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

[arielilane]

@jamespilcher


No word on new trial site. Hearing is done - now just scheduling next hearing. Looks like a month out.



1:50 PM · Jan 3, 2025

 

[justtrish]

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

Crazy to me he thinks this wouldn't have happened without Angela.. but what about without Billy? I don't think George and Jake would have done this without their dad. He is the one that got them into every other illegal activity they were into.. he taught it all to them starting when they were kids and on up. Unreal. He bought the truck they used, then gave it away. He decided which day they were going to do it. He walked into that house to talk to Chris and pretend to be there as a friend, knowing they were about to kill him.

 

[Betty P]

Reporters talking about all the BS Jake said to the victims and the judge allowed it. All the preaching at them, etc.

 

[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.


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.



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.



Canepa said Billy Wagner's role in his family will be relevant in his trial. "They have a definite playbook when it comes to dealing with the women," she said. That included victim Hanna Rhoden, who shared a child with Jake Wagner that the Wagners wanted custody of.


On the question of death penalty, should #BillyWagner be convicted in the #PikeCountymassacre case, Hein said he took it off the table earlier because the attorneys indicated they were negotiating to that. Canepa appealed that decision to the Ohio Supreme Court.


Hein invited Canepa to offer comment on why she wants death penalty to remain under consideration. But co-attorney Ron O'Brien said he did not believe the prosecution could offer more argument since the matter is now before the Court of Appeals.


On the "other acts" question, Hein said those decisions will be largely be made at trial. He noted several times that he wants the case forward to "move the trains on time.”



When Hein gets a decision from the Ohio Court of Appeals on the death penalty question, "I don't expect to give you a lot of time" to start #BillyWagner's criminal trial. Collins asked for a timeline, as he has another large case in March. Hein did not provide.

Hein did not reveal a venue or date for #BillyWagner trial.


.#BillyWagner sat at the defense table as attorneys talked about scheduling matters, off the official record, with Hein.

 

[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.


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.

Prosecutor Canepa: agrees some of things in George's trial won't come into Billy's trial. Says premature to ruling on all this until offered in trial.


Also prosecution trying to prove conspiracy and RICO case - so other act evidence needed to understand relationship and trust between parties.


Canepa brings up the infamous FB message from Hanna May Rhoden saying "they'll have to kill me first" that started wheels in motion for the entire Wagner family.


Prosecutors don't want to engage much on death penalty given the previous decision to remove it is in appeals court. Defense argues it's not fair to start a case as death penalty then remove it later.


Defense now asking for guidance on when trial might be given other upcoming trials. Hein says he will have guidance "shortly" - defense also has submitted a jury questionaire

No word on new trial site. Hearing is done - now just scheduling next hearing. Looks like a month out.

 

[arielilane]

@pattinewberry


The Rhoden family has exited the courtroom, as the judge continue to compare calendars with lawyers.


1:55 PM · Jan 3, 2025

 

[arielilane]

@AnnaHoffmanTV

Before the judge gives Edward “Jake” Wagner his sentence, Jake asked if he could turn around and address the Rhoden family. A few minutes in much of the family got up and left the courtroom. Wagner: “I can tell you from experience hate does not heal your heart.”

https://twitter.com/x/status/1875221287045623912

 

[Betty P]

He bought the truck they used, then gave it away. He decided which day they were going to do it. He walked into that house to talk to Chris and pretend to be there as a friend, knowing they were about to kill him.

Yes, as AC once said, Billy was the mastermind of the whole thing. They were a crime family who did all their business together, who lived under the same roof and shared the same bank accounts. All those hours of recordings of them all plotting and scheming, covering up their involvement.

 

[Betty P]

@pattinewberry


The Rhoden family has exited the courtroom, as the judge continue to compare calendars with lawyers.


1:55 PM · Jan 3, 2025

I feel so badly for them today. They were treated so badly in court. The judge also allowed Jake to talk garbage to them, chastising them for their hate and anger. Sickening.

I half expect the them to just release Billy and let him go home with his mother.

 

[WithstandingHybrid]

The judge is so rude and condescending for literally no reason. He especially seems to revel in it when it is towards Canepa.

 

[joe jones]

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?

It's not his job to be negotiating anything, the state negotiatedwgh the plea deals and had years to sentence both AW and JW before Judge Deering retired, they did not and today they have been shown what can happen if you don't take advantage of your advantages when presented with them, Judge Deering would have sentenced them to the agreements,
This judge was selected and I think whoever picked him would have known his record so he was chosen to redo the pleas, and this is the outcome that whoever selected him may have wanted and or expected,

 

[Sillybilly]

ADMIN NOTE:

A judge is a judge is a judge.

Judges rule.

