OH - Pike Co - 8 in Rhoden Family Murdered Over Custody Issue - 4 Members Wagner Family Arrested #79

[24Roses]

James Pilcher

@jamespilcher
·
28m

That's as far as we've gotten thus far. The Wagners are about to walk to Frankie Rhoden's trailer. The entire family knew the plan - Angela Wagner was supposed to browse Facebook on Jake's phone left behind at home to make it appear he was still at Petersen Road.
@local12

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https://twitter.com/jamespilcher/status/1584615417905315840

 

[Seattle1]

Yep they did at the hearings GWIV had but changed it to he wasn't there at all, home with kids and didnt find out about the murders until the next day...according to the defense opening statement. Quite the difference in stories.

Generally, the opening (and closing) statements are not considered evidence, and jurors are made aware of this during jury instructions before deliberation. Opening/closing are considered attorney statements and attorneys are not witnesses in a trial. The exception would be a stipulation or admission agreed to in advance by the parties. And we know that the Judge never made any announcement of a stipulation before opening statements. MOO

 

[justtrish]

I think G4 seriously lied to his lawyers.

I've asked before here if defense lawyers even bother to ask the defendant to tell them what happened or if they prefer to not ask and see all the evidence then fit their own narrative to that. I mean at what point can a defense lawyer not defend a client if they think they are guilty.

It's one thing to attempt to get a fair trial for someone and to pick apart evidence to put down in the jurors minds and it's another thing entirely to know your client is guilty and then attempt to present a defense that tells a different story. That shouldn't be allowed. If they believe he did it or he's made inconsistent statements to them, then they try to say he wasn't there or he had no idea.. how can that be allowed? If he has told them nothing and they prefer it that way so they can defend him with a clean conscious then that I could see. So I am curious if the George had to sit down and tell them a story or if he just let them request the evidence and wait for it to come in and then find ways to put holes in the story without even telling a story of what George says.

 

[twall]

Someone asked JP when will we see a transcipt?

His reply-

Not for at least a few days - up to the court recorder I'm asking that question today.

 

[arielilane]

I only did Courtney's because I did them this morning, thought you would be doing Jameses. Sorry. I understand.

No problem if you want to post tweets. I didn't know you were posting Courtney's tweets, and I'll try to pay more attention in the future. Its not something I'll be staying with anyway so thank you for all the posting you do here.

 

[Kyshoegal]

We're all watching the wrong trial. Check out Darrell Brooks.Whew wee

Lord it is painful. I don’t understand he was deemed competent to stand trial

 

[24Roses]

I'm working on gathering together James Pilcher's tweets.

@arielilane My apologies; I just posted 3 with a couple of tidbits I hadn't seen before. I didn't see your post in time.

 

[Pru2U]

Anyone else catching themselves holding their breath reading these tweets?

 

[sunshineray]

Generally, the opening (and closing) statements are not considered evidence, and jurors are made aware of this during jury instructions before deliberation. Opening/closing are considered attorney statements and attorneys are not witnesses in a trial. The exception would be a stipulation or admission agreed to in advance by the parties. And we know that the Judge never made any announcement of a stipulation before opening statements. MOO

Yes but I would think it would be quite the jump for defense to make, in the jury's eye's, to now bring up the oh GWIV just went keep BW from killing JW. If that's what occurs, if it's brought up now.

 

[sunshineray]

Anyone else catching themselves holding their breath reading these tweets?

Yesss and I keep getting more and more enraged by them

 

[sunshineray]

Is that TR's partner or his brother BR sitting next to him today? He's a new face to me

 

[arielilane]

Good morning from Pike Co. - Jake Wagner is here in the courthouse and we're expecting him to testify against his brother George in the murder trial here. Do not yet know if he is opting in for video yet - stay tuned.

Here he is coming into the courthouse credit pool photographer Liz Dufour of Cincinnati Enquirer

Just back for lunch break - they are breaking until 12:30. So far, prosecutor Canepa is running through the initial background and we've gotten up to the point when at least Jake and his father decide to kill the Rhodens. He walked through the silencer purchases etc.

Jake testified that it was father's idea initially to kill the Rhodens. He disagreed saying Hanna was the mother of his daughter and that he still loved her. But he expressed concern over possible abuse of Sophia to Hanna, and she said "we'll just have to deal with it”

Jake says that "was the tipping point for me" - he told his father "we have to do it." This was early 2016 and preparations began. His job was to get firearms with silencers and a separate vehicle. No mention of George yet - but he was there when he bought the truck.

Other key points - Jake looked at George several times, but the older brother kept his eyes down most of the time at the defense table. Jake said he destroyed two guns while trying to make silencers out of flashlights - eventually settled on oil filters.

