PIKE COUNTY, Ohio — George “Billy” Wagner was in a Pike County courtroom today. According to reports, Wagner’s attornies pushed to have the death penalty dismissed before trial.
Prosecutors in the case said, “Jake Wagner must testify against his father first before the plea agreement would be honored.”
Judge Randy Deering denied Wagner’s motion.
George “Billy” Wagner will return to court for an additional motion hearing on November 17.
Wagner, and his two sons, Jake, and George, along with his wife Angela, all faced eight counts of murder. The family was arrested in November 2018 after investigators said they killed eight members of another family over what has been described as a custody dispute.
Killed were Dana Manley Rhoden, 37; her ex-husband, Christopher Rhoden Sr., 40; their sons, Christopher Rhoden Jr., 16, and Clarence “Frankie” Rhoden, 20; their daughter, Hanna Rhoden, 19, the mother of Jake Wagner’s daughter; Frankie’s fiancée, Hannah Gilley, 20; Kenneth Rhoden, 44, a brother to Chris Sr; and Gary Rhoden, 38, a cousin to Kenneth and Chris Sr.
Earlier this year, Wagner’s youngest son, Jake, who is touted as being the mastermind behind the slayings of his daughter’s family pleaded guilty as charged in exchange for a plea deal. In the deal, the death penalty was removed for Jake and his family members.
Angela Wagner pled guilty on September 10 to her part in the killings.