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

[Betty P]

I can't provide a link right now so jmo.
09/06/2022
JOURNAL ENTRY
The Court is informed that on September 2, 2022, at approximately 3:50 p.m. the Clerk of Courts received, via facsimile transmission, a motion entitled "MOTION FOR MEDIA ACCESS" filed on behalf of The Cincinnati Enquirer, Sinclair Broadcasting, WLW-TV, WCPO, WXIX, The Scioto Valley Guardian, Court TV, and Law and Crime TV ("movants"), asking the Court "for an order permitting the recording of the testimony of Jake and Angela Wagner, for an order permitting the audio recording of any witness who opts out of being video recorded and for the placement of a second camera to record the lawyers interrogating witnesses." The movants further filed a "MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT" of their motion.
As counsel is aware, the Court has permitted media access in this case, approving the location of a video camera and microphone in the courtroom atop a book case, approximately 8 feet from the floor, beside the courtroom speaker, where view can be had of the Defendant, defense counsel, the prosecuting attorney, both special prosecuting attorneys, the witness chair, the bench, the judge, the court reporter, and courtroom monitors. The camera is so positioned that it is behind the jurors and the alternate jurors and there is virtually no chance that the jurors will be unintentionally videoed or that the camera will present a distraction to the jurors. The Court has also permitted the positioning of a second microphone for the media near the witness chair. Further, a number of seats are reserved in the courtroom for members of the media.
It is hereby ordered that the State of Ohio and the Defendant shall each serve and file a response to the movants' "MOTION FOR MEDIA ACCESS" on or before Thursday, September 8, 2022, at 4:00 o'clock p.m., stating the position of each such party concerning the requests of the movants' "MOTION FOR MEDIA ACCESS" and including an argument in support of each such party's position. Timely filing of the parties' responses with the Clerk of Courts by facsimile transmission (740-947-1729) or by email shall be permitted.
Non-oral hearing is scheduled on the "MOTION FOR MEDIA ACCESS" for Friday, September 9, 2022, at 8:30 o'clock a.m.
COPIES FILED, MAILED TO COUNSEL AND DEFENDANT, ALSO EMAILED TO COUNSEL

Hopefully, they'll get this resolved. They now have a whole week to do so.
This is a trial for an extremely dangerous defendant who, along with his family, killed 8 innocent people in their homes, sleeping in their beds. The extended family is wealthy and powerful and continues to exercise its influence on innocent people in order to free these defendants from jail. They plotted to kill more innocent people, elected officials and officers of the court, in order to help the defendants escape.

Other Acts Evidence - linked a few pages back - shows the Wagner family went to great lengths to pressure, bribe and threaten people who were called as witnesses to testify in grand jury and other proceedings related to this case. Wagner family members even paid for private attorney fees, attended meetings with the witness and told them what to say in court.

Witness safety is still at risk as is the state's case, if these witnesses are coerced or threatened to not testify against the defendant. The court has already erected a chain link fence around the parking lot and rear of the court house. Security has been increased.

Some of us are old enough to live in a time when the only access the public had to trial proceedings was to read the news as reporters in the courtroom described from their notes and memory. A sketch artist would provide a few daily sketches of the proceedings. The law gives citizens the right to have access to trial proceedings, but it doesn't give them the right to put witnesses lives at risk to do so. JMO, the judge will balance those rights. The news media knows this. They know this is an exceptional case.

 

[joe jones]

per the jury road trip if they travelled the route taken by the Wagners that night then it is possible that the Wagners went to CR snr first, then Frankies, then to Danas but maybe her car wasn't their so they went to Kenneths and then came back to Danas, that seemed to be the way they took the jurors on their crime scene view, we shall find out next week

Dana did stay on at work that day and I doubt the Wagners knew this, so they may have gone to her home thinking she would be home per her usual routine only to find she wasn't their so had to wait for her to get home

 

[Chelly]

per the jury road trip if they travelled the route taken by the Wagners that night then it is possible that the Wagners went to CR snr first, then Frankies, then to Danas but maybe her car wasn't their so they went to Kenneths and then came back to Danas, that seemed to be the way they took the jurors on their crime scene view, we shall find out next week

Dana did stay on at work that day and I doubt the Wagners knew this, so they may have gone to her home thinking she would be home per her usual routine only to find she wasn't their so had to wait for her to get home

It seems Dana did a double shift that day and had not arrived home the first time the Wagners checked out her house on night of murders. Is there phone data of someone from Wagner family calling Dana's phone that night?

