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

[pittsburghgirl]

I agree!!!!!!!! MJ was NOT the motive for these murders. It was NOT that big a grow. We have entire schools and hospitals that have stood empty for years here bought now and used as MJ grows.

Chris was small time maybe making a few thousand a year on it. I want to get away from these small time distractions and start talking about some real evidence here. I haven't seen any real evidence against George yet.
I know it's hard, it is for me anyway, but I am trying to separate George out from the other 3. jake and Angie's proffers are a "he said, she said" thing, not hard evidence.

George is on trial for his life. It is the duty of those jurors to consider only the evidence against him. So no matter what my feelings about George is personally, how he looks (bored, angry ect) is not evidence. I intend to consider only evidence against him to reach a conclusion. Right now i am not seeing it, I worry it's going to be a not guilty, even though I PERSONALLY believe that he at the very least knew about it in advance and did nothing to stop it happening. He could have notified LE to report their plans. But again that is only my PERSONAL opinion and not evidence against him.

JMO

Jake and Angela are WITNESSES who have confessed to their roles and place the other two as part of the conspiracy. What they say will have weight. Here is where I think the terms of the plea deals are artful. Jake and Angela (and thereby the rest) only avoid the death penalty if they tell the truth. They are doing hard time and in Jake's case, life without parole. Their plea deals take the death penalty away not just for them but also involved family members. Why would they do that if George and Billy weren't involved? They can admit George's presence because he won't face the death penalty although they can say he didn't shoot anyone, hoping to reduce his time or give him a loophole (not that it will work). It's not just that George was there (although that's all the prosecution needs to show). It's that he is part of the conspiracy to commit murder (as Angela was). So we can't just consider George separately. The question is also whether he was part of a group conspiring to commit these murders and whether he aided that conspiracy in any way.

 

[pittsburghgirl]

I will try to get some of it. Angie's and Jake's especially. And the EX's.

I'd throw in a few bucks in support.

 

[Cool Cats]

I'd throw in a few bucks in support.

Cool.

 

[SuziQ]

All it takes is one juror...

Personally that is what I think this is all about. One juror thinking that "hey, at least they took out some bad guys. Hillbilly style." Perhaps a juror who lost a family member to opiods.

That I believe is the intent of this defense.

I'm going to guess though, since the jurors are from the area, they will see the similarities between their own families and the Rhodens. They will know the difference between MJ and opioids. That they will know the Cartel angle is a joke. Moo.

 

[RAISINISBACK]

Probably the one the defense filed this morning.
There are some posts about it earlier today if you want to look back.

09/15/2022

MOTION NO 110 MOTION TO TAKE JUDICIAL NOTICE FILED Attorney: PARKER, JOHN PATRICK

I didn't see that motion. @Cool Cats or @Covert Operative do either of you have it? Will you please post it for us?

TIA

JMO

 

[Cool Cats]

Cathy Russon

@cathyrusson
·
2h

Though the current witness has opted out of being on camera we are seeing the photos of Kenneth Rhoden's trailer he lived in and where he was killed. #GeorgeWagnerIV #PikeCountyMassacre

 

[Cool Cats]

I didn't see that motion. @Cool Cats or @Covert Operative do either of you have it? Will you please post it for us?

TIA

JMO

​

09/15/2022

MOTION NO 110 MOTION TO TAKE JUDICIAL NOTICE FILED Attorney: PARKER, JOHN PATRICK

Judicial Notice​

A doctrine of evidence applied by a court that allows the court to recognize and accept the existence of a particular fact commonly known by persons of average intelligence without establishing its existence by admitting evidence in a civil or criminal action.

When a court takes judicial notice of a certain fact, it obviates the need for parties to prove the fact in court. Ordinarily, facts that relate to a case must be presented to the judge or jury through testimony or tangible evidence. However, if each fact in a case had to be proved through such presentation, the simplest case would take weeks to complete. To avoid burdening the judicial system, all legislatures have approved court rules that allow a court to recognize facts that constitute common knowledge without requiring proof from the parties.

Strange @Covert Operative has been gone a long time. They usually get alot of Motions. Could be on Twitter or Facebook.

 

[evelezrn]

I will try to get some of it. Angie's and Jake's especially. And the EX's.

I'm seriously willing to chip in. It'll be worth it.

 

[Puzzles8]

Great thanks to all that have kept this thread updated this week. I am still woefully behind and it will take me a few more days to catch up.

Thanks again

 

[sunshineray]

JMO
Proceeds from a few MJ sales can absolutely be deposited in a safety deposit box at a bank. NO IRS reporting, no bank oversight other than accessing their vault.

No one outside of law enforcement knows the extent of the grow because nothing has been disclosed. No pictures, no nothing. Just someone's opinion. If there is any evidence whatsoever there was money in those rotted mobile homes i wanna see it. These same rumors were passed around
furiously on a now closed website. Unless there is proof otherwise this is nothing but hyperbole and folklore based off a perceived norm. IMO

MJ is cheaper than cigarettes. It is hardly the 70s cash cow it used to be.

Wasn't there a published list of accounting for Pike County expenses once where a safe was listed?

MJ is cheaper than cigarettes.

I agree.

The only thing stated by one of the opted out deputies and reported in the Local 12 news articles (pictures on the news site posted up thread by Betty) was the MJ was in the second story of the garage, a box trailer from a semi truck beside the garage and an outbuilding, looks like maybe a 10X12 building painted black out behind the chicken houses for the game roosters. Nothing compared to grows in this state. Here they are buying up old schools and hospitals and turning them into MJ grows. 5 dispensaries in my small town alone. 1 on every corner in Tulsa and OKC.

