OH - Pike Co, 8 in Rhoden Family Murdered Over Custody Issue, 4 Members Wagner Family Arrested #71

[Betty P]

Are you thinking he was buying fireworks in Mexico that are illegal in the USA?

JMO

Are you guys saying that's why the Wagners murdered the Rhodens? Because Chris bought illegal fireworks?

If you go back and check the testimony, there was no mention of Chris's fireworks being illegal. You can legally buy a LOT of big fireworks in the states around Ohio. LOL, there's no need to go to Mexico.

 

[RAISINISBACK]

Now I'm wondering if I missed some evidence or testimony. Did you come to these conclusions based only on the opening statement?

They've barely even started telling the tale through witnesses much less introducing evidence placing anyone at the crime scenes. Heck, according to testimony, it's still early in the morning, BCI isn't there yet to start collecting evidence and they haven't even gotten around to finding KR yet, have they? Feels like we've got a ways to go before we see any evidence placing anyone at any crime scene (except those who found them).

BBM

Did you come to these conclusions based only on the opening statement?

Yes. And AC not giving a good outline of the evidence they have in the case.

JMO

 

[RAISINISBACK]

Are you guys saying that's why the Wagners murdered the Rhodens? Because Chris bought illegal fireworks?

If you go back and check the testimony, there was no mention of Chris's fireworks being illegal. You can legally buy a LOT of big fireworks in the states around Ohio. LOL, there's no need to go to Mexico.

Are you guys saying that's why the Wagners murdered the Rhodens? Because Chris bought illegal fireworks?

BBM


No Betty. I am thinking the defense is trying to go in the back door and try to get in evidence to say the trips to Mexico was outwardly to buy fireworks but in reality to buy illegal drugs. They have something sneaky up their sleeves by asking about the fireworks. Bet on it.

JMO

 

[Betty P]

Are you guys saying that's why the Wagners murdered the Rhodens? Because Chris bought illegal fireworks?

BBM


No Betty. I am thinking the defense is trying to go in the back door and try to get in evidence to say the trips to Mexico was outwardly to buy fireworks but in reality to buy illegal drugs. They have something sneaky up their sleeves by asking about the fireworks. Bet on it.

JMO

I could care less what the defense says and I'm not going to help them with their strategy by repeating and expanding on it. They have nothing. They're going to lie and make up all kinds of stuff. Red herrings. Better to stick to the facts of the case and not get distracted. This case is complicated enough just by the large number of victims, crime scenes and killers involved. The defense team's only strategy is to distract and confuse at least one juror by throwing out these crazy red herrings. The only way I'll discuss those "theories" is by ridiculing them, as they deserve.

 

[Pru2U]

Are you guys saying that's why the Wagners murdered the Rhodens? Because Chris bought illegal fireworks?

If you go back and check the testimony, there was no mention of Chris's fireworks being illegal. You can legally buy a LOT of big fireworks in the states around Ohio. LOL, there's no need to go to Mexico.

BBM

Did you come to these conclusions based only on the opening statement?

Yes. And AC not giving a good outline of the evidence they have in the case.

JMO

I understand now, thank you. The good news is the jury isn't going to acquit or convict based on the opening statement. Maybe someone else will do the closing arguments. Let's hope they nail the in-between.

 

[IType]

As DeWine said, there was an undercurrent of drugs, but custody was the reason. When they investigated further, that's what they found. Why else all the fake custody documents? Why the threats, violence and intimidation of the son's wives/girlfriends? Why the threats on their lives (which are documented)?

Are you saying that Chris Sr and his family's murder was his own fault? Surely not.

I'm absolutely not saying any of the murders were the fault of any of the victims. My comment about CRSR and kr growing mj was not meant as a slur to either of them.

I was only stating they may have started their grow as a means of income as soon as it was legalized. An honest business venture that would be ready to sell as soon as mj legalized. My comment was meant as an alternate theory to the wild posts painting kr and CRSr in a negative light for growing the mj.

I meant my comment to be a positive comment in support of CRSr and kr as honest business operators trying to get their business off the ground. Jmo

 

[ColMustard]

JM testified during defense questioning he didn't know CR was building the big new barn. How could he not? It's right there and at least two stories tall.

Not bagging on him, just struck me as odd.

I'm probably done using CTV after the way their talking heads were commenting today. It's not necessary, go to commercial if you find yourself needing filler. The guy in the pink glasses needs to fast, daily, I'm pretty sure the suit he wore was made by Coleman.

 

[IType]

What does that have to do with the Wagners killing the Rhoden family and Hannah Gilley?

I can't speak for Raisin.

As for my post, you've missed my point.