Profanity, rants or name calling of a judge are inappropriate. Post what the judge says without ranting your disagreement or having a fit over it.

 

[Betty P]

I'm a bit confused: Has Jakes sentencing concluded?

Yes. He gets life, but will be eligible for parole in 32 years. He can begin applying for parole in 20 yrs. Not sure what that means, but the judge mentioned it twice. He also gets credit for time served Pretty soft sentence for someone who admits to killing 6 people (he said his dad shot Chris Sr and Kenneth).

 

[joe jones]

Once the DP decision is made the final trial should be ready to go soon, I wonder if BW will seek a plea deal, may all depend on AW and or JW testifying, as they will have to choose whether to testify against BW there is no compunction

 

[Betty P]

When Hein gets a decision from the Ohio Court of Appeals on the death penalty question, "I don't expect to give you a lot of time" to start #BillyWagner's criminal trial. Collins asked for a timeline, as he has another large case in March. Hein did not provide.

Hein did not reveal a venue or date for #BillyWagner trial.

He's not leaving much time to complete Billy's trial if he has another one beginning in March. Sounds like he's trying to rush everything while much of the case and evidence has now been thrown into chaos. JMO

Is it possible for the judge to force Billy's case into a bench trial? IANAL.

 

[arielilane]

My thoughts are with the loved ones of the Rhoden and Gilley families. Hopeful they can find some peace of mind.

 

[Betty P]

Once the DP decision is made the final trial should be ready to go soon, I wonder if BW will seek a plea deal, may all depend on AW and or JW testifying, as they will have to choose whether to testify against BW there is no compunction

After Jake's nasty preaching to the Rhoden and Gilley family members, I don't think he'll be helping the prosecution. JMO, it looked and sounded like he's turned against them. I never believed he was sorry for killing all of them. I think he agreed to the plea deal because it was going to save him from the DP. Now he doesn't have to worry about that, so he's back to sneering and attacking the living victims. Worse, he thinks he has God on his side now.

Love and support to the Rhoden, Gilley and other family and friends. After the years-long nightmare they've lived through, its terrible they had to be subjected to so much disrespect in court today, from both the killers and, briefly, the judge. They didn't deserve that, especially the judge threatening to throw them out of the courtroom and in jail if they didn't behave, before they even said a word. Just awful.

 

[joe jones]

Yes. He gets life, but will be eligible for parole in 32 years. He can begin applying for parole in 20 yrs. Not sure what that means, but the judge mentioned it twice. He also gets credit for time served Pretty soft sentence for someone who admits to killing 6 people (he said his dad shot Chris Sr and Kenneth).

The judge said 20 years for murder, there is a new added on 6 years for firearms enhancement case law from December, so he has 2 firearm enhancements, so that adds 12, I think 2050/1 is about when he can start applying for parole,
He has and probably will have the best deal of all 4, I don't think BW will get less, and he shot 5 of the 8, and he was at one time a huge part of the family, his crimes in murdering the family are the most egregious considering who he killed and the fact he killed his daughters mother, grandparents, uncles and cousins, BW is second because he killed his best friend, probably only friend, Gary and Kenneth were people he didn't know as well but Chris sr and he were very close,

I find it beyond comprehension what JW did that night, to murder Hannah in bed with her newborn, then to callously tell everybody oh yeah I shot her but I made sure her daughter could breastfeed of her dead body, he for me is the scariest oh them all

 

[joe jones]

After Jake's nasty preaching to the Rhoden and Gilley family members, I don't think he'll be helping the prosecution. JMO, it looked and sounded like he's turned against them. I never believed he was sorry for killing all of them. I think he agreed to the plea deal because it was going to save him from the DP. Now he doesn't have to worry about that, so he's back to sneering and attacking the living victims. Worse, he thinks he has God on his side now.

Love and support to the Rhoden, Gilley and other family and friends. After the years-long nightmare they've lived through, its terrible they had to be subjected to so much disrespect in court today, from both the killers and, briefly, the judge. They didn't deserve that, especially the judge threatening to throw them out of the courtroom and in jail if they didn't behave, before they even said a word. Just awful.

He will be so pleased with his sentence, because some hope is better than no hope, plus he will serve his sentence differently as a LWOP inmate is a different classification than an inmate who one day gets to start down the applying for parole route,
JW should buy lottery tickets

 

[joe jones]

He's not leaving much time to complete Billy's trial if he has another one beginning in March. Sounds like he's trying to rush everything while much of the case and evidence has now been thrown into chaos. JMO

Is it possible for the judge to force Billy's case into a bench trial? IANAL.

No, that's BW choice, but he may consider if after today, DP wouldn't be an issue as I don't think this judge is DP giving judge