MJ is 60.00 an ounce advertised all over my town, probably much cheaper in Tulsa or OKC. Even at the Native American smoke shops which do not have to pay state taxes on tobacco cigarettes are almost 80.00 a carton.


JMO

You'll never get 200 smokes out of that ounce though

 

[Tillicum]

This is the longer version of the interview with Luke Rhoden. He said he suspected the Wagners because of something his dad told him before he died. He didn't share what it was as he didn't know if he could while the trial is going on.

 

[Pru2U]

And remember the jurors are taking notes. It's a complicated case.

Absolutely! I have seen several media references to "largest" and "most complex" in Ohio history; referencing the murders, the investigation and the trial.

So when it gets to BCI and evidence & experts tying evidence to Ws it's probably going to feel even slower.

 

[Cool Cats]

I'm seriously willing to chip in. It'll be worth it.

Great! Definitely worth it!!!!! Thanks Ethel

 

[rebelchild]

I'd throw in a few bucks in support.

me too!

 

[sunshineray]

This is the longer version of the interview with Luke Rhoden. He said he suspected the Wagners because of something his dad told him before he died. He didn't share what it was as he didn't know if he could while the trial is going on.

All the Rohodens I'm sure are proud of Kenneth's son for his fortitude in reliving such horror...a strong young man. God Bless them all <3

 

[evelezrn]

Great! Definitely worth it!!!!! Thanks Ethel

PM me if you have Zelle

 

[altojack]

I can't see how GW4 can get out of this, no matter what his team are throwing out. Nothing they throw will stick!
Wait until we get to the evidence of the recordings. GW4 was allegedly the most vocal. He is going down, not going home.

 

[Caylee Advocate]

Do you know what days they are expected to testify?

Unfortunatly Tiff I don't, but just a guess, perhaps the week of 9/27????

 

[Recidivist]

I agree!!!!!!!! MJ was NOT the motive for these murders. It was NOT that big a grow. We have entire schools and hospitals that have stood empty for years here bought now and used as MJ grows.

Chris was small time maybe making a few thousand a year on it. I want to get away from these small time distractions and start talking about some real evidence here. I haven't seen any real evidence against George yet.
I know it's hard, it is for me anyway, but I am trying to separate George out from the other 3. jake and Angie's proffers are a "he said, she said" thing, not hard evidence.

George is on trial for his life. It is the duty of those jurors to consider only the evidence against him. So no matter what my feelings about George is personally, how he looks (bored, angry ect) is not evidence. I intend to consider only evidence against him to reach a conclusion. Right now i am not seeing it, I worry it's going to be a not guilty, even though I PERSONALLY believe that he at the very least knew about it in advance and did nothing to stop it happening. He could have notified LE to report their plans. But again that is only my PERSONAL opinion and not evidence against him.

JMO

TESTIMONY OF FAMILY FRIEND BRETT HATFIELD:

Brett said he knew there was a grow operation between Kenneth and Chris, and he said that there was a big drug deal going down “out west” that was supposed to happen but got canceled. The deal was with Billy Wagner and Chris Sr., who ran drugs together. According to Brett, it was for several hundred thousand dollars and involved pounds of marijuana. Billy and Chris started the trek out west in a truck but Chris got cold feet in Cincinnatti and bailed, Brett said. Chris called someone to pick him up and he assumes that Billy continued on, but did not know. Brett testified that after the murders, Billy said to people that a local man, Skid Montgomery was running drugs with Chris and Billy and that the two latter were cutting out Skid, so Skid had the Rhodens killed. The state said this was never found to be true.

Brett testified that Chris Sr., always had a lot of cash on him and that Brett saw Chris Sr. have $400,000 in a black bag on him at home one day. Another time, Brett said he knew Chris was into cockfighting and won $30,000 in a battle.

On cross, Brett said he saw cocaine in Chris Sr.’s safe and that it was likely for Gary Rhoden to use because Gary was a cocaine abuser, according to the testimony. Again, he was asked about the pot grow operation and he said that it would take 2-3 weeks for Chris to sell out of the pot he harvested every three months. Brett spoke of an unknown “business partner” Chris had in Cincinnati, but did not know the person’s name. The defense alluded it was a drug business partner.

DAY 4: Here’s what you need to know about the fourth day of George Wagner IV’s trial

WAVERLY, Ohio — The fourth day in the death penalty trial of George W. Wagner IV in Pike County started to progress a little on Thursday. The previous days were filled with testimony mostly f…

sciotovalleyguardian.com

People have asked what made the Wagner's think they could get away with it? Part of their planning was to make it look drug related. The Wagner's knew that the commercial grows would lead the investigation that way, and away from them. They probably all sat around and as todays testimony revealed came up with a story where "Billy said to people that a local man, Skid Montgomery was running drugs with Chris and Billy and that the two latter were cutting out Skid, so Skid had the Rhodens killed."

And without the confessions, it could be a viable defense. George is pushing the defense that he and his family came up with.

The relevancy of the marijuana is it created an opportunity for the Wagner's to float the drug theory, and believe they could get away with the crime(s).

imo...of course.

 

[Puzzles8]

Wasn't there a published list of accounting for Pike County expenses once where a safe was listed?

You'll never get 200 smokes out of that ounce though

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