I don't believe the mj plants have anything to do with the murders. My comment was meant as a "rebuttal" of sorts to those posters who appear to me to be trying to say kr and CRSr we're big-time drug lords. Jmo

 

[Betty P]

I'm absolutely not saying any of the murders were the fault of any of the victims. My comment about CRSR and kr growing mj was not meant as a slur to either of them.

I was only stating they may have started their grow as a means of income as soon as it was legalized. An honest business venture that would be ready to sell as soon as mj legalized. My comment was meant as an alternate theory to the wild posts painting kr and CRSr in a negative light for growing the mj.

I meant my comment to be a positive comment in support of CRSr and kr as honest business operators trying to get their business off the ground. Jmo

Thanks for the explanation. I understand.

The problem is that GW4's defense team has now weaponized that particular topic in an attempt to harm the state's case against the Wagners.

We used to discuss it a lot here, but, JMO, now that Wagner defense attorneys are using the grow op subject to distract jurors and the public from feeling sympathy for the victims, <modsnip> JMO only.

ETA: From now on, the Wagner defense team is going to bring that topic up again and again with every relevant witness and relating to every relevant piece of evidence.

 

[Betty P]

It's a whole process to get a grow license and/or a dispensary one. Isn't it still illegal to just grow your own and sell it. The state makes nothing off that, that's why. It's legal but regulated.

But Chris Rhoden is dead now and so is his brother, so it really doesn't matter to them. They're not growing MJ anymore. Someone took their lives from them and killed most of their family members, too.

If George Wagner is acquitted and set free, how safe will all the people be who testified against him and his family members? How safe will his neighbors, ex wife and surviving Rhoden family members be?

 

[sunshineray]

I can't speak for Raisin.

As for my post, you've missed my point.

I don't believe the mj plants have anything to do with the murders. My comment was meant as a "rebuttal" of sorts to those posters who appear to me to be trying to say kr and CRSr we're big-time drug lords. Jmo

I understand. Asking BJM about Mexico was out of left field to me but right away I then thought, oh ok that's what's going to be doled out as an alternative to try and bring reasonable doubt. Even though the defense in their opening seemed to be saying in one breath, JW is a liar and in another breath, oh JW said GWIV didn't kill anyone...working both sides of that.

 

[sunshineray]

But Chris Rhoden is dead now and so is his brother, so it really doesn't matter to them. They're not growing MJ anymore. Someone took their lives from them and killed most of their family members, too.

I'm not bringing them into it. I don't care why they were growing weed. I'm not looking down on it either. The only reason the weed will be an "issue" (in the minds of the defense) is to try and put that kernel of reasonable doubt in jurors minds. I don't agree with it but from an objective viewpoint I believe the defense could try to make it an bigger deal than it was. I think the prosecution is ready for that. If it will all matter will be determined by the defense and what they claim. I'm just observing and remembering what the early theories were. That was one and they will probably try and use that. It seems like it to me anyway...from what's been asked already.

 

[Chingaling]

BBM


What's with Parker asking questions about Chris having a big July 4 fireworks show? Trying to make it sound like Chris was a big time drug dealer who spent a lot of money on parties? Nah.


Well if he was a big time drug dealer you sure couldn't tell it by his house. His house looked like mine does after a visit from the GGkids. Those two little ones can tear a house down clear to the ground with a rubber hammer.

Parker is barking up the wrong tree on that line of questioning. Chris might have sold a little weed, which was going to be legal in Ohio in a few months anyway, but he was no big time drug dealer.

BTW there is no shame in using MJ for medical reasons.

It's legal here with one of the most lenient laws in the land. My cardiologist gave me a prescription for it for A Fib. He said he prescribes it a lot for that and chest pains. This is one of the best cardiologists in the state. He said normal treatment was Valium or Xanax but MJ worked just as well without being addictive. He told me to get the kind like candy, not the kind you smoke. I haven't filled it yet but if I need it, I might. The only thing that is stopping me from filling it is because of hubby. It is not legal on the federal level yet. Biden has promised to make it legal on the federal side. If he does I will use it as my doctor prescribes like any other medication.

My SIL's orthopedic surgeon wrote her a prescription after her back surgery for pain, telling her it worked just as well as opioids without the side effects and additive properties. She said she thought it worked better than the Oxycontin she had been taking right after the surgery and did not make her nauseous like the Oxycontin did.

So maybe Chris's clients were a bunch of old people with heart problems and back pain. Score one for Chris if that's what he was doing.

With todays opioid epidemic I fully support the use of marijuana when it will ease pain just as well or better than pain pills.

So maybe we can leave off the "Chris sold MJ and was a big time dealer" thing because medical marijuana is legal in Ohio now.

JMO

LOL ya'll can minimize his MJ OP all you want it doesn't make it true. <modsnip> He was entertaining a very lucrative deal with BW so obviously it wasn't just sick old people he was peddling to. He was making the big deals, I'm sorry ya'll mad, but that's my opinion.

