not the day to do that. He warned her she should not interrupt him, but he’s said she keeps doing that.

It just seems to me - and I know she wants justice for the victims SO bad - but by continuing to go against the waves this Judge keeps making, it’s hurting her own cause. It’s only annoying the Judge more and when he’s annoyed, well it’s obvious he isn’t bending over (in any direction) to help give the State what they’re asking for. It’s sad to watch. JMOO.

 

[arielilane]

Would not be surprised if BW3 walks. moo hope I am Wrong!

 

[Betty P]

I dont believe anything the judge said! period. He's a scary person, imo.

His comments and demeanor on the bench are very strange, menacing. He's a major control freak who gets very upset if anyone dares criticize the defendants or their attorneys. His scathing, inaccurate comments, bullying and unwarranted threats to the prosecuting attorneys and victims' families were way out of line. He was openly contemptuous of them, but sweet as pie to the killers and defense attorneys.

 

[arielilane]

@pattinewberry


Back in #PikeCountymassacre with a hearing for #BillyWagner starting now.

Judge Jonathan Hein is taking up two matters: "Other acts evidence" and death penalty.

Mark Collins, attorney for #BillyWagner, said he received the state's response on the "other acts" question to after midnight. That refers to other potentially criminal actions Wagner may have taken in the past - which he wants to keep those OUT of his upcoming criminal trial.

 

[arielilane]

@jamespilcher


Starting a new string for the hearing for Billy Wagner from Pike County involving other acts issues and death penalty specs.


Prosecutors didn't respond to the request to suppress other acts (which possibly criminal but not prosecuted acts) could be admitted - until 12:30 a.m. this morning. Now oral arguments.


We also might hear where Judge Hein wants to move the trial - he already granted motion to change venue but not said where.


Defense arguing that Billy was not involved in "other acts" and wasn't there when they happened or planned.

 

[Betty P]

Would not be surprised if BW3 walks. moo hope I am Wrong!

I've been feeling it in my bones ever since this guy got on the case. I hope I'm wrong, but I think he will walk. It's what his family wants. JMO

 

[Betty P]

@jamespilcher


Prosecutors didn't respond to the request to suppress other acts (which possibly criminal but not prosecuted acts) could be admitted - until 12:30 a.m. this morning. Now oral arguments.



1:05 PM · Jan 3, 2025

Great. The judge is going to get rid of the Other Acts evidence from Billy's trial. No testimony on Billy's activities leading up to and after the murders. He's going to strip down every bit of evidence against Billy, giving himself justification to dismiss the charges. I hate following this trial. JMO

 

[arielilane]

@pattinewberry


As the #BillyWagner hearing gets going, news from an online site that tracks inmate locations. #AngelaWagner, sentenced this morning to 30 years without parole for her role in the #PikeCountyMassacre, has been moved out of Delaware County jail. New location TBA.


1:11 PM · Jan 3, 2025

 

[Betty P]

live feed

Watch

Local 12 WKRC-TV is the local station for breaking news, weather forecasts, traffic alerts, community news, Cincinnati Bengals, Reds and FC Cincinnati sports updates, and CBS programming for the Cincinnati , Ohio area, including Avondale, Blue Ash, Bond Hill, Camp Washington, Cheviot, Cleves...

local12.com

AC is being very polite and measured, making good arguments to keep the evidence in Billy's trial. Judge will rule against her anyway because she's a woman. JMO

 

[arielilane]

@ToddDykesWLWT


The second half of an important day of hearings in the #PikeCountyMassacre case is underway. Billy (George III) Wagner is in Waverly, OH, for a pretrial hearing. Right now, his attorneys are trying to limit the admission of certain evidence at trial.

1:14 PM · Jan 3, 2025​

 

[teresa1589]

This won’t be popular but I’m just trying to understand Canepa a bit more. Apparently the Judge gave her the opportunity to submit her objections in writing (and she didn’t?) and instead objected multiple times today and the Judge was not having it.

It’s completely understandable why feelings and tensions are high, she’s fighting for justice and for the victims, but by now hasn’t she seen how the Judge acts and reacts to her? She knows his conduct well, that’s why she’s trying to get him removed from the case no? Seems to me that doing what the Judge asked, in this instance, would be like “a little goes a long way” with him. It’s hard to see this because it feels like it’s ultimately getting the Proseuctor away from the very goal she’s trying to reach but JMOO.

Yep, more rights for criminals than those that have suffered. My heart goes out to LE and prosecutors that stand for the people to bring justice.

 

[arielilane]

It came out in George IV trial that Billy and Angela burned down 2 homes to collect insurance money. The prosecution worked to present Wagner family in that trial as criminal enterprise that did other stuff before murders.


Also arguing that other acts need to be connected to the actual crime for trial. And that it came out in that trial that Billy wasn't living at home for some of the acts - for example involving George IV and his ex wife Tabitha.

@jamespilcher

 

[arielilane]

@pattinewberry


On #BillyWagner, the state is trying to get "bad acts evidence" into his upcoming trial to influence the jury, his lawyers argue.


In response, prosecutor Angela Canepa conceded that some of the bad acts evidence presented in the 2022 trial of George Wagner IV would NOT be used in #BillyWagner's trial.