OH Pike Co., 8 in Rhoden Family Murdered Over Custody Issue, 4 Members Wagner Family Arrested #55

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Cool Cats said:
Bond does not have to be given in DP cases in Ohio. They can get bond but they sorta kinda have a big reason to bolt...so bond not likely!

Yes. Yost appointed her. They've worked together in the past. Hmmm. Never have cared for Yost.

So this is who she is. Thankx. From the AG office just as I suspected. Probably filling in for Canepa. Mystery attorney #1.
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Cool Cats said:
Loomis found out the attorneys are prosecution attorneys because the one is from the AG's office. Appears that they were planning to appear in court, probably to take Canepa's place, but now don't need to. This makes the most sense to me.

The defense attorneys are still in place.
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CC, you keep saying 2 mystery attorneys. ??
 
Cool Cats said:
Loomis found out the attorneys are prosecution attorneys because the one is from the AG's office. Appears that they were planning to appear in court, probably to take Canepa's place, but now don't need to. This makes the most sense to me.

The defense attorneys are still in place.
Click to expand...

CC, you keep saying 2 mystery attorneys. ??

I thought you guys said a couple days ago AC is now being paid by a grant for her work forward in these cases. CC, can you please post the motion in Billy's case here so everyone has an easy go-to for it? Thanks.
 
Monday, June 22nd:
*Pretrial Hearing (@ 10am ET) - OH - Pike County 8 people dead: Christopher Rhoden, Sr. (40), his ex-wife, Dana Manley Rhoden (37), their three children, Clarence "Frankie" Rhoden (20), Christopher Jr. (16), Hanna Mae (19); Frankie's fiancée, Hannah Hazel Gilley (20), Christopher Rhoden Sr.'s brother, Kenneth Rhoden (44), & a cousin, Gary Rhoden (38). Hanna Rhoden's baby girl (5 days old), another baby (6 mos.) and a young child (3) were unharmed. (April 21-22, 2016, Pebbles) for *Edward Jacob "Jake" Wagner (26/now 27) (former boyfriend of Hanna) indicted (11/12/18), arrested (11/13/18), charged (11/15/18) & arraigned (11/27/18) with 8 counts aggravated murder, (plus gun specifications on each), 1 count conspiracy, 4 counts aggravated burglary, 1 count unlawful possession of dangerous ordnance, 3 counts evidence tampering, 1 count forgery, 1 count unauthorized use of property, 1 count interception of wire, oral or electronic communication, 1 count obstructing justice, 1 count engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity & unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. (He’s accused of engaging in sexual contact with Hanna Rhoden when she was 15 & he was 20). Plead not guilty. Held without bond. DA will seek the DP.
Court hearings from 11/27/18 thru 3/14/20 reference post #1051 here:
OH Pike Co., 8 in Rhoden Family Murdered Over Custody Issue, 4 Members Wagner Family Arrested #54
4/14/20: DA files joint motion for continuance due to coronavirus. Rescheduled for 6/22 at 10am. 6/4/20 Update: Motion to Appoint special prosecutor filed by DA Robert Junk; Appointed special prosecutor, Angela Canepa. 6/19/20: Motion to withdraw appearance of counsel filed-Attorney: Carol Hamilton O’Brien.
*Angela Jo Wagner (48/now 49) – Pretrial hearing on 6/24/20.
*George Washington Wagner IV (27/now 28) – Pretrial hearing on 6/30/20.
*George Washington Wagner III (47/now 49) – Pretrial hearing on 6/22/20.
*Rita Jo Newcomb (65/now 66) – Motion hearing on 12/2 entered a plea of guilty. No further court dates yet as of 6/21/20.
*Fredericka Carol Wagner (76) – 6/26/19 Charges dismissed without prejudice.
Angela Canepa has resigned (5/28/20) from the Ohio Attorney General’s office and will no longer act as the lead prosecutor in Pike County of those charged with the mass slaying of seven members of the Rhoden family and the fiancee of one of the victims. Anthony Pierson, who is also a member of the attorney general’s special prosecution team and has been involved in the Pike County case, will now take over the lead for the prosecution team.
 
