OH - Pike Co, 8 in Rhoden Family Murdered Over Custody Issue, 4 Members Wagner Family Arrested #70

[ohioexpat63]

The only thing she is sorry for is getting caught. I think she is a coward who instigated things then turned on her husband and son to save her own behind. If she could get less time I think she would turn on JW by giving up more details.

To think, she couldnt hack 4 years in the Air Force before being discharged, for whatever reason. She made it thru, at the time, a 6 week basic training but couldnt survive her first assignment. Why? During her era, it took a lot to be discharged. The AF overlook a lot of transgressions. If i recall correctly she worked in logistics, warehouse work. She is a liar, coward and a despicable person thatll never see 30 yrs in prison. Someone bigger and tougher is awaiting her arrival at her final housing. Jmo

If she werent a coward she wouldnt hide behind her hair. She would have looked Mr. Manley, and all the others in the eye, and said, Im sorry. No, the poor lil thing was embarrassed, over HER decisions. Embarrassed! Not becauer she led a marauding gang of murderers, her family, but because she was caught! A genius she isnt!

 

[Cool Cats]

I read it when it was published and it's as heartbreaking now as it was then. I have a question when they took the DP off the table for the time being did they talk to the families first? If this has been asked and answered I apologize.

Yes the prosecution talked to the family and they agreed to it. Canepa said this in court at Jake's guilty plea hearing.

So the Rhodens and Gilleys and Manleys showed mercy when they were given zero.

Does anyone know if it was said at Angela's plea hearing what the families said about her plea deal? I assume of course that the prosecution talked to the families about it and I am assuming the families agreed, I just don't remember if it came up in court.

 

[Piffcat]

Yes the prosecution talked to the family and they agreed to it. Canepa said this in court at Jake's guilty plea hearing.

So the Rhodens and Gilleys and Manleys showed mercy when they were given zero.

Does anyone know if it was said at Angela's plea hearing what the families said about her plea deal? I assume of course that the prosecution talked to the families about it and I am assuming the families agreed, I just don't remember if it came up in court.

they spoke out against it when interviewed outside afterwords while staring angela down as she got into her jail limosine. i think furious would be a good characterization of this.... also david yost has proved himself as a bumbling imbecile with little to no regard for the families. remember all that shuffling around in public with the ag office withdrawing? whole thing was handled very poorly for optics and reflects his low opinion of the case. here is his quote when angela pled guilty. encouraging is not nearly strong enough to describe this demon and the hell she reigned down on innocent people.

Pike County Massacre: Angela Wagner pleads guilty

She is the second member of the Wagner family to admit a role in the death of eight members of the Rhoden family

www.fox19.com

and the family member quotes

Rhoden family murders update: Angela Wagner pleads guilty in Pike County court

During a hearing Friday in Pike County, Angela Wagner pleaded guilty in one of the highest-profile investigations in Ohio history.

www.dispatch.com

A gallery of about 30 people, several of them friends and relatives of the Rhoden family, stared at Wagner, some wiping their eyes and bowing their heads.

Wagner repeatedly answered, "Yes, your honor," "No, your honor" and "I plead guilty, your honor" to questions related to each charge.

She showed no emotion and avoided even a glance at the gallery.

Special prosecutor Angela Canepa said that a statement proffered by Wagner will help in the remaining cases. The statement is consistent with that her son, Edward "Jake" Wagner, already provided, she said.

"The defendant had the methods, admitted to committing the offenses with her family members," and either directly carried them out or was complicit in doing so."

Rhoden relatives gathered outside after the hearing, consoling one another. One woman glared at Wagner from her car as Wagner exited the courthouse.

"I see a woman with no sympathy, no remorse," she said, commenting on the sentence. "She's getting 30 years more than what our family gets,"

By not entering the plea, Wagner could have faced more than 110 years in prison and a fine of $165,000, Pike County Common Pleas Judge Randy Deering told her.

like most killers, angela wagner is a coward. too scared to even glance at the rhoden/gilley family without her husband and offspring there. she is the worst

 

[Berrybell]

I so agree.
Maybe even throw in a cane, a walker and very obvious hearing aids. I'd also not be surprised to 'hear of' a recent Altzheimer's diagnosis....
IMO, it will be all show.

JMO

While clutching her bible.

 

[Ann99]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1562949288899948546

 

[BeckyF]

I think I will be glued to Court TV next week!

 

[Chelly]

I think I will be glued to Court TV next week!

I will be glued too.

