Billy Wagner’s trial for the Rhoden family massacre postponed until 2025

Waverly, Ohio (W.C.M.H.) — The Wagner family patriarch’s trial for the Roden family murders has been postponed until 2025.

George “Billy” Wagner III, the last Wagner to stand trial in the 2016 shooting deaths of eight members of the Rhoden family, was originally scheduled for trial on May 6, but the situation Thursday At the conference, defense attorney Mark Collins requested a postponement of the trial, citing the health and personal issues of his fellow attorneys and the receipt of 16,000 pages of court records.

Judge Alan Corbyn continued the case until January 6, 2025.

Billy Wagner, 52, was charged with aggravated murder for helping his sons Edward “Jake” Wagner and George Wagner IV kill the Roden family in their home nearly eight years ago. He is charged with five crimes. On the morning of April 22, 2016, eight Roden found dead; most were shot while sleeping; Among them was 40-year-old Christopher Rhoden Sr. Dana Rhoden, 37 years old. Clarence “Frankie” Roden, 20 years old. Hannah Roden, 19 years old. Christopher Rhoden Jr., 16 years old. Hannah Gilley, 20 years old. Kenneth Roden, 44 years old. and Gary Rhoden (38).

Prosecutors argued at Wagner IV’s 2022 trial that the massacre was a carefully planned killing stemming from a custody battle between Jake Wagner and Hannah Rhoden. Their child, who was an infant at the time, was found unharmed, as were two other young children.

All four Wagners, including Billy’s wife Angela, arrested in 2018 and faced the death penalty. All Wagners initially pleaded not guilty, but Jake and Angela switched their pleas in 2021 to avoid the death penalty.

George IV was convicted of 22 crimesHis charges included eight counts of aggravated murder, multiple counts of aggravated robbery, conspiracy and other felonies, but the judge withdrew consideration of the death penalty against him. In December 2022, he 8 life sentences There is no possibility of parole.

Billy’s trial has been hit by multiple delays.ohio supreme court new judges need to be appointed Since the presiding judge indicted several Wagners in this case after the presiding judge retired in February 2023. In November, a judge denied Billy’s request to move the trial out of Pike County.

https://www.wdtn.com/news/crime/billy-wagners-trial-for-rhoden-family-massacre-delayed-till-2025/ Billy Wagner’s trial for the Rhoden family massacre postponed until 2025