Monday, June 22nd:
*Pretrial Hearing (@ 1:30pm ET) - OH - Pike County 8 people dead: Christopher Rhoden, Sr. (40), his ex-wife, Dana Manley Rhoden (37), their three children, Clarence "Frankie" Rhoden (20), Christopher Jr. (16), Hanna Mae (19); Frankie's fiancée, Hannah Hazel Gilley (20), Christopher Rhoden Sr.'s brother, Kenneth Rhoden (44), & a cousin, Gary Rhoden (38). Hanna Rhoden's baby girl (5 days old), another baby (6 mos.) and a young child (3) were unharmed. (April 21-22, 2016, Pebbles) - for *George Washington "Billy" Wagner III (47/now 49), (Jakes’ father) indicted (11/12/18), arrested (11/13/18), charged (11/15/18) & arraigned (12/4/18) with 8 counts aggravated murder, (plus gun specifications on each), 1 count conspiracy, 4 counts aggravated burglary, 1 count unlawful possession of dangerous ordnance, 3 counts evidence tampering, 1 count forgery, 1 count unauthorized use of property, 1 count interception of wire, oral or electronic communication, 1 count obstructing justice, 1 count engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity. Plead not guilty. Held without bond. DA will seek the DP.
Was arrested in Lexington, Ky., remains in the Lexington Fayette County Jail as a “fugitive from another state” according to jail records. An extradition hearing will be scheduled for him.
Court hearings from 12/4/18 thru 3/14/20 reference post #1043 here:
OH Pike Co., 8 in Rhoden Family Murdered Over Custody Issue, 4 Members Wagner Family Arrested #54
4/14/20: DA files joint motion for continuance due to coronavirus. Rescheduled for 6/22 at 1:30pm. 5/4/20 Update: Defendant's motion for additional funds for further investigation in the amount of $5K is granted on 5/5/20. 6/4/20 Update: Motion to Appoint special prosecutor filed by DA Robert Junk; Appointed special prosecutor, Angela Canepa.
6/15/20 Update: Bond Motion: Defendant moves the court to grant Wagner III a reasonable bond, with appropriate restructions in place was filed. Defense attorney, Mark Collins, filed a bond motion Monday pointing out that the state has delayed filing discovery in the case for 2½ years since Wagner’s indictment. The motion cited several other issues it says have raised questions about the state’s case, specifically: *Pike County Sheriff Charles Reader's indictment and suspension; *The demotion, investigation, and resignation of former lead investigator Michael Trout; *The resignation last month of former lead prosecutor Angie Canepa from the Ohio Attorney General's Office. (Canepa returned to the case June 4 as special prosecutor to assist Prosecutor Robert Junk, according to a court filing); *A break-in at the trailer where evidence in the case is being held; *The state’s decision to drop charges against Fredericka Wagner, Billy’s mother; *The deal that allowed Rita Newcomb, Wagner's mother-in-law, to plead to a misdemeanor. Bond motion will be heard at pretrial hearing on 6/22.
6/19/20: Motion to withdraw appearance of counsel filed-Attorney: Carol Hamilton O’Brien.
*Angela Jo Wagner (48/now 49) – Pretrial hearing on 6/24/20.
*Edward Jake Wagner (26/now 27) – Pretrial hearing on 4/16/20-DA files joint motion for continuance, rescheduled for 6/22/20.
*George Washington Wagner IV (27/now 28) – Pretrial hearing on 6/30/20.
*Rita Jo Newcomb (65/now 66) – Motion hearing on 12/2 entered a plea of guilty. No update as of 6/21/20.
*Fredericka Carol Wagner (76) – 6/26/19 Charges dismissed without prejudice.
Angela Canepa has resigned (5/28/20) from the Ohio Attorney General’s office and will no longer act as the lead prosecutor in Pike County of those charged with the mass slaying of seven members of the Rhoden family and the fiancee of one of the victims. Anthony Pierson, who is also a member of the attorney general’s special prosecution team and has been involved in the Pike County case, will now take over the lead for the prosecution team.
 
