OH - Pike Co - 8 in Rhoden Family Murdered Over Custody Issue - 4 Wagner Family Members Arrested #84

[iulia]

Question - I did not see this anywhere - did the Defense rest their case since they have no more witnesses?

Also - interesting reading thru here on everyone's opinions on what went on in court! I have not seen it yet - so if anyone has a link - it would be great!

Here’s the link for yesterday:

 

[RAISINISBACK]

Correct me if I'm wrong but my memory tells me there was no VIDEO of the MT interviews but there was AUDIO. We heard the Audio of Angela's interview. I think there's audio of George at MT interview. I want to know WHY the state wont play it.

There was testimony from BCI Ryan S about a mad rush to get to Sweetwater MT because they believed the W's were coming back across the border in ND but were notified they were actually crossing in MT. BCI Ryan testified that they had to leave all the equipment belonging to BCI that they set up in ND there in ND and fly to MT. When they got there they had to use equipment provided to them by Montana Highway patrol and Sweetwater LE. MHP gave them a audio/video device to record one of the interviews with and Ryan S did not know how to use it. So instead of turning the device up he turned it the wrong way and turned it off. So for one interview there was no audio or video of that interview. They never said which one it was but we know it was not Angela's which we heard or Jakes which the defense argued they should be allowed to play before his testimony indicating the defense had the tape of Jakes interview to play. It could not have been Billy because BCI Ryan said Billy gave no statement. The only one it could have been was George. So all Canepa has to go on is BCI Ryans memory of what was said in Georges interview.

If there had been a video/audio tape of George's interview at the MT border the defense would have received a copy of it during discovery just like they received Jake and Angie's interview.

I suspected there was no interview tape but when George asked Canepa for a transcript so he could refresh his memory of what he said in the interview she dodged the question and dropped the line of questioning she was doing. That confirmed for me that there was no tape of George's MT interview and the defense knew that Canepa was relying on Agent Ryans memory of what was said in the interview. BCI Ryan would not have taken notes because he thought he was recording it. The defense has the other BCI agent on their list of witnesses so Canepa was hampered because she doesn't know what the second agent will testify to or if it will contradict BCI Ryans version.

The testimony about BCI traveling to first ND and then scrambling to get to MT is on about day 19 to 21 I think.

JMO

 

[RAISINISBACK]

My opinion was they didn't play it because they didn't want the murderer to have a heads-up on his previous statements. They used it to prove 4 was a liar, and they were successful

That would be incorrect because under the discovery law if such a tape of Georges interview existed then it would have been given to the defense just like a copy of Angie's and jake's were given to George's defense attorneys in discovery.

George asking for a transcript to refresh his memory and Canepa dodging that request confirms that there is no tape or transcript of that MT interview and Canepa was relying on BCI Ryans memory of what was said in it. It put her on shaky ground and she tried to bluff but George called her bluff by asking for a transcript of the interview.

JMO

 

[arielilane]

George insisted under cross his mother and brother lied during their testimony and confessions to prosecutors, prompting Canepa to sarcastically tell him: “Everybody is lying except you.”

She succeeded in getting several admissions from George including:

• Using an inaccurate (former) address to obtain his Ohio commercial driver’s license;
• Listing an inaccurate (former) address on forms related to his gun ownership, a federal offense punishable by up to 10 years in prison. He told her he was advised to do this because his driver’s license still listed his former address);
• He responded “We paid off our debts with it” when she asked him about a purposely set fire (arson) at one of the Wagner’s former homes, on Bethel Hill Road in Peebles. At first, George told her he didn’t really profit from it (the insurance payout);
• Not reporting his mother for creating fake receipts to turn in these bogus fire loss claims;
• Hunting at night “thousands of times.” Deer hunting hours in Ohio are 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources;
• Calling his toddler niece (Jake Wagner’s daughter Sophie) a “b----.” But, George explained on the stand: “After five or six days on caffeine, you say a lot of things you don’t mean.”;
• Failing to notify the mother of his young child know they moved back to Pike County from Alaska in 2018 before the waiting period was up to get an abandonment ruling against her.
  George Wagner IV concludes testimony at his murder trial

 

[pcrum12]

My opinion was they didn't play it because they didn't want the murderer to have a heads-up on his previous statements. They used it to prove 4 was a liar, and they were successful

So now she's got his answers on the record. Wouldn't she now want to play it so the jury hears the lies? Why not NOW play it?