Thank you to the "Regulars" here who have kept this thread alive with facts and link-based reporting. You have provided us lurkers with valuable information to rely on in the weeks ahead.

Be ready as trial proceeds for this thread to pick up a storm of new posters adding speculations, opinions to the mix. (jmo )

 

[BeckyF]

I will be glued too.

Thank you to the "Regulars" here who have kept this thread alive with facts and link-based reporting. You have provided us lurkers with valuable information to rely on in the weeks ahead.

Be ready as trial proceeds for this thread to pick up a storm of new posters adding speculations, opinions to the mix. (jmo )

Yes. Absolutely a huge Thank You to all who have provided so much valuable information on this case!

 

[Cool Cats]

......From JOURNAL ENTRY

The Court heard the sworn, oral testimony of Deputy Sheriff Tara Tackett, and the Court viewed a demonstration of how the "E-Vest," which manufactured by Compliant Technologies, is to be put on and worn. The Court observed that the E-Vest may be worn under the clothing of the wearer in such manner as to be completely unobservable by others outside the wearer's clothing, and that,, while worn, the E-Vest does not restrict the wearer's movement. Therefore, in ruling upon Defendant's Motion No. 97, the Court hereby amends its decision and order previously issued on May 6, 2019, that was issued in ruling upon Defendant's Motion No. 7, and the Court hereby orders that, unless and until otherwise ordered by the Court, the Defendant shall be permitted to appear at all proceedings in civilian clothing; that the Defendant shall be permitted to appear at all proceedings without restraints observable outside the Defendant's clothing; and that the restraint that shall be used at all proceedings shall be the E-Vest manufactured by Compliant Technologies. There being no further matters to come before the Court on August 23, 2022, after the above referenced matters, the hearing was adjourned.
08/25/2022	SUPPLEMENTAL MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF MOTION NO. 96, MOTION IN LIMINE ON THE ADMISSIBILITY OF STATEMENTS IN VIOLATION OF THE HEARSAY RULE FILED Attorney: PARKER, JOHN PATRICK Attorney: NASH, JR, RICHARD M
08/26/2022	MOTION NO. 107 MOTION TO STRIKE VENIRE FILED Attorney: PARKER, JOHN PATRICK Attorney: PARKER, JOHN PATRICK
08/26/2022	MOTION NO. 108 MOTION TO STRIKE VENIRE (DEATH SCRUPLED JURORS) FILED Attorney: PARKER, JOHN PATRICK Attorney: NASH, JR, RICHARD M

 

[Chelly]

......From JOURNAL ENTRY

The Court heard the sworn, oral testimony of Deputy Sheriff Tara Tackett, and the Court viewed a demonstration of how the "E-Vest," which manufactured by Compliant Technologies, is to be put on and worn. The Court observed that the E-Vest may be worn under the clothing of the wearer in such manner as to be completely unobservable by others outside the wearer's clothing, and that,, while worn, the E-Vest does not restrict the wearer's movement. Therefore, in ruling upon Defendant's Motion No. 97, the Court hereby amends its decision and order previously issued on May 6, 2019, that was issued in ruling upon Defendant's Motion No. 7, and the Court hereby orders that, unless and until otherwise ordered by the Court, the Defendant shall be permitted to appear at all proceedings in civilian clothing; that the Defendant shall be permitted to appear at all proceedings without restraints observable outside the Defendant's clothing; and that the restraint that shall be used at all proceedings shall be the E-Vest manufactured by Compliant Technologies. There being no further matters to come before the Court on August 23, 2022, after the above referenced matters, the hearing was adjourned.
08/25/2022	SUPPLEMENTAL MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF MOTION NO. 96, MOTION IN LIMINE ON THE ADMISSIBILITY OF STATEMENTS IN VIOLATION OF THE HEARSAY RULE FILED Attorney: PARKER, JOHN PATRICK Attorney: NASH, JR, RICHARD M
08/26/2022	MOTION NO. 107 MOTION TO STRIKE VENIRE FILED Attorney: PARKER, JOHN PATRICK Attorney: PARKER, JOHN PATRICK
08/26/2022	MOTION NO. 108 MOTION TO STRIKE VENIRE (DEATH SCRUPLED JURORS) FILED Attorney: PARKER, JOHN PATRICK Attorney: NASH, JR, RICHARD M

This is routine, pre-trial matters, right?

 

[Cool Cats]

This is routine, pre-trial matters, right?

I don't understand why the defense is filing these 2 motions right before the trial - I thought the defense just spent 3 weeks helping to pick a jury pool.