Loomis124 said:
CC, you keep saying 2 mystery attorneys. ??


I thought you guys said a couple days ago AC is now being paid by a grant for her work forward in these cases. CC, can you please post the motion in Billy's case here so everyone has an easy go-to for it? Thanks.
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Billy Wagner bond request

Sorry for confusion about "mystery" attorneys. I was referring to those 2 attorneys who appeared out of nowhere filing a motion to not have to be in court. Probably no big deal but it is something we hadn't seen before and anything different piques my interest. I don't want to read too much into it. You found out the one just got hired by the AG's office, probably to replace AC. That's all we know about them.

Yes Canepa is getting paid by the fund for the Wagner trials. I can't tell you how relieved I am that she is back. She's been there since day one, before arrests according to DeWine.

Wonder if prosecution will talk about compelling evidence?
You know, the evidence that exonerates Billy according to his attorneys.
 
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Live at WKRC

Two Wagner family members to return to Pike County court

Court stenographer is wearing a mask and there are bottles of hand santizer and kleenex tissue boxes at the tables and around the courtroom.

Someone is sitting in the visitors gallery, but can't tell who as they're wearing a long mask. Probably a reporter. There are 2 whiteboards on easels set up near the prosecution table.

The defense must already be in conference with the judge or client as there's a raincoat and briefcase at the defense table.
 
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Hearing has begun. Judge giving a summary of what went on before COVID 19, mentioned meeting with evidence organizer. Canepa now talking about individual hard drives and master hard drive for organizing discovery. Provided all dates for when all of those discoveries were provided to defense.

Omnibus identification of discovery provides all info, file folders, file sizes dates provided to defense. A July 22 discovery folder looked like files were not same size, but they were? Met with all parties and summarized all that was saved, number of bytes, etc. Master drive vs shared drive - showed all, nothing overlooked. May 22 didn't have access to the shared drive, today has access to it again and she needs to review it again to make sure its ok.

Discovery is complete if Master Hard drive and shared hard drive match. If not it will be fixed.

Why didn't she have access to the Shared hard drive after May 22? Did defense do something?

I can't believe they've spent nearly a year just organizing discovery files for the defense. JMO, its BS, just delay tactics by the defense. Apparently Jake's defense atty had the "shared drive" that AC couldn't access. Claims he now has a "mirror"version of this shared drive and claims it's accurate. WTH?

Judge discussing evidence hearing with 21st of September a deadline to finalize some evidence on drives. This is such a BS delay tactics by defense.
Defense arguing something about 3 terabytes plus discovery. Some BS about "bad acts" by prosecution.
They're trying to disqualify the state's evidence by making bogus claims about the data on the drives. "Well this file drive was bigger than the other file drive so everything has to be thrown out" kind of BS. They didn't say that specifically, but that's where they're headed.

Judge discussing withdrawal of appearance of O'Brien. Junk is saying the AG's office is withdrawing from managing the case. That's why AC moved to Pike Co. AG's office is busy on other stuff I guess, but they will still assist.

Jake's defense attorney BS'ing about this. He's trying to say there's some conflict. Is there some fundamental disagreement about what should be disclosed. He's lying, trying again to use this change to imply there's more "phantom" evidence out there the prosecution is withholding. AG attorney O'Brien says there are no substantive issues between AG or Pike County AG.
Conflict is between having AG, local prosecutor and a private contractor working on this case. Big case, a lot to do.

Defense accepts court's ruling, but rejects Ms. Obrien's characterization of reason. He's got CT BS going.

