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

[Betty P]

I've had the same thought.

I think he's hiding under his desk, waiting until his term is ended and he can retire to count his money. Someone somewhere is exercising a lot of influence to get these mass murderers set free. Crazy.

JMO, I hope they don't try to blame it on AC. There's no way they can get anyone to believe that.

ETA: I also get the feeling that prematurely shuffling Jake and Angela off to prison is a way to make it difficult to call them back to testify against Billy.

JMO

 

[PrairieWind]

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

The Governor can't influence what a judge does and it would improper to try. I'm not a fan of Gov. DeWine but I don't think he has anything to do with this.

 

[Betty P]

The Governor can't influence what a judge does and it would improper to try. I'm not a fan of Gov. DeWine but I don't think he has anything to do with this.

I understand what you're saying. He was a strong advocate for this case in the beginning. He rescued it from being tossed out by the Atty General who followed him when he won his race to become governor. When the new AG refused to pay the costs of helping Pike County put the Wagners on trial, the governor stepped in and gave Pike County the funds for the prosecutor's salary and court costs from the governor's own budget. Had he not done that, the killers might have been set free back then.

IIRC, he's still helping cover the budget for Billy's pre-trial at least. Maybe they're all tired of the cost of these trials and are willing to let the killers walk free just cut the cost.

Also, Ohio isn't a place where government officials care much anymore about doing improper things. There's really no one here anymore to hold them accountable.

JMO

Link to article where AG Yost gave $100,000 to Pike County, to save face. Gov. DeWine covered the rest.

Official to Discuss Costs of Trials in Pike County Family Massacre - WOUB Public Media

Update 11:45 a.m. COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – Ohio’s attorney general says the state should cover the majority of the costs for prosecuting the four suspects in the slayings of eight... Read More

woub.org

ETA: Re DeWine, if there's judicial misconduct by Judge Hein, as a retired attorney who worked in that area alleged in a recent letter to the editor, can the governor help put a process in place to determine if judicial misconduct is happening in this case?

ETA2: Correction - DeWine helped get the General Assembly to pass a bill providing funding for the Pike County Murder trials.

After Pike County murders, Ohio bill would help counties with costs of trials

The Ohio General Assembly is drafting a bill that would help with costs to prosecute and defend capital murder trials after the arrests in the Pike County murders.

www.cleveland.com

Prosecutor Angela Canepa had to leave the AG's office because of the new AG. DeWine helped cover the cost of her salary to transfer instead to work under the Pike County Prosecuter's office. At that time it was Junk.

This old article about the high costs of the trials mentioned the high costs of keeping the defendants in local county jails. I assume some thought tearing up the plea agreements for Jake and Angela was to "save money", but they should have been able to do so without destroying the prosecution's case.

Staggering costs predicted for Pike County murder prosecutions

WAVERLY — Pike County Commissioner Tony Montgomery doesn't want to talk about money. Justice, he said, should come at any price. But for his rural Appalachian county of about 28,000 — with an annu…

www.dispatch.com

If Judge Hein is worried about the costs, why is he demanding they move the trial to another county? Does that give him an excuse to convince the defense to go with a bench trial, thus freeing him up to acquit Billy? It sounds unusual to say that, but its exactly the kind of thing other prosecutors and judges have been saying about Judge Hein.

 

[Covert Operative]

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.

Yes and in 32 years (26 counting time already served) if the members of the parole board happen to think like Judge Hein then Jake could be paroled. It's hard to think that he would be, but strange things take place sometimes.

 

[Betty P]

Yes and in 32 years (26 counting time already served) if the members of the parole board happen to think like Judge Hein then Jake could be paroled. It's hard to think that he would be, but strange things take place sometimes.

JMO, he will get out sooner than that. Maybe within the next 10 years, on appeal.

 

[Cool Cats]

JMO, he will get out sooner than that. Maybe within the next 10 years, on appeal.

It is not a mandatory 32 years? Like Angie's is a mandatory 30 years.

I think when he confessed he gave up his right to appeal. I thought this is standard when a defendant pleads guilty.

 

[Betty P]

It is not a mandatory 32 years? Like Angie's is a mandatory 30 years.

I think when he confessed he gave up his right to appeal. I thought this is standard when a defendant pleads guilty.

It’s Ohio. Things get done if someone knows the right person to call.

Even though the Wagners brutally murdered the Rhodesn and Hannah Gilley, they still have no remorse and plenty of resentment against surviving their relatives and people who testified against them. They want revenge for their arrests and jail time. Their attorneys will keep appealing.