What does a venire mean in court?

Definition. A panel of prospective jurors. A jury is eventually chosen from the venire.

MOTION NO. 107 MOTION TO STRIKE VENIRE FILED

MOTION NO. 108 MOTION TO STRIKE VENIRE (DEATH SCRUPLED JURORS) FILED

I understand why they want the Motion to not have a
VIOLATION OF THE HEARSAY RULE, this makes sense to me, but I don't get these other 2.

 

[justtrish]

Here is where it says Angela is cooperating with prosecutors against Billy plus also testifying against Billy. I find it interesting that the subject is brought up that because of spousal privilege Angela could refuse to testify against Billy. She has agreed to do it but I wonder if she refused if they would take her plea deal off the table? Seems to me she could refuse but then jeopardize her plea deal. Judge Deering warned her she had to comply with the prosecution. I can't remember his exact words but he did give her some type of warning.​

Angela Wagner Pleads Guilty In Rhoden …​

Prosecutors dropped eight aggravated murder charges on Friday against Angela Wagner, who was charged with her family in the elaborately planned, execution-style slayings of eight members of another southern Ohio family in 2016.

In exchange, Wagner, 50, agreed to plead guilty to 14 lesser charges — including conspiracy to commit aggravated murder, burglary, possession of firearms, tampering with evidence, forgery, obstructing justice and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity.

She'll also testify against her husband and oldest son in the case. She agreed to serve 30 years in prison with no option for early release.

George Wagner IV's brother and mother can testify …​

As part of their plea agreements, Jake and Angela Wagner both agreed to cooperate with prosecutors in the cases against George Wagner IV and Billy Wagner.

I think once Jake took a deal, she knew it was over. She likes to be in control and run the show. It's clear by how she had to have the grandkids, wanted to control her adult children, their relationships, her grandchildren, etc. She likely realized Jake took a deal and decided the only way she had any say now was to also make a deal and have some control over what happened to her. I think she cares only about herself and what is best for her. She used those around her and I am on the fence about weather Jake is truly evil on his own or if he was just manipulated and grew up in this house where he had no say. I know he holds responsibility and there is no excuse for what he did and allowed to happen, but was his controlling mother behind the way he is?

 

[Chelly]

I don't understand why the defense is filing these 2 motions right before the trial - I thought the defense just spent 3 weeks helping to pick a jury pool.

What does a venire mean in court?

Definition. A panel of prospective jurors. A jury is eventually chosen from the venire.

MOTION NO. 107 MOTION TO STRIKE VENIRE FILED

MOTION NO. 108 MOTION TO STRIKE VENIRE (DEATH SCRUPLED JURORS) FILED

I understand why they want the Motion to not have a
VIOLATION OF THE HEARSAY RULE, this makes sense to me, but I don't get these other 2.

My understanding of striking the venire is defense and prosecution using their allotted peremptory challenges to remove prospective jurors during the final voir dire process to determine the final 12, plus 4 alts. But I don't understand why the defense would file motions for which I thought was SOP, so I figured motions 107 and 108 meant something else. Clearly I am overthinking, so will go back to lurking now.

 

[Cool Cats]

I think once Jake took a deal, she knew it was over. She likes to be in control and run the show. It's clear by how she had to have the grandkids, wanted to control her adult children, their relationships, her grandchildren, etc. She likely realized Jake took a deal and decided the only way she had any say now was to also make a deal and have some control over what happened to her. I think she cares only about herself and what is best for her. She used those around her and I am on the fence about weather Jake is truly evil on his own or if he was just manipulated and grew up in this house where he had no say. I know he holds responsibility and there is no excuse for what he did and allowed to happen, but was his controlling mother behind the way he is?

No matter how controlling she was Jake has to be a born sociopath to do what he did.

To deliberately plan for months to shoot people in the head and to then go and shoot 6 people, 5 multiple times in the head and face while asleep next to infants.

Shooting 4 and 5 times for no reason other than jealous rage and revenge and mostly for control etc..

He has no empathy, a true sociopath in my opinion. His parents may have nurtured that side of him but there is complete empathy missing in him.