Judge asking O'Brien if any other evidence comes up to AG that PC prosecutor needs, they will turn it over. Judge grants AG request to withdraw from Jake's case. He will address other cases separately.

Canepa talking about misplacing some recorded conversations. They met March 13 and it came up. Defense attorney's assistant doesn't have a laptop, they lost a bunch of files (WTH?) Hours and hours of surreptitiously recorded phone calls. He wants a summary of the recorded phone calls so his office doesn't have to listen to all of them.

Because of COVID 19 shut down they can only talk to Jake by phone. He's happy with his attorneys.

Did anyone see if Fredericka Wagner was there or anyone from the Wagner family? I didn't see them.
 
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Here's an article from 1 hr ago about the state AG's office pulling out of prosecuting the case:

Ohio Attorney General no longer prosecuting Rhoden homicide cases

Deputy Attorney General Carol O'Brien filed a motion Friday notifying the court that agents with the Bureau of Criminal Investigation would continue on the case but the office would no longer provide prosecutors to "assist" Pike County with the case. The AG's Office withdraw comes after Angie Canepa, lead special prosecutor on the Rhoden case, resigned from the AG's office but was asked to remain on the case by Pike Co. Prosecutor Rob Junk.

"Prosecutor Junk has expressed his desire for Ms. Canepa to assist him in prosecuting this case after her separation with the Ohio Attorney General. Although the individuals prosecuting the case have not changed, the change in their capacity has created a conflict for the Ohio Attorney General's Office," O'Brien wrote. The old saw about too many cooks spoiling the soup is never more true than here."
Click to expand...

Too many people working on the case, from what O'Brien said in court it became too complicated when they added the "private consultant" who is supposed to help them organize the evidence. So you have 8 defense attorneys, and 4 prosecuting attorneys, plus the private consultant meeting over the massive evidence files. Also add in the BCI agents.

As usual, the defense attorneys spread some false information about all this in the news media. Reminder, again, to never believe anything the defense attorneys say to the news media. JMO
 
Betty P said:
Here's an article from 1 hr ago about the state AG's office pulling out of prosecuting the case:

Ohio Attorney General no longer prosecuting Rhoden homicide cases



Too many people working on the case, from what O'Brien said in court it became too complicated when they added the "private consultant" who is supposed to help them organize the evidence. So you have 8 defense attorneys, and 4 prosecuting attorneys, plus the private consultant meeting over the massive evidence files. Also add in the BCI agents.

As usual, the defense attorneys spread some false information about all this in the news media. Reminder, again, to never believe anything the defense attorneys say to the news media. JMO
Click to expand...
I agree 100% wth?
 
Betty P said:
Hearing has begun. Judge giving a summary of what went on before COVID 19, mentioned meeting with evidence organizer. Canepa now talking about individual hard drives and master hard drive for organizing discovery. Provided all dates for when all of those discoveries were provided to defense.

Omnibus identification of discovery provides all info, file folders, file sizes dates provided to defense. A July 22 discovery folder looked like files were not same size, but they were? Met with all parties and summarized all that was saved, number of bytes, etc. Master drive vs shared drive - showed all, nothing overlooked. May 22 didn't have access to the shared drive, today has access to it again and she needs to review it again to make sure its ok.

Discovery is complete if Master Hard drive and shared hard drive match. If not it will be fixed.

Why didn't she have access to the Shared hard drive after May 22? Did defense do something?

I can't believe they've spent nearly a year just organizing discovery files for the defense. JMO, its BS, just delay tactics by the defense. Apparently Jake's defense atty had the "shared drive" that AC couldn't access. Claims he now has a "mirror"version of this shared drive and claims it's accurate. WTH?

Judge discussing evidence hearing with 21st of September a deadline to finalize some evidence on drives. This is such a BS delay tactics by defense.
Defense arguing something about 3 terabytes plus discovery. Some BS about "bad acts" by prosecution.
They're trying to disqualify the state's evidence by making bogus claims about the data on the drives. "Well this file drive was bigger than the other file drive so everything has to be thrown out" kind of BS. They didn't say that specifically, but that's where they're headed.

