WAVERLY, Ohio — Monday was the fifteenth day of trial for George W. Wagner IV in Pike County.
The defense resumed their cross-examination of witness Courtney Robinson, who described her relationship with victim Frankie Rhoden. She also talked about Frankie being close friends with Wagner and his family, but that the friendship ended once Wagner made a move on Robinson.
JEFF TACKETT, BILLY WAGNER’S FRIEND:
The second witness of the day was Billy Wagner’s former friend, Jeff Tackett. The witness said Billy would come to visit him a lot and they met when they were 13-or-14. Tackett told the jury how he worked at Flying W Farms, owned by Billy’s mother. While he worked there, he said Billy’s sister asked Tackett, “How much money would it take to marry me?” to which Tackett told his parents, “There was not enough money to marry her.”
The jury learned that Tackett was an informant for BCI and wore a wire to try and get evidence against the Wagners after the murders. He said he was paid $100 each time and went to the Wagner’s about five times after the murders. The witness said he would go to cock fights with Billy and went hunting once with the entire family. One time, he recalled that Goerge Wagner was upset and went home early once because his dad shot the buck and George could not.
Billy and Chris were “blood brothers” and pricked their fingers and touched their blood together, according to Tackett.
About a week before the murders, Tackett went into Billy’s bedroom at Flying W Farms and saw a bunch of guns and bullets, and Billy made a comment he was going to buy a brass catcher.
Billy would shoplift from the dollar store wearing a coat all the time; which made Tackett and close friend Chris Rhoden Sr. uncomfortable.
One time, Billy told Tackett that he had gone to Mexico and “shot a bunch of people, ” and that Billy and Angela had a full semi-trailer full of Rocky work boots and were selling them at the fairgrounds and got caught; they were both arrested. Billy said Angela would never flip on him, Tackett said.
Billy’s mother, Fredericka Wagner would give Billy pain pills that she allegedly got from a nursing home she ran on her property, according to the witness. The pills were abused by Billy and were Percocet.
Tackett said he learned of the murders on TV and called Billy. Billy was not home and he was with his family. He thought Billy had done it, so he called the tip line and left a message. In September, Tackett sat down with BCI agents and agreed to go undercover.
Tackett told the jury that Billy and his family committed arson on three occasions. One time, Billy instructed his sons, Jake Wagner and George to use a turkey baster to catch the house on fire; the witness said Billy received $250,000 in insurance money.
TABITHA CLAYTOR, EX-WIFE OF GEORGE WAGNER:
Tabitha Claytor, George Wagner’s ex-wife and mother of his child took the stand. She testified that while she was married to George, his mother, Angela was very controlling. Claytor said she lived with the Wagners while she was pregnant with their son, Bullvine, and after she gave birth.
Claytor testified that Angela would sit on the bed of the young married couple and tell them what sexual relations they could have, even though they were married. Specifically, Angela Wagner said the two could not have oral sex because it was sinful and the two would go to hell. Almost every night, Angela would come into the married couple’s bedroom and make Claytor leave so Angela could “scratch George’s back and talk about his day.” Claytor had to stay out of the room until Angela told her she was allowed back in, each night.
The two’s son, Bullvine, was not allowed to sleep with the couple or in his own crib. Claytor said Angela demanded and ordered the child to sleep in bed with his grandparents, Angela and Billy every night.
Court recessed shortly after 4 p.m. for the day and will resume with Claytor on Tuesday.