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

[Betty P]

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

He should never be allowed outside a prison. After reading/hearing his testimony and evidence, I can't believe the judge decided to allow him to be paroled. He's extremely dangerous. Very irresponsible ruling. Apparently, he has a reputation for doing that.

 

[Betty P]

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

I've little doubt that, given the chance, Billy and his attorneys will now ask for a bench trial. The judge made sure to show how much he admired the Wagner family and the defense attorneys. He kept praising them all through the hearing.

Interesting that other prosecutors had similar complaints about him.

 

[Caylee Advocate]

@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

Hopefully Hell on earth.... Marysville. Told y'all Hein would be pulling a few tricks out of his robe sleeve... and well, he did. Hope to be on later today with more. Very long day for me.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

FILE - These undated file images released by the Ohio Attorney General's office, show, top row from left, George "Billy" Wagner III and Angela Wagner, and bottom row from left, George Wagner IV and Edward "Jake" Wagner

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Two more family members convicted in the killings of eight members of an Ohio family received lengthy prison terms on Friday for their roles in the 2016 shootings, as prosecutions near completion in what has been described as the most heinous crime in modern Ohio history.

Visiting Judge Jonathan Hein sentenced Edward “Jake” Wagner to life in prison with the chance of parole in 32 years — after 12 years on gun charges and then 20 for the murders of five of the eight victims.
It was a surprising turn, given that Wagner had pleaded guilty to aggravated murder and other charges and agreed earlier to serve eight consecutive life sentences with no chance of parole. However, Hein said he took into account other participants' sentences in the case, as well as Wagner's cooperation with authorities in solving the murders of seven adults and a teenager from the Rhoden family in southern Ohio’s Pike County.

https://www.ctpost.com/news/article/mother-and-son-given-lengthy-prison-terms-for-20013787.php

 

[iulia]

Thank you everyone for posting the updates. What a terrible day! The word Heinous just got a new meaning for me.

 

[Betty P]

From his remarks it seems there were issues with the plea agreements, and this judge was bought in to fix the problems, it may have been that not giving JW and AW more for there cooperation needed addressing as LE always wants people to cooperate,
But the system is completely unfair if a person uses there constitutional rights to go to trial and gets LWOP but hasn't murdered anybody but a 5 time admitted murderer gets 32 years minus the approximate 6 years pre trial taken off, GW gets no relief for those 6 years, JW will not even be 60 when he becomes parole eligible

I'm not sure I believe the judge when he says he was brought in to take care of "problem" plea agreements. They were fine. Nothing wrong with them. Judge Hein will need to provide some evidence that it was his "mandate" to destroy the agreements and give the killers reduced sentences while not requiring they testify. JMO

 

[geevee]

I am just flabbergasted at JW's sentence. Judge Hein thought AW got a lean sentence when she could have prevented everything by picking up the phone? Yet the one with the gun, who shot the woman nursing his baby (not to mention others) was slighted and being treated harsher (and with gender bias), so he fixed that??

I don't mean to impugn the judge but holy moly, I can't follow that logic. And thinking it was proper that the one who got LWOP, who didn't shoot anyone, was justified in getting that sentence because he went to trial? Oh how can a judge think that way?

I don't post much on this case but I have always thought it was JW and AW, and only them who committed these horrendous murders, master manipulators the both, and got a deal with the devil to throw brother/son and father/husband under the semi truck.

George and Billy are no saints in my mind, far from it, but I don't think they played the role in these crimes that JW and AW would have everyone think, I just don't.

 

[MTW2011]

I am just flabbergasted at JW's sentence. Judge Hein thought AW got a lean sentence when she could have prevented everything by picking up the phone? Yet the one with the gun, who shot the woman nursing his baby (not to mention others) was slighted and being treated harsher (and with gender bias), so he fixed that??

I don't mean to impugn the judge but holy moly, I can't follow that logic. And thinking it was proper that the one who got LWOP, who didn't shoot anyone, was justified in getting that sentence because he went to trial? Oh how can a judge think that way?

I don't post much on this case but I have always thought it was JW and AW, and only them who committed these horrendous murders, master manipulators the both, and got a deal with the devil to throw brother/son and father/husband under the semi truck.

George and Billy are no saints in my mind, far from it, but I don't think they played the role in these crimes that JW and AW would have everyone think, I just don't.

I’m *NOT* at all saying I agree with the Judge, but I do believe that the State did not help their own cause (and thereby it also affected the victims’ families) today. Whether or not some of his decisions were based more on feelings than (legal) factual findings, who knows, but it’s been very obvious the tensions btwn him and Canepa.

Hate to be a broken record here but I’m just struggling to understand why Canepa still chose to act in ways that (the Judge made this clear) bothered him. I’m also NOT saying she acted inappropriately in any way, but when the Judge said she could’ve filed written objections, it would’ve helped her case (IMOO) if she could’ve said “we did that”. If when he told her to stop interrupting him, she remained silent, that may have helped her case. If one of the other state attorneys handled more of today, that may have helped getting the State more of what they wanted. This does NOT excuse how the Judge has been acted or the decisions he’s making, but I think if you know he is setting the rules, it would probably help to try your best to appease him and follow those - no matter how frustrating and downright ridiculous they may seem/are.

