Pike County suspect George "Billy" Wagner III appeared in court Wednesday for a status hearing.It was the first hearing for former Brown County Common Pleas Court Judge Alan Corbin who will preside over the trial. The Ohio Supreme Court appointed Corbin to hear the case following the retirement last month of Pike County Common Pleas Judge Randy Deering.During Wednesday's hearing, Corbin alluded to a possible trial date in early 2024. He said that will give counsels time to gather documents and records from the trial of Billy's son, George Wagner IV, including the transcript from that trial, which could top 15,000 pages. Earlier this year, one of Billy Wagner's attorneys said the 51 year-old looks forward to taking his case to trial and said the trial will be much different than that of his son, George.In November, a jury found George Wagner guilty of 22 counts, including eight aggravated murder charges. The verdict came after less than eight hours of deliberations, ending a nearly three-month-long trial. George Wagner was sentenced to life in prison without parole on all eight counts of aggravated murder for each victim in the Pike County killings.He was also sentenced on counts of conspiracy, aggravated burglary, and tampering with evidence. Those sentences ranged from 10 months to eight years.In addition, the now retired Deering sentenced George Wagner to 81 years on firearms specifications, to be served consecutively with his prison sentence on his charges. Billy's wife, Angela, and their other son, Jake, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit aggravated murder and other charges in a plea deal to avoid the death penalty.Investigators say the murders were motivated by a custody dispute between the Wagner and Rhoden families.
Pike County suspect George "Billy" Wagner III appeared in court Wednesday for a status hearing.
It was the first hearing for former Brown County Common Pleas Court Judge Alan Corbin who will preside over the trial. The Ohio Supreme Court appointed Corbin to hear the case following the retirement last month of Pike County Common Pleas Judge Randy Deering.
During Wednesday's hearing, Corbin alluded to a possible trial date in early 2024. He said that will give counsels time to gather documents and records from the trial of Billy's son, George Wagner IV, including the transcript from that trial, which could top 15,000 pages.
Earlier this year, one of Billy Wagner's attorneys said the 51 year-old looks forward to taking his case to trial and said the trial will be much different than that of his son, George.
In November, a jury found George Wagner guilty of 22 counts, including eight aggravated murder charges. The verdict came after less than eight hours of deliberations, ending a nearly three-month-long trial.
George Wagner was sentenced to life in prison without parole on all eight counts of aggravated murder for each victim in the Pike County killings.
He was also sentenced on counts of conspiracy, aggravated burglary, and tampering with evidence. Those sentences ranged from 10 months to eight years.
In addition, the now retired Deering sentenced George Wagner to 81 years on firearms specifications, to be served consecutively with his prison sentence on his charges.
Billy's wife, Angela, and their other son, Jake, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit aggravated murder and other charges in a plea deal to avoid the death penalty.
Investigators say the murders were motivated by a custody dispute between the Wagner and Rhoden families.
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