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

[TheRevWells]

nevermind. its up now

 

[Betty P]

Before we get into the trial coverage today I have to say with all our sleuthing and piecing together pieces of the puzzle, there was much that we did not have any idea or suspicion of regarding the Wagners and their criminal activities.
The huge amounts of money $$$ that passed thru their hands ( thru crime) truly shocked me.

There was a prosecution exhibit that showed the amount of money spent by each member of the family over several years and the amount was well into the millions.

 

[Betty P]

Judge said the state has not rested its case at this point. Both will proceed with direct examination. Curious about the defense's timing.

 

[Pru2U]

Maybe defense will play it.

I don’t know, it was a big bone of contention during opening statements. That’s what AC objected to - sending everyone into fits because objecting during open statements is almost unheard of.

 

[rebelchild]

This has got to be the most jacked up trial I have ever watched.

 

[Ann99]

Not many people in the courtroom today.

 

[Ann99]

MO and theory
The movie Pulp Fiction, filled with violence, had a character, Winston nickname “Wolf” the clean up, fixer man for organized crime.
At the very least, George was “ Wolf” the clean up man at the scenes. Smudging footprints, picking up shells, closing doors, turning off lights, maybe covering victims, moving bodies, dealing with the dogs, standing guard at doorways. So much more that he might have done.
The photo of the wolf should be included.
Photo still makes me think G4 could have been the trigger man for Kenny.

 

[Niner]

James Pilcher
@jamespilcher
Good morning from Pike County - George Wagner IV returns to the stand in his own defense in his murder trial connected to the Pike County massacre. In the meantime, here is yesterday's recap for @local12



We're back in session - arguing over the Facebook profile picture of the "one-eyed wolf" that George posted. Defense gets it excluded from being admitted into evidence

Actually, Deering rules prosecutors can use it in their cross examination of George Wagner IV

Here's a full recap from yesterday



You can watch our @local12
livestream here:



George says he never knew his mother to get on his Facebook account. He also says he saw the book of passwords his mother used but didn't look through it.

Says he was aware of Jake's Gofundme account but didn't look at it. Now talking about picture of wolf with a tattoo over it's eye he posted on his Facebook account. Text with mother What don't like it? Mother says: really?

Says mother was wondering because he was scared of wolves as a kid. Has nothing to do with murders. Also denies being anywhere near Left Fork Road where Ken Rhoden was killed.

Now going over wiretapped calls from inside R&L truck - George says he didn't trust Jake's wife and wanted her out of the house because he didn't feel his son was safe around her.

George says he and Jake would fight over Jake's daughter - George says he gave her the nickname "Suds." Again denies killing for her or being willing to kill for her.



link: https://twitter.com/jamespilcher

 

[rescuemom]

Why is the defense not projecting pictures shown to GW4 up on the screen?? If they didn't prepare to have pictures projected, to me it shows their lack of preparation or distance from their job for client, JMO.

 

[Niner]

James Pilcher
@jamespilcher
·
7m
Says dad Billy started drinking a lot more after the murders. Now says he weighed 316-320 lbs at one point. Took diet pills to try and lose weight. Calls it "a money gimmick" because he would lose weight then gain it back and have to return for more pills

Once again calls Hanna Rhoden his "little sister" - confided in her about his weight etc. Asked if he would have anything to do with killing her - answers no.

George says he offered to fly his ex-wife to Alaska to see their son but Tabitha never took him up on it.

Says he worried about Beth - Jake's wife - because she was molested as a kid like Tabby was. Worried about her being around his son.

Says his mom was always looking over his shoulder to try and get the password to his iPhone - started doing that from the time he first got a phone

Admits to "chopping trucks" - he would pay someone $1k or so for a truck, then cut them up for parts and the owner would claim it stolen and get insurance money.

Says he did it at least five times.

Now says he doesn't remember the family having an HP computer - the one seized at the Montana border. Says his mom used an iPad and his brother had an Apple. He had an Acer just to check deer cameras.


link: https://twitter.com/jamespilcher

 

[GoBuckeyes]

That is why I think if it ends in a hung jury they won't retry it. They will just move on to Billy.

JMO

If there's a hung jury, it would be political suicide for anyone who elects not to retry and for anyone who supports that decision. jmoo

 

[Niner]

GW4 continued...


James Pilcher
@jamespilcher
·
3m
Talking about forged document - says he had previously had a handwritten one giving custody of his son to his mother if anything happened to him. Says he just signed the one his mother prepared and didn't look at it.

Says he assumed the truck was bugged and his phone was tapped after the Montana interviews. Says he believed BCI was framing his mom and his brother - was raised to believe all law enforcement crooked.

He says he was addicted to caffeine at the time - had done that since he was 16. Also asked about calling Beth a spy for BCI - says his lawyer ... then objected to and bench conference.

Says lawyer told him BCI would stoop to any level to get any information about his family, including sending a woman to get close to them. Says he didn't trust Beth because of how quickly she married Jake and moved in.

George says Jake wanted to keep his daughter "chained up until she graduated from college" - says he pretty much gave his son what he wanted. Lots of objections over possible hearsay about conversations with Jake



link: https://twitter.com/jamespilcher

 

[Niner]

How come there are TWO #434 post #s - ??

 

[justtrish]

Boy George's parenting strategy got him going didn't it.

 

[Bridginadentata]

BCI asked George if he wanted to be a witness or a suspect. (Is this a fact? Looking back through everything to see when we first hear this stated…) To me, that sounds like asking him to spy.

ETA: it’s from defense opening statement, about 20 minutes in

Thanks! I guess initially I took that question to mean “do you want to confess to what you know or be a suspect” but didn’t consider it being a proposal to spy when I heard it.

 

[Chelly]

Watching this morning's testimony. George claims he didn't know Jake killed Hannah. I don't believe him. Most of his testimony does not sound credible. mo

 

[Betty P]

He's answering "no" to all the questions about did he know about the killings before, after, did he discuss killings with others, etc.

That's not true. He's on recordings doing those things.

State cross exam begins w/ AC

 

[Dudly]

This has got to be the most jacked up trial I have ever watched.

Well, look at the case itself. Eight dead in four locations. The largest investigation in Ohio history…

 

[justtrish]

I love how he justified his illegal "winter Olympics" by saying he didn't have time because of work so they made up this as a way to fill the freezer.

 

[Niner]

GW4 continued on direct

James Pilcher
@jamespilcher
·
6m
Says he now doesn't believe Jake's reasons for marrying Beth - but they don't go into what those reasons were.

George admitted saying his mother should get best lawyer because kids were used to be around her and they needed her. Also said he did think BCI was trying to frame them at the time.

George says Jake "right now I know he was lying through his teeth to me" and that his mom did the same. Also says he never offered to his mother to take the fall and the blame for the crimes.

Says he was up for five days straight and wired on caffeine when in the truck. Admits to saying "I want to kill Ryan" in reference to BCI agent Scheiderer. But says he was angry and everyone says stupid stuff like that.

"Are you guilty of any of these murders?" George: "No"

Asked to explain telling Jake "You tell people the truth that's why we're in this mess" George says it's because Jake was just too direct and frank with people and pissed off the Manley family and that's why they accused the Wagners

Admits to taking deer over the limit - also says he ate deer meat 2-3 times a day and ate every deer he killed except one because it had gangrene. This was called "winter olympics" because it was deer season.

Parker closes his direct with once again asking if George knew about murders beforehand, then afterward - no to all. Said he loved Hanna. And considered Frankie Rhoden his best friend. If he had known? "I don't know exactly how but I would have stopped it."




link: https://twitter.com/jamespilcher