I can’t imagine being in her position, but I think some of her feelings are really getting into this mix of things and it’s helping no one (except those who were sentenced today). I’m sorry, this is just my opinion.

 

[Betty P]

I’m *NOT* at all saying I agree with the Judge, but I do believe that the State did not help their own cause (and thereby it also affected the victims’ families) today. Whether or not some of his decisions were based more on feelings than (legal) factual findings, who knows, but it’s been very obvious the tensions btwn him and Canepa.

Hate to be a broken record here but I’m just struggling to understand why Canepa still chose to act in ways that (the Judge made this clear) bothered him. I’m also NOT saying she acted inappropriately in any way, but when the Judge said she could’ve filed written objections, it would’ve helped her case (IMOO) if she could’ve said “we did that”. If when he told her to stop interrupting him, she remained silent, that may have helped her case. If one of the other state attorneys handled more of today, that may have helped getting the State more of what they wanted. This does NOT excuse how the Judge has been acted or the decisions he’s making, but I think if you know he is setting the rules, it would probably help to try your best to appease him and follow those - no matter how frustrating and downright ridiculous they may seem/are.

I can’t imagine being in her position, but I think some of her feelings are really getting into this mix of things and it’s helping no one (except those who were sentenced today). I’m sorry, this is just my opinion.

Can you explain what you think is wrong with the state's case? Just the facts and evidence, please, nothing about personalities, etc. TIA

As for rules, the state helped build the cases against all the defendants from 2018 until 2023 with Judge Deering, who had no objections to AC's handling of the cases.

In case this latest false rumor comes up, Judge Deering retired.

 

[MTW2011]

Can you explain what you think is wrong with the state's case? Just the facts and evidence, please, nothing about personalities, etc. TIA

As for rules, the state helped build the cases against all the defendants from 2018 until 2023 with Judge Deering, who had no objections to AC's handling of the cases.

In case this latest false rumor comes up, Judge Deering retired.

I don’t think there’s anything wrong with the state’s case (just the facts and evidence). I think there’s a heck of a lot “wrong” with how Canepa has been presenting it to this Judge and continuing to act in ways that seem only to anger him….I think we all saw what can happen as a result. Precisely that is what I think is most unfortunate, is that it appears feelings have gotten entangled into a lot of this.

Do I think the Judge would’ve sentenced them differently (in some big way) if the State acted differently? I’m honestly not sure. But I am pretty sure that if/when this judge is threatening to have a prosecutor removed from the building for their conduct in court, *that* judge is likely not in a good mood and isn’t bending over backwards to go with all of the State’s arguments/requests. That’s all I was trying to say.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

“You killed your granddaughter’s mother,” a visibly emotional Carver said, addressing the defendants. “You’re evil. You’re evil. You are the spawn of Satan. And the Satan is Billy Wagner.”

“I give you the opportunity of parole after 20 years on your prison sentence,” the judge said. “So you do six on the gun spec; you do six on the gun spec; you do life on all the other counts; everything concurrent — with the opportunity of parole at 20 years. So, 32 years out, you get your chance. Because you cooperated. Because you did something to acknowledge the responsibility for the crime. That’s not a deal, that’s as close as I can come to solving the problem that was handed to me by these ancient plea agreements.”

In other words, Jake Wagner will serve time for two gun crimes consecutively and then will serve the rest of his sentences at the same time — with the possibility of parole after 32 years behind bars. Or, in simpler terms, he was sentenced to 32 years to life with the possibility of parole

Victims' families storm out of courtroom during Pike County Massacre sentencing hearing

The ultimate sentence was a shock to the state, defense, gallery, and other court-watchers alike – and prompted audible tears in the courtroom.

lawandcrime.com

 

[Betty P]

“I give you the opportunity of parole after 20 years on your prison sentence,” the judge said. “So you do six on the gun spec; you do six on the gun spec; you do life on all the other counts; everything concurrent — with the opportunity of parole at 20 years. So, 32 years out, you get your chance.

This is where I heard him saying Jake will get the opportunity to get parole in 20 years. It's pretty clear. Later he says 32 years, so I'd like for him to clarify that. I'm very uncomfortable with the way he throws around his comments, often vague, sometimes inaccurate. That's not how judges are supposed to talk in court, JMO. He seemed so inappropriately friendly towards Jake and happy to share with him how quickly he can try for parole. He seemed very pleased with himself for having reduced the sentence of a cold blooded mass murderer.