Something really wrong with him

 

[Puzzles8]

To think, she couldnt hack 4 years in the Air Force before being discharged, for whatever reason. She made it thru, at the time, a 6 week basic training but couldnt survive her first assignment. Why? During her era, it took a lot to be discharged. The AF overlook a lot of transgressions. If i recall correctly she worked in logistics, warehouse work. She is a liar, coward and a despicable person thatll never see 30 yrs in prison. Someone bigger and tougher is awaiting her arrival at her final housing. Jmo

If she werent a coward she wouldnt hide behind her hair. She would have looked Mr. Manley, and all the others in the eye, and said, Im sorry. No, the poor lil thing was embarrassed, over HER decisions. Embarrassed! Not becauer she led a marauding gang of murderers, her family, but because she was caught! A genius she isnt!

Maybe a pattern here.

In the Air Force, AW worked in their warehouse. After an unexplained early discharge from the AF, she was later charged with stealing from her employer, the Acme Boot Co.

Completely IMO, but maybe she was also caught stealing in the AF warehouse. AW and Billy seemed think they were very skilled at stealing.... At least until they weren't.

JMO

ETA - pinch me, is a trial really about to start after 6.5 years? Finally some justice in sight for the Rhoden/Gilley/Manley families though I can't imagine how difficult the trials will be for them to watch.

 

[justtrish]

No matter how controlling she was Jake has to be a born sociopath to do what he did.

To deliberately plan for months to shoot people in the head and to then go and shoot 6 people, 5 multiple times in the head and face while asleep next to infants.

Shooting 4 and 5 times for no reason other than jealous rage and revenge and mostly for control etc..

He has no empathy, a true sociopath in my opinion. His parents may have nurtured that side of him but there is complete empathy missing in him.

Something really wrong with him

I agree there is something wrong more than how he was raised. I just don't know if he would have planned and carried this type of plan out if it wasn't for his mother and father. I hope we get to hear the details because I do believe we will hear that this was not his plan. I think this was some type of jealousy from his dad and mom toward the Rhoden family that started this, add in their baby boy getting his heart broken (or whatever version of this they believe) and then add in a grandchild they want to control (maybe mostly Angela) and I do think this wasn't a plan Jake brought to them, but more one they brought to their boys. Again I don't think it makes it okay in any way. I am trying to figure out how this started. If Jake wasn't the mastermind, then him cutting the deal first to tell all makes sense, then mom who is highly controlling cuts a deal because she wants to still control something. We saw a similar situation with George and his child and the child's mother. She fled and never went back. That wouldn't have been Jake's fault, that was some other control going on, I believe Angela. I am not trying to paint Jake as a victim because he did what he did and still chose to carry it out, but how much control and manipulation did he deal with growing up? How would he have been different if his parents were not who they are? What made him jump at a deal first? Was he afraid this was going to get pinned solely on him because it was his daughters mother/grandparents that were killed and the custody documents were in the center of it? Did he know his parents were going to throw him under the bus? That wouldn't surprise me. I hope we hear it all when this trial starts. I think there are still more twists we will see come out.

If it all went down differently than Jake has told in his proffer, then George and Billy need to start talking. I hope the truest version eventually comes out when this is all said and done because I do think the parents are going to hold the largest piece of blame for the initial idea/planning/control that lead to eventually what occurred.

 

[Cool Cats]

I agree there is something wrong more than how he was raised. I just don't know if he would have planned and carried this type of plan out if it wasn't for his mother and father. I hope we get to hear the details because I do believe we will hear that this was not his plan. I think this was some type of jealousy from his dad and mom toward the Rhoden family that started this, add in their baby boy getting his heart broken (or whatever version of this they believe) and then add in a grandchild they want to control (maybe mostly Angela) and I do think this wasn't a plan Jake brought to them, but more one they brought to their boys. Again I don't think it makes it okay in any way. I am trying to figure out how this started. If Jake wasn't the mastermind, then him cutting the deal first to tell all makes sense, then mom who is highly controlling cuts a deal because she wants to still control something. We saw a similar situation with George and his child and the child's mother. She fled and never went back. That wouldn't have been Jake's fault, that was some other control going on, I believe Angela. I am not trying to paint Jake as a victim because he did what he did and still chose to carry it out, but how much control and manipulation did he deal with growing up? How would he have been different if his parents were not who they are? What made him jump at a deal first? Was he afraid this was going to get pinned solely on him because it was his daughters mother/grandparents that were killed and the custody documents were in the center of it? Did he know his parents were going to throw him under the bus? That wouldn't surprise me. I hope we hear it all when this trial starts. I think there are still more twists we will see come out.

If it all went down differently than Jake has told in his proffer, then George and Billy need to start talking. I hope the truest version eventually comes out when this is all said and done because I do think the parents are going to hold the largest piece of blame for the initial idea/planning/control that lead to eventually what occurred.

