Pike County massacre trial for Jake Wagner scheduled to begin in August
By: WCPO staff
and last updated 2021-01-11 11:39:48-05
PIKE COUNTY, Ohio â More than five years after eight members of the Rhoden family were killed in April 2016, Edward Jake Wagner is set to stand trial on Aug. 30. He is the first of the Wagner family to have an official trial date set.
Jake Wagner, along with his mother, Angela Wagner; his father, George Billy Wagner III; and his brother, George Wagner IV, stand charged in the deaths of eight members of the Rhoden family. The Wagners are accused of murdering the family in their Pike County homes in 2016.
Pike County murders: Former county prosecutor at center of debate
By Parker Perry - Journal-News, Hamilton, Ohio (TNS)
Whether a former Clark County prosecutor should be allowed to participate as a special prosecutor in the case surrounding eight family members killed in Pike County is at issue in several court filings.
Andy Wilson, who was the Clark County prosecutor between 2011 and 2019 before leaving to join Gov. Mike DeWine’s cabinet, was appointed special prosecutor earlier this year in the cases.
The Pike County murders caught the nation’s attention when eight people were killed in the middle of the night, a case that launched a multi-year investigation by Ohio authorities. Christopher Rhoden, 40, Kenneth Rhoden, 44, Gary Rhoden, Dana Lynn Rhoden, 37, Clarence “Frankie” Rhoden, 20, Hanna Mae Rhoden, 19, Christopher Rhoden Jr., 16, and Hannah Gilley were killed.
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Year in Review: Remembering the headlines of 2020 Pictured in January are (l-r) Hillsboro administrators introduced to city employees: council president Tom Eichinger, mayor Justin Harsha, chief of police/systems administrator Eric Daniels, safety and service director Brianne Abbott, public works superintendent Shawn Adkins and auditor Alex Butler. (HCP photo by Caitlin Forsha.) Demolition of the former Parker Hotel began in February 2020. (HCP photo by Caitlin Forsha.) On Jan. 24, then-Director of the Ohio Department of Health Dr. Amy Acton declared novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) an immediately reportable disease. Pictured is the Ohio Public Health Advisory System map as of Dec. 17. (Photo courtesy of the Ohio Governor s Office.)
By Newsroom
Dec 23, 2020
Edward “Jake” Wagner has waived his right to a speedy trial through October 2021 in the Rhoden Family massacre case in Pike County.
During the hearing on Tuesday his attorneys expected to argue against ballistic and shoe print evidence, however, Prosecutor Angie Canepa said the defense is not entitled to a hearing on those issues.
The defense also objected to Andy Wilson, an advisor to Gov. Mike DeWine, serving as a special prosecutor on the case. Wagner’s attorneys said this created a conflict because Wilson may advise DeWine on policy issues related to the public defender’s office.
By Newsroom
Dec 23, 2020
Edward “Jake” Wagner has waived his right to a speedy trial through October 2021 in the Rhoden Family massacre case in Pike County.
During the hearing on Tuesday his attorneys expected to argue against ballistic and shoe print evidence, however, Prosecutor Angie Canepa said the defense is not entitled to a hearing on those issues.
The defense also objected to Andy Wilson, an advisor to Gov. Mike DeWine, serving as a special prosecutor on the case. Wagner’s attorneys said this created a conflict because Wilson may advise DeWine on policy issues related to the public defender’s office.