Judge discussing withdrawal of appearance of O'Brien. Junk is saying the AG's office is withdrawing from managing the case. That's why AC moved to Pike Co. AG's office is busy on other stuff I guess, but they will still assist.

Jake's defense attorney BS'ing about this. He's trying to say there's some conflict. Is there some fundamental disagreement about what should be disclosed. He's lying, trying again to use this change to imply there's more "phantom" evidence out there the prosecution is withholding. AG attorney O'Brien says there are no substantive issues between AG or Pike County AG.
Conflict is between having AG, local prosecutor and a private contractor working on this case. Big case, a lot to do.

Defense accepts court's ruling, but rejects Ms. Obrien's characterization of reason. He's got CT BS going.

Judge asking O'Brien if any other evidence comes up to AG that PC prosecutor needs, they will turn it over. Judge grants AG request to withdraw from Jake's case. He will address other cases separately.

Canepa talking about misplacing some recorded conversations. They met March 13 and it came up. Defense attorney's assistant doesn't have a laptop, they lost a bunch of files (WTH?) Hours and hours of surreptitiously recorded phone calls. He wants a summary of the recorded phone calls so his office doesn't have to listen to all of them.

Because of COVID 19 shut down they can only talk to Jake by phone. He's happy with his attorneys.

Did anyone see if Fredericka Wagner was there or anyone from the Wagner family? I didn't see them.
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Agree 100%
I saw Rhodens there.
And as far as stringing this out. They had 3 months to get their defense together.
 
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Rutledge203 said:
I agree 100% wth?
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JMO, the "private contractor" who is supposed to "help organize" the evidence so the poor defense attorneys can understand how to read computer files of evidence, has been a disruptive and dividing influence on the proceedings. I think he was the older guy with the trench coat who went up to huddle with all the attorneys after the hearing adjourned. He looks to be older which isn't what you would expect if someone is supposed to be an expert on computer files, security and criminal evidence.

Also, Dave Yost is a very different AG than DeWine. For starters he has far less experience. Could be his office doesn't want staff tied up on this case. I think it was last week that Ohio announced 15% pay cuts for all state employees, so budget is also a consideration. This isn't the best time to be managing and funding the biggest trial in Ohio history.
 
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Betty P said:
JMO, the "private contractor" who is supposed to "help organize" the evidence so the poor defense attorneys can understand how to read computer files of evidence, has been a disruptive and dividing influence on the proceedings. I think he was the older guy with the trench coat who went up to huddle with all the attorneys after the hearing adjourned. I'm getting an attention grabbing, disruptive vibe from him. He looks to be older which isn't what you would expect if someone is supposed to be an expert on computer files, security and criminal evidence.

Also, Dave Yost is a very different AG than DeWine. For starters he has far less experience. Could be his office doesn't want staff tied up on this case. I think it was last week that Ohio announced 15% pay cuts for all state employees, so budget is also a consideration. This isn't the best time to be managing and funding the biggest trial in Ohio history.
Click to expand...


Yes I understand funds are tight.
Oh no. Not another actor.
I guess I should just be Happy Angela Canepa is still on board. Thanks for chatting Betty P.
 
Billy's hearing should be starting soon, but looks like tv stations are busy with a WH press conference. Will have to look around.

Also, during this break I did some checking on Carol O'Brien the deputy sheriff AG, whatever, who made the decision to pull the AG's office out of the Rhoden Murder case. She's fairly new on the job, appointed by AG Yost, who is also much less experienced than his predecessor. Neither AG Yost or assistant deputy sheriff AG (whatever) has as much prosecutorial experience as Angela Canepa, from what I can see. Just sayin'.

I can see why they might have been intimidated by managing these prosecutions as it takes people with a lot of skill and experience. I wish it was this guy managing the cases instead

Steven M. Dettelbach
 
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