WAVERLY, Ohio — The murder trial of a man accused of killing eight people in Pike County in 2016 continued into its third day on Wednesday, law enforcement including the current sheriff of the Pike County, should take the witness stand.
George Wagner IV—along with his mother Angela, father George “Billy” Wagner, and brother Edward “Jake” Wagner—is accused of shooting and killing members of the Rhoden family “execution style”. The family’s bodies were found on April 22, 2016. He faces eight counts of aggravated murder, as well as other charges related to tampering with evidence, conspiracy and tampering .
The first witness called to the stand, Sheriff’s Deputy Adam Ball, chose not to be recorded.
WATCH LIVE: Watch the trial live in the player below. NOTE: The camera and sound may occasionally drop during the stream. By order of the judge, witnesses may choose not to be recorded during this trial.
LIVE: Pike County Murder Trial: Law enforcement testimony expected
Christopher Rhoden Sr., 40, Dana Rhoden, 37, Hannah “Hazel” Gilley, 20, Christopher Rhoden Jr., 16, Clarence, 20, were found dead that day. “Frankie” Rhoden, Gary Rhoden, 37, Hanna May Rhoden, 19, and Kenneth Rhoden, 44.
This is the first time anyone has faced a jury for the death of the Rhoden family six years ago.
During opening statements on Monday, Angela Canepa, special prosecutor for the case, spent hours describing the movements of the Wagner family on the night of April 21 and the morning of April 22. Eight members of the Rhoden family were found shot dead in their beds on April 22.
George’s defense attorney, Richard Nash, pointed out that much of the prosecution’s opening statements focused on other members of the Wagner family, particularly details given by Jake and Angela, who both made plea deals and are expected to testify at George’s trial. As part of their plea deals, the defendant’s mother and brother must testify to have the death penalty specs against the family dropped.
Nash portrayed George as the kind-hearted black sheep of a family prone to deceiving others and committing crimes. He told the jury that whenever they heard “the Wagners”, or the name of a specific family member, to think about how it applied to George, not other family members.
During the second day of the trial on Tuesday, witnesses – including family members – recounted the events of April 22, 2016, when the Rhodens were found dead. Dana Rhoden’s brother and sister testified and described finding their sister and her family dead in their bed that morning.
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