Contrast that with the way he shouted at the surviving family members and prosecution witnesses at the beginning of the trial, threatening to throw them out of court before they even had a chance to testify, before they said a word.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Throwing out an earlier agreement that would have imprisoned Edward "Jake" Wagner for the rest of his life without parole, the judge in the 2016 Pike County massacre case on Friday sentenced him to life in prison with a chance of parole after 32 years.

In a stunning reversal that set off tears in a packed Pike County Common Pleas Courtroom, visiting Judge Jonathan Hein said he could not give Wagner the same sentence as his brother, who was convicted in a lengthy 2022 trial and sentenced to life without parole.

Wagner, 32, had earlier agreed to serve eight consecutive life sentences without the chance of parole, along with up to 160 more years on other charges. Wagner admitted his guilt and provided key evidence to the prosecution, Hein said, and therefore deserved less time than his older brother George Wagner IV.

"So 32 years out, you get your chance," Hein said. "Because you cooperated, because you did something to acknowledge the responsibility of the crime. That's not a deal, that's as close as I can come to solving the problem that was handed to me by these ancient plea agreements."

Pike County massacre: Jake Wagner sentenced to prison, eligible for parole after 32 years

Jake Wagner had agreed to serve eight consecutive life sentences without parole, plus up to 160 years on other charges.

www.cincinnati.com

 

[Chris_p_bacon]

So are judges elected in ohio. After watching todays sentencing and other judicial shenenigans….there is no way i could ever vote for a judge like that. I know in my state a lot of the judges are elected positions if the candidates meet certain criteria. I know from here on out, i am going to do some more research before the next election. I do not want happening in my area what happened today in pile county ohio. I feel so bad for the victims family. First the murder of 8 of their family members then today. Getting preached at by an admitted murderer this them the judge changing the plea agreement. Wow. Just wow.

 

[Betty P]

“You killed your granddaughter’s mother,” a visibly emotional Carver said, addressing the defendants. “You’re evil. You’re evil. You are the spawn of Satan. And the Satan is Billy Wagner.”

“I give you the opportunity of parole after 20 years on your prison sentence,” the judge said. “So you do six on the gun spec; you do six on the gun spec; you do life on all the other counts; everything concurrent — with the opportunity of parole at 20 years. So, 32 years out, you get your chance. Because you cooperated. Because you did something to acknowledge the responsibility for the crime. That’s not a deal, that’s as close as I can come to solving the problem that was handed to me by these ancient plea agreements.”

In other words, Jake Wagner will serve time for two gun crimes consecutively and then will serve the rest of his sentences at the same time — with the possibility of parole after 32 years behind bars. Or, in simpler terms, he was sentenced to 32 years to life with the possibility of parole

Victims' families storm out of courtroom during Pike County Massacre sentencing hearing

The ultimate sentence was a shock to the state, defense, gallery, and other court-watchers alike – and prompted audible tears in the courtroom.

lawandcrime.com

Also from this article

While Jake Wagner droned on about the responsibility of all Christians to admit their life of sin and not to rank those sins better or worse than one another, the victims’ families stomped out of the courtroom.

The camera panned to watch the echoing but orderly exit as several grieving, angry loved ones left the room in a single-file line.

After Jake admitted his sin of murdering their family members, he also accused the Rhoden & Gilley families of living lives of sin. Jake kept saying that no one should rank his sins as any worse than their own. All sins are the same. I couldn't believe it. That's when the families began sobbing and left the court room.

Why do they have to always face so much abuse from these killers and now from this judge? Why?

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Andrea Shoemaker, the mother of murder victim Hannah Gilley, blasted Rita Newcomb, Angela Wagner and Jake Wagner during the sentencing hearing.

"You are the evilest mother to plan, carry out and take the lives of three other mothers," Shoemaker said, directing her comment to Angela.

She also addressed Jake and Rita, telling them they ruined her life and innocent children's lives.

"It's a heartache that never goes away," Shoemaker
Understanding the Pike County massacre

 

[Betty P]

Jake "preaching" to the victims family members. Yes, he really demonstrates how much of a narcissist he is. Jake got to drone on and on, but the victims only had 10 minutes that they had to share among 4 witness statements.

 

[Seattle1]

Judge Gives Jake Wagner Jaw-Dropping Sentence for Pike County Murders​

Members of the Rhoden, Gilley families address Jake, Angela Wagner​

Jake Wagner speaks in court during his sentencing for Pike County murders​

 

[Seattle1]

1/3/2024

SENTENCING: Pike County Massacre — Ohio Murder Case​

 

[MTW2011]

take a look at this letter Judge Hein once wrote to the House Finance Subcommittee on his support for what he called “TCAP” or “Targeted Community Alternatives to Prison”. It explains some of his thought process on sentencing for certain lower level crimes; I think it’s interesting in light of the comments and sentences he imposed today. You can read it at the link below.

https://search-prod.lis.state.oh.us/api/v2/general_assembly_132/committees/cmte_h_transportation_sub_1/meetings/cmte_h_transportation_sub_1_2017-03-21-0130_292/testimony/1135/uploaded-doc/