WAVERLY, Ohio — The trial of George “Billy” Wagner III, accused in the 2016 massacre of the Rhoden family, will be moved out of Pike County, a judge ruled Monday.
According to court documents, Judge Jonathan P. Hein approved the venue change due to extensive media coverage and the potential for bias among local jurors. The new location for the trial has not yet been disclosed. Hein did not specify a new venue, stating only that he is looking for a courthouse with suitable facilities and staff, which will require rescheduling for attorneys.
The ruling did not set a trial start date, merely indicating that deciding on the venue early helps minimize delays.
Originally set for May, Wagner’s trial was postponed to January 6 after a request from defense attorney Mark Collins. Wagner, charged with eight counts of aggravated murder, is the final family member to be tried for the killings.
The Guardian reported last week that sparks flew in a pre-trial hearing where the prosecution got into a fight with the Judge after the Judge ruled he would be removing the death penalty. He also dropped a bombshell that sent special prosecutor Angela Canepa through the roof: the Judge would be re-sentencing Jake and Angela Wagner before Billy’s trial. Canepa said it went against the plea deal, but Hein said it was appropriate. For sentencing, Hein scheduled Jake Wagner to be sentenced at 11 a.m. on December 17, following Angela Wagner’s sentencing at 9 a.m. on the same day.
The Wagner family, including Billy’s wife Angela and sons Edward “Jake” Wagner and George Wagner IV, were implicated in the deaths of eight Rhoden family members found shot in their homes on April 22, 2016. The victims included Christopher Rhoden Sr., Dana Rhoden, Clarence “Frankie” Rhoden, Hanna Rhoden, Christopher Rhoden Jr., Hannah Gilley, Kenneth Rhoden, and Gary Rhoden.
The Wagners were arrested in 2018, initially facing the death penalty. However, Angela and Jake later changed their pleas to avoid capital punishment. George Wagner IV was convicted on 22 charges, including eight counts of aggravated murder, but spared from the death penalty.