Right, we saw the same type of control with George's son and then it went to Jake's child. Alot of this is about Jake's family wanting what DeWine said, obsessive control of children.

The whole family is mentally deranged, a "perfect storm" of the 4 personalities together bringing out the worst psychopathic tendencies and anti-social personality traits of each other. Not one in that enmeshed mess to be a voice of reason.

"What made him jump at a deal first?"

Because his trial was 4 months away and I believe his attorneys leveled with him that the evidence was overwhelming and he would be convicted and then would get the DP. For 8 murders a person is most likely going to get the DP.

It was his attorney's job to keep him from getting the DP. Most people who are on murder charges facing the DP take a plea of guilty to get LWOP and avoid the DP.

Jake was/is petrified of the DP and he wanted to avoid it. He was cornered, it is all about there being too much evidence against him.

If his attorneys had told him they thought the State didn't have enough evidence to convict him he would have probably had his trial.

He lied for 2 1\2 years "find the monsters who did this" "I was fine with the way things were"

He was trapped in the corner with getting convicted of 8 murders and sitting for life on death row and he didn't want that. Plus, Ohio could always go back to doing executions in the future and he certainly wanted to avoid that.

 

[Cool Cats]

Trial preparations nearly finalized for one …

Trial preparations nearly finalized for one suspect in 2016 Pike County massacre​

1h ago

"We were hearing rumors, you know, years ago," Blaine Beekman said.

Beekman, a former Pike County commissioner, said Friday that rumors about who committed the heinous crimes took a dramatic turn when two things happened.

First, investigators arrested four members of the Wagner family in the fall of 2018.
Then, last year, Jake Wagner confessed.

"Basically, you don't hear a lot of people talk about it," Beekman said.
That doesn't mean Beekman is not sympathetic to anyone impacted by the massacre that left eight people dead.

"Well, it's almost like you have two different feelings. One is you want things to get back to normal. Well, things are back to normal, whatever normal is right now. But the second thing is then you think, 'Wait a minute. This was horrific. Are we forgetting this too quickly?'" Beekman said. "You have this almost, like, this conflict, that you're glad that — distance is taking it away from the public view. But, hey, those people still lost all their people."

WLWT investigator Todd Dykes, who spent several hours in Waverly on Friday, said that based on conversations he had it's clear that Beekman is not the only one who feels the way he does.

The struggle between wanting to move on while not forgetting what happened is a common refrain,
one that's about to be put to the test by chilling evidence that could rekindle dreadful memories.

 

[justtrish]

Right, we saw the same type of control with George's son and then it went to Jake's child. Alot of this is about Jake's family wanting what DeWine said, obsessive control of children.

The whole family is mentally deranged, a "perfect storm" of the 4 personalities together bringing out the worst psychopathic tendencies and anti-social personality traits of each other. Not one in that enmeshed mess to be a voice of reason.

"What made him jump at a deal first?"

Because his trial was 4 months away and I believe his attorneys leveled with him that the evidence was overwhelming and he would be convicted and then would get the DP. For 8 murders a person is most likely going to get the DP.

It was his attorney's job to keep him from getting the DP. Most people who are on murder charges facing the DP take a plea of guilty to get LWOP and avoid the DP.

Jake was/is petrified of the DP and he wanted to avoid it. He was cornered, it is all about there being too much evidence against him.

If his attorneys had told him they thought the State didn't have enough evidence to convict him he would have probably had his trial.

He lied for 2 1\2 years "find the monsters who did this" "I was fine with the way things were"

He was trapped in the corner with getting convicted of 8 murders and sitting for life on death row and he didn't want that. Plus, Ohio could always go back to doing executions in the future and he certainly wanted to avoid that.

I bet the order of their trials was a strategic one for the prosecutors. Maybe they felt Jake would get panicked with being first and take a deal. I think whoever was first might have had that pressure. Doubt Billy would have ever caved to a deal. Interesting now reading your post and thinking... I bet it was the pressure of his trial being first. Then momma, then George, and you know Billy is last because no way he's caving. I think he would hold out till the end and just take the DP.

 

[twall]

Reporter states in this video jury selection is expected to take about 2 days, opening statements could start soon after that or there's a possibility they could wait until the Tuesday after Labor Day.

Trial set for man accused of helping kill eight members of a family in Pike County

The most complex and perhaps most notorious murder trial in Ohio history is about to get underway in Pike County.

dayton247now.com

I think they will wait as the subpoenas are dated for 09/06 @ 9am.