 

[Betty P]

It seems Dana did a double shift that day and had not arrived home the first time the Wagners checked out her house on night of murders. Is there phone data of someone from Wagner family calling Dana's phone that night?

There was that scammy hack that Jake apparently did on James Manley's wife's phone or Face book messaging account. Remember LE arrested James a year after the murders and accused him of exchanging text messages with Jake Wagner late on the night of the murders.

I'm going to go back and find our original discussions when this happened.

Start with this thread, though there is some discussion in the one before it. There's a link to a video of Leonard Manley talking to reporters about LE arresting James and some allegations of texting going on with James and his wife AM. Neither of them were involved in any way in the murders, but the source of that information at the time was Jake Wagner.

OH - Pike County: 8 people from one family dead as police hunt for killer(s) - #27

Ohio Shooting: Latest on Pike County murders Wednesday, May 4, 2016 PIKE COUNTY, Ohio No arrests have been made in the shooting investigation of eight execution-style killings of members of the Rhoden family last month in Pike County, Ohio. Ohio family massacre highlights rural regions ties...

www.websleuths.com

Here's a news report from then that's still around. Some of these old links are invalid now.
I really can't wait to hear the story about this scheme - the red truck, the messages, etc.

Maybe they went by Dana's, saw she wasn't home, then tried to surreptitiously contact the Manleys to see if any of them knew when she would be getting home? We'll find out.

 

[CIA Team Member]

Thinking about how the crimes happened on the eve of trial one thing I have pondered is what if GR was not at home with CRsnr when the Wagners arrived that night, could explain why CRsnr was said to have been dead longer than the others. If they arrived murdered CR snr then went and murdered the others GR may have arrived at CRsnr home when the Wagners went back to collect the cameras and phones and whatever else they decided to take, then they killed GR.

Just my ponderings on why CRsnr could have been dead longer than others, also maybe they knew GR should have been their so one or more of them stayed at CRsnr to wait for him, this then leaves JW to go and murder his 5 victims whilst BW and GW stayed waiting for GR,

The sequence of events is one of the things I really want to find out, as for years (before we were told about drug deal ruse) I was certain they went to Danas house first, then to Frankies then to CRsnr, and my reasoning was HR was the main target so to me the logic would have been ensure you killed the principal target, then go to Frankies as he may have been seen as less of a threat than CRsnr, then after killing CRsnr to to KR, after drug ruse story it now seems logical CRsnr was their first victim

This has always been one of my two questions: Order of events. Other one is HOW did they walk around inside those trailers without being heard/noticed? Those old trailers squeak, rattle constantly, even when the wind blows. Did those inside just chalk it up to "noises as usual?"

 

[Chelly]

There was that scammy hack that Jake apparently did on James Manley's wife's phone or Face book messaging account. Remember LE arrested James a year after the murders and accused him of exchanging text messages with Jake Wagner late on the night of the murders.

I'm going to go back and find our original discussions when this happened.

Start with this thread, though there is some discussion in the one before it. There's a link to a video of Leonard Manley talking to reporters about LE arresting James and some allegations of texting going on with James and his wife AM. Neither of them were involved in any way in the murders, but the source of that information at the time was Jake Wagner.

OH - Pike County: 8 people from one family dead as police hunt for killer(s) - #27

Ohio Shooting: Latest on Pike County murders Wednesday, May 4, 2016 PIKE COUNTY, Ohio No arrests have been made in the shooting investigation of eight execution-style killings of members of the Rhoden family last month in Pike County, Ohio. Ohio family massacre highlights rural regions ties...

www.websleuths.com

Here's a news report from then that's still around. Some of these old links are invalid now.
I really can't wait to hear the story about this scheme - the red truck, the messages, etc.

Maybe they went by Dana's, saw she wasn't home, then tried to surreptitiously contact the Manleys to see if any of them knew when she would be getting home? We'll find out.

Great answer! Thanks.

 

[CIA Team Member]

I think Law & Crime is going to stream it live, possibly others. There has been a pool video camera in the courtroom for all of the pre-trial hearings. Not all of the local tv stations streamed the hearings, but some may also live stream on their facebook or You Tube channels.

We've notice the camera position has improved, so it will be possible to better see the participants. We're hoping they have improved audio, too. For now, they're just using the microphone on the video camera. Volume is low and echo-y.

Betty (or anyone),
Do you know how one could confirm/deny live coverage from Law&Crime?