We haven't gotten to the actual day of the killings. Jake appears composed. Early on he is asked if he loved his brother "yes" does his brother love him "yes" and that he wished more than anything that George could go home

Afternoon session from Jake Wagner's testimony against his brother George Wagner IV's in George's murder trial. We've gotten through the events leading up to the murders and then the first murder site of Chris Rhoden Sr. and his cousin Gary Rhoden.

On a 15 minute break. Jake testified that George helped build the fake bottom for the truck bed, and tagged along and was dressed with ski mask gloves and the shoes his mother bought just like he was.

The plan was for Billy Wagner to lure Chris Sr. outside to the grow shed, and shoot him when they walked back. But George froze while carrying the SKS rifle. Billy went inside with Chris and Gary. When Chris came back to door, Jake shot him multiple times with SKS

He got the keys to the grow shed from Chris' body, then went and grabbed surveillance hard drive and put it in truck. Went back inside the house to grab cell phones of victims and saw the bodies had been moved and dragged into the bedroom. Covered them with blanket.

That's as far as we've gotten thus far. The Wagners are about to walk to Frankie Rhoden's trailer. The entire family knew the plan - Angela Wagner was supposed to browse Facebook on Jake's phone left behind at home to make it appear he was still at Petersen Road.

Headed back up for the rest of testimony - remember no phones or anything in courtroom
https://twitter.com/jamespilcher

 

[LMDlong]

Their are on second murder scene, looks like JW will be back tomorrow.

 

[arielilane]

@arielilane My apologies; I just posted 3 with a couple of tidbits I hadn't seen before. I didn't see your post in time.

Not a problem! My apologies if I am coming across as the sole tweeter poster. I am not! lol.

 

[Pru2U]

I've asked before here if defense lawyers even bother to ask the defendant to tell them what happened or if they prefer to not ask and see all the evidence then fit their own narrative to that. I mean at what point can a defense lawyer not defend a client if they think they are guilty.

It's one thing to attempt to get a fair trial for someone and to pick apart evidence to put down in the jurors minds and it's another thing entirely to know your client is guilty and then attempt to present a defense that tells a different story. That shouldn't be allowed. If they believe he did it or he's made inconsistent statements to them, then they try to say he wasn't there or he had no idea.. how can that be allowed? If he has told them nothing and they prefer it that way so they can defend him with a clean conscious then that I could see. So I am curious if the George had to sit down and tell them a story or if he just let them request the evidence and wait for it to come in and then find ways to put holes in the story without even telling a story of what George says.

I think the best ones can walk a fine line between attorney client privilege and perjuring themselves.

 

[Seattle1]

Yes but I would think it would be quite the jump for defense to make, in the jury's eye's, to now bring up the oh GWIV just went keep BW from killing JW. If that's what occurs, if it's brought up now.

I agree and it would be a bonehead move by the defense if they did!

Just remember, the prosecution has the burden of proof and if the defense thinks making a bonehead move will confuse the jury and cause doubt then that's on them.

 

[pittsburghgirl]

Many thanks to all who are tracking and posting these tweets -- it's a great service for the rest of us trying to follow this often-interrupted trial.

Also, as I read today's testimony it seems clear that this massacre was driven by the Wagner's ongoing family obsession with child molestation and with the extension of their enmeshed mindset over an extended family of new babies and isolated "spouses."

I really wonder to what extent AW transmuted and stage-managed this psychodrama of corruption and purity into the massacre, in which the Rhodens seem almost to have been proxies for real abusers, underwritten by the custody angle.

It really reminds me of some of the more bizarre "fear of grooming" moral panics we've seen in recent years from fringe groups. And the whole family seems to have ignored their own abusive practices in the process of "saving" others. It's just horrific.

Agree with all of these points, based on what I have seen of the testimony thus far.

 

[justtrish]

Their are on second murder scene, looks like JW will be back tomorrow.

I think he will be there Wed as well. They still have to go through what they did after by getting rid of the truck, burying the guns in concrete in the pond, burning evidence, the interviews with BCI, the searches of the homes, moving to Alaska, then moving back, etc. Then I the defense I think will take nearly an entire day to cross.. no doubt AC will re direct also and likely then re cross, etc. I'd be surprised if Jake isn't there a full day Tuesday and Wednesday.

 

[Niner]

@Niner James Pilcher started posting tweets.

Arielilane has it covered for the rest of the day. I am off to bed...

 

[CIA Team Member]

Their are on second murder scene, looks like JW will be back tomorrow.

IMO, he'll be there all week; keeping in mind no court Thursday.