 

[pcrum12]

How did she contradict him? Did she offer proof? Did she offer a transcript of the interview to prove she was telling the truth and he was lying? Did she offer to play his MT interview so the jury and us could all hear what he said out of his own mouth to prove he is lying?

Just curious how you think Canepa contradicted him with his own words when she refused to play the tape with his own words on it for everyone to hear and refused to produce a transcript for him to read out loud.

I think they have no MT tape of his interview. That is the one that BCI Ryan messed up because he clearly did not know how to operate a video camera MHP gave him. I think Canepa was going off what BCI Ryan said was George's answers. In short Canepa tried to pull a bluff on George and lost.

JMO

I think there is AUDIO.... There was no Video but they got AUDIO on them.... They did AW anyway as it was played in court. Why not play Georges?

 

[arielilane]

It’s no surprise to see GW4 on the stand fighting for his life. The norm for him. He’s worked hard his whole life to gain mama’s love and approval and never could get acceptance he so desperately sought. He favored his dad too much and JW her favorite, looked like mama too. GW4 looked like dad. GW4 bitter for years.

GW4 told everybody importance of family and that it was weird/strange but that is how they are. They did everything together!

Now, he is on the stand trying to work the system, something he thinks he can beat, as he’s been raised to do. He talks to gain sympathy from jurors about his weight issues, which is most likely only truth he said. Came across as relatable as many people can relate to weight issues.

Then the lies, contradictions, change of stories. Additionally, not remembering much of anything, I’m not saying I didn’t say it - just that I don’t remember saying it and a lot of no’s (yep, play it safe). And claim your attachment to two of the victims. Big plus!

HIs voice cracks, lips quiver, composure and facial expressions all change depending on subject.


Narrative is in my opinion only and subject to this moment in time.

 

[CIA Team Member]

Snipped from article:

"In particular, Billy kept referencing a person called Latham. Jenkins clarified that Latham was a nickname given to a man named Skid Montgomery — he was often called Latham, because that was the town in which he ran his large-scale marijuana operation. Jenkins said there were also rumors Montgomery would put hits out on people."

Pike County murder trial: BCI agents testified to evidence collected on Wagners

After hearing from the ex-wife and several family friends of the Wagners during the fourth week of testimony, the jury will hear from agents with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations

www.wcpo.com

Skid was also doing what FW did. He owned a lot of property with trailers. He would bring people up from KY to rent/buy them. From what I recall Skid may have been more powerful/important in the community than FW. JMO

 

[SuziQ]

No I think the answer she got floored her because she knew he was taking a jab at Jake and Angie not getting the DP over killing 8 innocent people. She arranged for them not to get it so the blame for them not being on death row falls on her and she knows it.

JMO

A good prosecutor knows the answer they will get before they ask a question and that is what happened here. Even I knew the answer before GW gave his answer. Imo.

 

[CIA Team Member]

I think there is AUDIO.... There was no Video but they got AUDIO on them.... They did AW anyway as it was played in court. Why not play Georges?

Canepa stated early on all 4 had been offered pleas. George, on the stand, denied it. Why didn't Canepa confront that?
George stated that at the MT border stop BCI asked him to snoop on Jake. Why didn't Canepa confront that?
I have questions too.

 

[SuziQ]

How did she contradict him? Did she offer proof? Did she offer a transcript of the interview to prove she was telling the truth and he was lying? Did she offer to play his MT interview so the jury and us could all hear what he said out of his own mouth to prove he is lying?

Just curious how you think Canepa contradicted him with his own words when she refused to play the tape with his own words on it for everyone to hear and refused to produce a transcript for him to read out loud.

I think they have no MT tape of his interview. That is the one that BCI Ryan messed up because he clearly did not know how to operate a video camera MHP gave him. I think Canepa was going off what BCI Ryan said was George's answers. In short Canepa tried to pull a bluff on George and lost.

JMO

Didn't the defense have to agree on evidence beforehand? If they thought it was made up or a lie there would have been one objection after another. There wasn't. Imo.