 

[Betty P]

At 6:20 in the video above, Jody Barr said that Len Manley told him his son JM was texting with Jake Wagner at 2 am the night of the murders. His wife AM was texting with Dana Rhoden at 1 am the night of the murders.

This was later clarified when JM, IIRC, said he didn't receive a text from Jake until much later. It was like LE was telling them one version of the timeline for the late night texts, but in reality it was different.

I'm busy right now, but anyone who wants to read the posts on the WS link above from May 2017, you'll find the discussion there.

 

[LMDlong]

Hopefully, they'll get this resolved. They now have a whole week to do so.
This is a trial for an extremely dangerous defendant who, along with his family, killed 8 innocent people in their homes, sleeping in their beds. The extended family is wealthy and powerful and continues to exercise its influence on innocent people in order to free these defendants from jail. They plotted to kill more innocent people, elected officials and officers of the court, in order to help the defendants escape.

Other Acts Evidence - linked a few pages back - shows the Wagner family went to great lengths to pressure, bribe and threaten people who were called as witnesses to testify in grand jury and other proceedings related to this case. Wagner family members even paid for private attorney fees, attended meetings with the witness and told them what to say in court.

Witness safety is still at risk as is the state's case, if these witnesses are coerced or threatened to not testify against the defendant. The court has already erected a chain link fence around the parking lot and rear of the court house. Security has been increased.

Some of us are old enough to live in a time when the only access the public had to trial proceedings was to read the news as reporters in the courtroom described from their notes and memory. A sketch artist would provide a few daily sketches of the proceedings. The law gives citizens the right to have access to trial proceedings, but it doesn't give them the right to put witnesses lives at risk to do so. JMO, the judge will balance those rights. The news media knows this. They know this is an exceptional case.

I thought the instructions for the media had already been given , what would they had done today if there was not a delay?
Does anyone know if instructions had been given already?
I can only find the ones for the court room decorum.

 

[Betty P]

I thought the instructions for the media had already been given , what would they had done today if there was not a delay?
Does anyone know if instructions had been given already?
I can only find the ones for the court room decorum.

They may be arguing something. There were comments yesterday about Judge Deering ruling there might be limits on some video & audio of witnesses if they didn't want to be on tv, etc.

 

[altojack]

I thought the instructions for the media had already been given , what would they had done today if there was not a delay?
Does anyone know if instructions had been given already?
I can only find the ones for the court room decorum.

I thought instructions for the media had been given too. It's unusual to leave this sort of thing so late. This wouldn't be the first trial where a witness, or two, wouldn't want to be shown, or heard on tv.

 

[twall]

Rhoden family massacre trial: Ohio-based and national media outlets request recording of witnesses

Ohio-based newspapers and TV stations and two court-related broadcasters asked an Ohio judge to allow media to audio record witnesses who will testify in the Rhoden mass-murder trial, according to a court document. Common Pleas Court Judge Randy Deering asked lawyers to file their arguments...

chrisgravesunl.wixsite.com

 

[Puzzles8]

This has always been one of my two questions: Order of events. Other one is HOW did they walk around inside those trailers without being heard/noticed? Those old trailers squeak, rattle constantly, even when the wind blows. Did those inside just chalk it up to "noises as usual?"

I think you're right that you just get used to the normal creaks and groans of any home. Also consider DR, HR and Chris Jr. had only lived in their home for a short while, so they might have not realized what was normal noise. Frankies house had Hounds and I'm sure they were used to the sound of barking at night.

IMO, you just learn to sleep through most normal noises in your home.

JMO

 

[Cool Cats]

This has always been one of my two questions: Order of events. Other one is HOW did they walk around inside those trailers without being heard/noticed? Those old trailers squeak, rattle constantly, even when the wind blows. Did those inside just chalk it up to "noises as usual?"

They were in bed asleep which is how BCI knew suppressors were used. Plus it happened fast. Takes only seconds to fire off a gun. There was no time to hear noises and wake up.

If anyone did happen to wake up there wouldn't be time to see or register what is happening. Jake totally ambushed them. It was dark, a theif in the night. Jake knew the layout of the bedrooms and I am sure rehearsed it in his mind to do it quickly.

 

[Johnny B Bad]

They were in bed asleep which is how BCI knew suppressors were used. Plus it happened fast. Takes only seconds to fire off a gun. There was no time to hear noises and wake up.

If anyone did happen to wake up there wouldn't be time to see or register what is happening. Jake totally ambushed them. It was dark, a theif in the night. Jake knew the layout of the bedrooms and I am sure rehearsed it in his mind to do it quickly.