As for the appeals process, again, it’s Ohio. There are a lot of other Judge Heins out there. If you follow many Ohio cases at WS, you’ll see unusual things.

 

[Luna20]

Offender Details

appgateway.drc.ohio.gov

View attachment 558012

Is it just me? He has the look of ‘I said I’m sorry so I shouldn’t even be here’.

His forehead is raised if you look closely. That’s evident of his defiant attitude.

 

[rescuemom]

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

Not if the judge can help it!!!!!! BW might as well get his stuff together and let momma pick him up.

 

[Cool Cats]

It’s Ohio. Things get done if someone knows the right person to call.

Even though the Wagners brutally murdered the Rhodesn and Hannah Gilley, they still have no remorse and plenty of resentment against surviving their relatives and people who testified against them. They want revenge for their arrests and jail time. Their attorneys will keep appealing.

As for the appeals process, again, it’s Ohio. There are a lot of other Judge Heins out there. If you follow many Ohio cases at WS, you’ll see unusual things.

Outrageous. Parole? Billy still no trial? Judges taking liberties.? WTH

Is it just me? He has the look of ‘I said I’m sorry so I shouldn’t even be here’.

His forehead is raised if you look closely. That’s evident of his defiant attitude.

They both look different. They forgot kids grow up fast and form their own opinions. Now maybe they realize they cannot control people. I don't know but I think they are only sorry they got caught. They wanted to live free with the kids and get away with it and they probably only regret the mistakes they made in getting caught. Many inmates get "religious" in prison as a way to cope in prison but never would have cared about God had they not been caught. Whatever. Wagner's make me sick. Need my stomach medicine.

Weary 2 Cents

 

[Cool Cats]

Not if the judge can help it!!!!!! BW might as well get his stuff together and let momma pick him up.

My comments to this are not allowed.

 

[joe jones]

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

I think he was just covering all bases, these are the areas that usually get discussed and litigated pre trial so he gave a list of things he may expect them to want to discuss pre trial
I don't think this is all they can argue though, they may have other things they want to litigated and if they come prepared then I think they can argue those issues, I also don't think all the listed things will be discussed I just think this judge wants it done, it has dragged on for years and it is costing vast amounts of money,
He wants both sides to arrive ready to do one last pre trial hearing, covering everything that is outstanding, and by then the DP issue will be settled and it can go to trial, I am sure AC has had more than enough of the Wagners by now especially having to try the last case with this judge

 

[joe jones]

JMO, he will get out sooner than that. Maybe within the next 10 years, on appeal.

Neither JW nor AW were afforded appellate rights upon sentencing, the sentences they were given they serve, JW will only be released by a parole board, AW will be released when she has served her sentence

 

[Betty P]

Neither JW nor AW were afforded appellate rights upon sentencing, the sentences they were given they serve, JW will only be released by a parole board, AW will be released when she has served her sentence

I hope that remains the case, if accurate. JMO, a lot of people no longer have trust in anyone who becomes involved in these Wagner cases, though. Anything is possible, as we've seen. I hope the primary motive in reducing these sentences and prematurely canceling the plea agreements is driven by budgetary concerns, but I doubt it.

 

[Covert Operative]

I think he was just covering all bases, these are the areas that usually get discussed and litigated pre trial so he gave a list of things he may expect them to want to discuss pre trial
I don't think this is all they can argue though, they may have other things they want to litigated and if they come prepared then I think they can argue those issues, I also don't think all the listed things will be discussed I just think this judge wants it done, it has dragged on for years and it is costing vast amounts of money,
He wants both sides to arrive ready to do one last pre trial hearing, covering everything that is outstanding, and by then the DP issue will be settled and it can go to trial, I am sure AC has had more than enough of the Wagners by now especially having to try the last case with this judge

It's just strange that they were ready to go to trial on January 6th he had said but now there are all these things that need to be discussed before trial.

 

[joe jones]

I hope that remains the case, if accurate. JMO, a lot of people no longer have trust in anyone who becomes involved in these Wagner cases, though. Anything is possible, as we've seen. I hope the primary motive in reducing these sentences and prematurely canceling the plea agreements is driven by budgetary concerns, but I doubt it.

Part of the states argument for keeping the DP is to use it to try to compel AW and JW to testify, it was a part of JW initial plea deal and it seemed very important to him that he got the DP rescinded for all of them as part of his deal, if the court makes BW trial a capital one then that may compel JW to testify, I think his testimony is more important than AW testimony as he can speak to what he says he saw BW do that night, and we do know that he was still speaking to prosecution up to close to GW trial as he revealed that BW shot FR which to me doesn't ring true but JW has said it happened,

 

[Betty P]

Is it just me? He has the look of ‘I said I’m sorry so I shouldn’t even be here’.

