An Ohio man accused of helping commit the mass murder of his son’s ex-girlfriend and seven of her family members in 2016 is pushing to move his case to another county, claiming his local The jury pool is “tainted” against him.
A pre-trial hearing for William “Billy” Wagner III, 53, who is accused of helping carry out the murders of his son’s ex-girlfriend Hannah Rhoden and her family amid a custody battle over Rhoden’s young daughter, begins Wednesday. It was held in Pike County. ,
His lawyers had previously requested that the trial, scheduled for January 6, be moved to another county because “the jury pool has already been tainted.” Fox 19 reported.
Wagner has pleaded “not guilty” to 22 counts, including eight counts of aggravated murder.
In court, Wagner’s son Edward “Jake” Wagner said that he had made up his mind to kill Roden after she refused to let him share custody of their daughter – the product of a teenage romance that began when Jake was 17. year old and Roden was only 13 years old.
Jake then enlists his parents and brother to murder his ex-wife and her entire family, including a 16-year-old boy.
The four allegedly hunted their victims in three different trailer homes, armed with guns fitted with homemade silencers.
Roden was breastfeeding her second child, a newborn baby, when Jake found her. He shot her twice in the head and then lifted her body up so he could continue feeding the baby.
A 3 year old and a 6 month old child also survived this massacre.
It took two years for the police to finally announce the Wagners’ arrest.
Before discovering the real motive, they suspected gang or cartel violence, as marijuana plants were found growing near the murder sites.
When he was finally caught, Jake Wagner escaped a possible death sentence in exchange for pleading guilty and testifying against members of his family.
He confessed to personally shooting five of the eight victims, and he and his brother George Wagner IV are currently serving eight consecutive life sentences for the murders, as well as 121 years for lesser crimes. Are cutting.
In exchange for her guilty plea and testimony, Angela’s charges were reduced to conspiracy to commit aggravated murder, burglary and tampering with evidence.
But Billy Wagner has refused to admit to any of the allegations, although his family is expected to testify against him at his upcoming trial.
The victims of the April 2016 massacre included 38-year-old Gary Rhoden; his cousin Kenneth Roden, 44; Christopher Roden Sr., 40; Christopher’s ex-wife Dana Lynn Rhoden, 37, and their children Hannah Mae Rhoden, 19; Christopher Roden Jr., 16; Clarence Roden, 20; and Clarence’s fiancée, Hannah Gilley, 20.
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