The Ohio man accused of serving to perform the mass slaughter of his son’s ex-girlfriend and 7 of her relations in 2016 is pushing for his trial to be moved to a different county, claiming his native jury pool has been “tainted” in opposition to him.
A pretrial listening to for William “Billy” Wagner III, 53, who’s accused of serving to perform the execution-style murders of his son’s ex-girlfriend Hanna Rhoden and her household amid a custody battle for Rhoden’s younger daughter was held in Pike County Wednesday.
His attorneys had beforehand requested that the trial, scheduled for Jan. 6, be moved to a different county, as “the jury pool has already been tainted,” Fox 19 reported.
Wagner has pleaded “not guilty” to 22 counts, together with eight counts of aggravated homicide.
In court docket, Wagner’s son Edward “Jake” Wagner stated he made up his thoughts to kill Rhoden when she refused to let him share custody of their daughter — the product of a teen romance that started when Jake was 17 and Rhoden was solely 13.
Jake then enlisted his dad and mom and brother to slaughter his ex and her complete fast household, together with a 16-year-old boy.
The 4 allegedly hunted down their victims in three totally different trailer properties, armed with weapons outfitted with home made silencers.
Rhoden was breastfeeding her second baby, a new child, when Jake discovered her. He shot her twice within the head after which propped up her physique so the newborn might proceed nursing.
A 3-year-old and 6-month-old have been additionally left alive among the many carnage.
It took two years for police to lastly announce the arrests of the Wagners.
Earlier than discovering the true motive, that they had beforehand suspected gang or cartel violence, as marijuana crops have been found rising close to the homicide scenes.
When he was lastly caught, Jake Wagner dodged a possible dying sentence in trade for a responsible plea and testifying in opposition to his relations.
He confessed to personally taking pictures 5 of the eight victims, and he and his brother George Wagner IV are at the moment serving eight consecutive life sentences for the murders, plus 121 years for lesser crimes.
In trade for her responsible plea and testimony, Angela’s costs have been downgraded to conspiracy to commit aggravated homicide, housebreaking, and tampering with proof.
However Billy Wagner has refused to plea responsible to any of his costs, although his household are anticipated to testify in opposition to him in his upcoming trial.
The victims of the April 2016 bloodbath included Gary Rhoden, 38; his cousin Kenneth Rhoden, 44; Christopher Rhoden Sr., 40; Christopher’s former spouse Dana Lynn Rhoden, 37, and their youngsters Hanna Might Rhoden, 19; Christopher Rhoden Jr., 16; Clarence Rhoden, 20; and Clarence’s fiancé, Hannah Gilley, 20.