 

[SuziQ]

AC asked GW if he was telling the truth at the border, several times. And he said yes. He's stuck with that now.cimo

 

[FrankieT]

The thing that keeps needling my mind is G4 saying he was BEST FRIENDS with Frankie yet didn't know anything going on in his life for over a year. Didn't know his kid's name. Really. And Why would one lie about being BEST FRIENDS with a murder victim? Why not just say he was an acquaintance?

 

[Chris_p_bacon]

George himself provided testimony that he purchased a bucky barnes winter soldier mask. His testimony was that it was used to ride motorcycles. Of course IF it was not used in the murders it would NOT have been burned that night when they got back. Where is that mask? Did BCI ever recover that mask in any of the searches they did? Just curious.

On top of his story changing from the Montana border to the witness stand in regards them all being there the night of the homicides, where would this mask be today? A mask he NEEDS to ride his motorcycle. Hmm.

 

[pcrum12]

There was testimony from BCI Ryan S about a mad rush to get to Sweetwater MT because they believed the W's were coming back across the border in ND but were notified they were actually crossing in MT. BCI Ryan testified that they had to leave all the equipment belonging to BCI that they set up in ND there in ND and fly to MT. When they got there they had to use equipment provided to them by Montana Highway patrol and Sweetwater LE. MHP gave them a audio/video device to record one of the interviews with and Ryan S did not know how to use it. So instead of turning the device up he turned it the wrong way and turned it off. So for one interview there was no audio or video of that interview. They never said which one it was but we know it was not Angela's which we heard or Jakes which the defense argued they should be allowed to play before his testimony indicating the defense had the tape of Jakes interview to play. It could not have been Billy because BCI Ryan said Billy gave no statement. The only one it could have been was George. So all Canepa has to go on is BCI Ryans memory of what was said in Georges interview.

If there had been a video/audio tape of George's interview at the MT border the defense would have received a copy of it during discovery just like they received Jake and Angie's interview.

I suspected there was no interview tape but when George asked Canepa for a transcript so he could refresh his memory of what he said in the interview she dodged the question and dropped the line of questioning she was doing. That confirmed for me that there was no tape of George's MT interview and the defense knew that Canepa was relying on Agent Ryans memory of what was said in the interview. BCI Ryan would not have taken notes because he thought he was recording it. The defense has the other BCI agent on their list of witnesses so Canepa was hampered because she doesn't know what the second agent will testify to or if it will contradict BCI Ryans version.

The testimony about BCI traveling to first ND and then scrambling to get to MT is on about day 19 to 21 I think.

JMO

that doesn't jive. Transcript of what if no audio tape -- I strongly believe it was testified to that the CAMERA was accidentally turned off instead of on but they did get AUDIO. Transcript of What if no audio? Makes no sense.

 

[Chelly]

I would take my chance with this Jury/ Thankfully it isn't me though.

Agree. He'll be hoping for "reasonable doubt"

 

[pcrum12]

That would be incorrect because under the discovery law if such a tape of Georges interview existed then it would have been given to the defense just like a copy of Angie's and jake's were given to George's defense attorneys in discovery.

George asking for a transcript to refresh his memory and Canepa dodging that request confirms that there is no tape or transcript of that MT interview and Canepa was relying on BCI Ryans memory of what was said in it. It put her on shaky ground and she tried to bluff but George called her bluff by asking for a transcript of the interview.

JMO

If no audio then there is no "transcript" -- maybe relying on what Ryan stated but that's not proof of what is said I guess. IMO

 

[pcrum12]

The thing that keeps needling my mind is G4 saying he was BEST FRIENDS with Frankie yet didn't know anything going on in his life for over a year. Didn't know his kid's name. Really. And Why would one lie about being BEST FRIENDS with a murder victim? Why not just say he was an acquaintance?

I think his point was very close earlier in life before they had kids.

 

[pittsburghgirl]

Correct me if I'm wrong but my memory tells me there was no VIDEO of the MT interviews but there was AUDIO. We heard the Audio of Angela's interview. I think there's audio of George at MT interview. I want to know WHY the state wont play it.

Maybe it's coming in rebuttal of his testimony. That would be smart.

 

[Chelly]

that doesn't jive. Transcript of what if no audio tape -- I strongly believe it was testified to that the CAMERA was accidentally turned off instead of on but they did get AUDIO. Transcript of What if no audio? Makes no sense.

It does seem odd that there is no audio of GW4's MT interview.