PIKETON, Ohio – The trial of George “Billy” Wagner III, accused in the Piketon Massacre, may face significant delays due to ongoing legal disputes.
Visiting Judge Jonathan Hein granted a defense motion in November to relocate the trial outside Pike County, citing concerns about finding an impartial jury. The judge also removed the death penalty as a possible sentence for Wagner, who has pleaded not guilty to multiple counts of aggravated murder. These rulings have led to an appeal by the special prosecutor Angela Canepa, who argues against both the venue change and the removal of the death penalty. The prosecutor is also appealing Hein’s planned sentencing procedures for Wagner’s wife, Angela Wagner, and their youngest son, Jake Wagner, both of whom have pleaded guilty to roles in the killings.
Victims’ rights groups have filed a separate appeal opposing the relocation of the trial, expressing concerns about the impact on family members of the victims and the local community. The appeals are expected to take weeks to resolve, potentially pushing the trial date back further. Depending on how the legal challenges proceed, the Ohio Supreme Court may ultimately be called upon to make a final determination.
The trial was originally set to begin on Jan. 6. Wagner is scheduled to appear in court Monday for a hearing, with sentencing hearings for Angela and Jake Wagner planned for Tuesday. Jake Wagner has previously admitted to pulling the trigger in some of the killings, while Angela Wagner confessed to helping plan the murders over a child custody dispute involving one of the victims.