 

[RAISINISBACK]

I understand now, thank you. The good news is the jury isn't going to acquit or convict based on the opening statement. Maybe someone else will do the closing arguments. Let's hope they nail the in-between.

Let's hope they nail the in-between.

I am praying. We waited too long for this to see it bumbled.

JMO

 

[Betty P]

I'm not bringing them into it. I don't care why they were growing weed. I'm not looking down on it either. The only reason the weed will be an "issue" (in the minds of the defense) is to try and put that kernel of reasonable doubt in jurors minds. I don't agree with it but from an objective viewpoint I believe the defense could try to make it an bigger deal than it was. I think the prosecution is ready for that. If it will all matter will be determined by the defense and what they claim. I'm just observing and remembering what the early theories were. That was one and they will probably try and use that. It seems like it to me anyway...from what's been asked already.

The state and Feds and Homeland Security already went down that rabbit hole for a couple of years. It didn't get them anywhere, though, at least not in this case. Homeland Security checked, IIRC and found no instances of cartel activity or people from the area traveling to overseas drug destinations nor vice versa. I remember that.

DeWine: Killers familiar with Rhoden properties

Ohio's attorney general says the FBI, DEA and Homeland Security are part of the probe into the eight April killings.

www.cincinnati.com

IIRC (and I watched a documentary from a few years ago on the subject), weed doesn't move into the US from Mexico anymore, nor did it in 2016. Much of it comes from California, from the Emerald Triangle/Mendocino, Humboldt counties. It was also moving from other rural areas in KY and other mid-south states. Mexico is exporting hard drugs now, crystal meth, cocaine, fentanyl.

 

[RAISINISBACK]

I'm absolutely not saying any of the murders were the fault of any of the victims. My comment about CRSR and kr growing mj was not meant as a slur to either of them.

I was only stating they may have started their grow as a means of income as soon as it was legalized. An honest business venture that would be ready to sell as soon as mj legalized. My comment was meant as an alternate theory to the wild posts painting kr and CRSr in a negative light for growing the mj.

I think this thread is running so fast we are getting at cross purposes here.

I think it is very logical that Chris may have been preparing for what was almost certain to become legal in just a few short months. I agree with you itype that may be a very good possibility. I also agree that Chris was NOT a big time drug dealer, no matter how much the defense tries to imply that.

I do not believe marijuana or drugs had anything at all to do with the murders.

But I DO think the defense is going to try to make it about that.

These murders were about Jake's rage when Hannah left him and refusing to come back so he could abuse her some more and about her not caving into his threats of taking her child from her. He wanted not only his child but also the second one she had. Don't forget that he tried to get his name on that babies birth certificate. When Hannah refused Jake flew into a rage. We have seen it so many times before with these controlling abusers.

JMO

 

[RAISINISBACK]

JM testified during defense questioning he didn't know CR was building the big new barn. How could he not? It's right there and at least two stories tall.

Not bagging on him, just struck me as odd.

I'm probably done using CTV after the way their talking heads were commenting today. It's not necessary, go to commercial if you find yourself needing filler. The guy in the pink glasses needs to fast, daily, I'm pretty sure the suit he wore was made by Coleman.

He was really nervous. Maybe he thought they were asking if he knew WHY Chris built it?

JMO

 

[RAISINISBACK]

I can't speak for Raisin.

As for my post, you've missed my point.

I don't believe the mj plants have anything to do with the murders. My comment was meant as a "rebuttal" of sorts to those posters who appear to me to be trying to say kr and CRSr we're big-time drug lords. Jmo

My comment was meant as a "rebuttal" of sorts to those posters who appear to me to be trying to say kr and CRSr we're big-time drug lords

That is exactly what I was trying to do also. I am thinking the defense has something up their sleeve with that fireworks thing.

JMO

 

[Chingaling]

See my comment below. BCI, the Feds and Homeland Security already investigated that. There was no connection to the Rhoden Murders. There was an "undercurrent of drugs" but not related to the murders.

It's like you guys haven't bothered to read up on all the evidence the state turned up investigating these murders. They even have confessions. They even have the weapons used in the murders, by the Wagners, and they match the ballistics. They have DNA and video of the Wagners driving around at the murder scenes that night. Why are you guys still talking like its a some drug related murder? Its not.

Perhaps the custody thing was jumped on because of the fake custody docs. They could have drawn those up in case they got killed while getting thier pounds of MJ back. Lots of people have tunnel vision. fortunately I don't. there's a few different ways this could have played out. I was never married to the custody only deal.

 

[LMDlong]

Does anyone know who is on the witness stand tomorrow?