His forehead is raised if you look closely. That’s evident of his defiant attitude.

I noticed. He seems very confident in himself, as if he thinks he has some control over what's happening to him.

I think he was just covering all bases, these are the areas that usually get discussed and litigated pre trial so he gave a list of things he may expect them to want to discuss pre trial
I don't think this is all they can argue though, they may have other things they want to litigated and if they come prepared then I think they can argue those issues, I also don't think all the listed things will be discussed I just think this judge wants it done, it has dragged on for years and it is costing vast amounts of money,
He wants both sides to arrive ready to do one last pre trial hearing, covering everything that is outstanding, and by then the DP issue will be settled and it can go to trial, I am sure AC has had more than enough of the Wagners by now especially having to try the last case with this judge

JMO, it sounds like he's telling them what he wants them to litigate. It seems like he's trying to steer the direction the defense is going because he has some pre-determined way he wants this trial to go.

Maybe he wants to push them to a bench trial, maybe he wants to find a way to reduce the charges against Billy. IANAL, but it logically follows his interference to give Jake a reduced sentence and option for parole.

 

[joe jones]

It's just strange that they were ready to go to trial on January 6th he had said but now there are all these things that need to be discussed before trial.

I think he has started to realise just how vast and time consuming this case is, I think they may have been ready to begin January 6th and all the pre trial litigation be done by then, but he was unable to get the pre trial stuff done as he was unable to do anything whilst prosecution was twice trying to get him removed, so he has had to start organising and getting everything ready for trial
He is now giving both sides ample opportunity to decide how to proceed and what they wish to argue pre trial, if prosecution doesn't not get AW agreement to testify them there trial strategy will have to change, as will defence, same goes for JW if he won't agree to testify,
If I am prosecution and they both agree to testify I will still be concerned until they are on the witness stand, and then I will worry about what they may say,
So what could have started in January with both sides ready will now be delayed, and the DP and change of venue issues only add to delays, so who knows when BW will be tried

 

[joe jones]

Plus for JW and his sweetheart deal he maybe concerned about his future parole board, that maybe a factor in his decision to testify, as his cooperation he may think will be a positive thing for parole board to consider
Plus for me I think JW is of the school of thought that revenge is a dish best eaten cold, and I think he is closer to AW than BW and he may have lingering anger about how BW was as a husband and father, and he has all the power, he knows if he testifies BW is highly likely to be convicted,

 

[Cool Cats]

Plus for JW and his sweetheart deal he maybe concerned about his future parole board, that maybe a factor in his decision to testify, as his cooperation he may think will be a positive thing for parole board to consider
Plus for me I think JW is of the school of thought that revenge is a dish best eaten cold, and I think he is closer to AW than BW and he may have lingering anger about how BW was as a husband and father, and he has all the power, he knows if he testifies BW is highly likely to be convicted,

Rule 5120-9-33 - Ohio Administrative Code | Ohio Laws

codes.ohio.gov

House bill pushing for free feminine hygiene products for inmates

House Bill pushing for free feminine products for inmates

spectrumnews1.com

Matriarch of Wagner family accused in Pike County massacre spent decades building wealth

Fredericka Wagner is accused in attempted cover-up of the Rhoden family massacre in Pike County.

www.cincinnati.com

Fredericka Wagner: A look at her property and assets

State records show eight also businesses and two nonprofits – including a church and a home for the mentally and physically disabled.

www.cincinnati.com

Ohio prison inmates are not given very many personal necessities and the Ohio female inmates were not always supplied with enough feminine hygiene products which were of poor quality.

To survive in prison inmates need to buy necessities from the prison commissary. To buy needed items from the commissary inmates need somebody to put money into their prison accounts commonly called commissary accounts.

Billy's mom and sister are rich. Fredericka Wagner's properties – listed under her name, a trust bearing her name or under her real estate company – are worth more than $4 million and span 1,767 acres, according to Pike County Auditor’s Office records.

She owns a total of 1,767 acres in Pike County. That land and its buildings are valued at just over $4 million, according to 2018 Pike County Auditor records.

Angela testified that FW told her she would pay her $1000 a month not to move to AK because she did not want Billy leaving. Angela even wrote FW a letter from jail trying to explain things to her.

Point is........

If Jake and Angela do not have to testify against Billy and so choose not to to so, it could make certain rich family members happy. Family members who have the means to keep commissary accounts full.

2 Cents