All Four Wagners Deserve The Death Penalty, JMO

 

[Caylee Advocate]

All Four Wagners Deserve The Death Penalty, JMO

Good to see you JBB. I agree with them all deserving the DP, cowardly sickos!!

 

[PrairieWind]

All Four Wagners Deserve The Death Penalty, JMO

I agree. If ever a crime deserved the DP, this is it.

 

[Betty P]

I was wondering about the arguments over recording audio of witnesses in the trial.

At the May pre-trial hearing we learned of the Wagner's ruse pretending they had a lucrative drug deal for Chris Rhoden, Sr as a way of luring him out of his home.

If the Wagners were involved in drug trafficking (sounds like they were), some of the witnesses scheduled to testify against the Wagners may be some of the drug dealers they were involved with. Some may be informants,undercover or no longer involved in the drug biz, hence a need to keep their faces and voices out of the news media.

If so, the news media should follow the judge's advice.

Just a theory. JMO I've always suspected there were people out there who knew about the murders and who the killers were, but couldn't come forward. Sheriff Reader hinted at that in some of his press conferences.

 

[Chelly]

I can't provide a link right now so jmo.
09/06/2022
JOURNAL ENTRY
The Court is informed that on September 2, 2022, at approximately 3:50 p.m. the Clerk of Courts received, via facsimile transmission, a motion entitled "MOTION FOR MEDIA ACCESS" filed on behalf of The Cincinnati Enquirer, Sinclair Broadcasting, WLW-TV, WCPO, WXIX, The Scioto Valley Guardian, Court TV, and Law and Crime TV ("movants"), asking the Court "for an order permitting the recording of the testimony of Jake and Angela Wagner, for an order permitting the audio recording of any witness who opts out of being video recorded and for the placement of a second camera to record the lawyers interrogating witnesses." The movants further filed a "MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT" of their motion.
As counsel is aware, the Court has permitted media access in this case, approving the location of a video camera and microphone in the courtroom atop a book case, approximately 8 feet from the floor, beside the courtroom speaker, where view can be had of the Defendant, defense counsel, the prosecuting attorney, both special prosecuting attorneys, the witness chair, the bench, the judge, the court reporter, and courtroom monitors. The camera is so positioned that it is behind the jurors and the alternate jurors and there is virtually no chance that the jurors will be unintentionally videoed or that the camera will present a distraction to the jurors. The Court has also permitted the positioning of a second microphone for the media near the witness chair. Further, a number of seats are reserved in the courtroom for members of the media.
It is hereby ordered that the State of Ohio and the Defendant shall each serve and file a response to the movants' "MOTION FOR MEDIA ACCESS" on or before Thursday, September 8, 2022, at 4:00 o'clock p.m., stating the position of each such party concerning the requests of the movants' "MOTION FOR MEDIA ACCESS" and including an argument in support of each such party's position. Timely filing of the parties' responses with the Clerk of Courts by facsimile transmission (740-947-1729) or by email shall be permitted.
Non-oral hearing is scheduled on the "MOTION FOR MEDIA ACCESS" for Friday, September 9, 2022, at 8:30 o'clock a.m.
COPIES FILED, MAILED TO COUNSEL AND DEFENDANT, ALSO EMAILED TO COUNSEL

I have been trying to locate a link to above Clerk of Courts JOURNAL ENTRY. Does anyone have it?

According to last sentence, Judge has scheduled a non-oral hearing for Friday, Sept 9 at 8:30 a.m. on the "MOTION FOR MEDIA ACCESS" .

 

[IType]

Can you remind us others who’ve used their Site less frequently, the best way to search for them to get to these relevant case(s) (esp since some of have several traffic and other smaller cases that come up in the search results)? Every time I try using the case # on the search form I get no results.

This could also help remind us all the best way, since you clearly know better than I on how best to find this specific case on their site. Thank you in advance.

If you are referring to Pike County court records, they have a different version of their website now. If you don't have it, here is link:

https://cpcourt.pikecounty.oh.gov/eservices/home.page.2

After you enter the letters in the box to prove you're not a robot, you'll get to the home page. If you are trying to search by case number, the cases won't come up if you insert hyphens or spaces in the case number (the letters "cr" are not case sensitive). But, if you run the numbers and letters all together, the case will pop right up. Try these:

2018cr000154 [for JW]
2018cr000155 [for GW4]
2018cr000156 [for AW]
2018cr000157 [for BW]

Hope this helps!