Confessed killer Jake Wagner took the witness stand this morning in his brother, George’s, murder trial in connection with the 2016 Pike County massacre.Jake, who avoided trial by pleading guilty to eight counts of aggravated murder in the death of eight members of the Rhoden family last April, testified Monday.The deal he agreed to when confessing is that he would testify against his brother in open court. In exchange, prosecutors for the State of Ohio agreed to remove the death penalty for George, Jake and their parents, Billy and Angela Wagner.Jake Wagner declined to let his testimony be shared outside the courtroom, which the judge allowed.A crowded courtroom of about 50 people listened to Jake's testimony Monday, many of whom are members of the Rhoden family.In his testimony, he states he had worries that the daughter he had with Hanna Rhoden might have been molested, stating "I had decided … I had no other choice than to kill Hanna.”Jake Wagner said he was not the first Wagner to cultivate the idea of the Pike County Massacre, saying on the witness stand, “my father first mentioned it to me.” Jake said he initially said he “would not” let that happen. At one point during this morning's testimony, Jake Wagner mouthed "I'm sorry" to members of the Rhoden family. Jake looked repeatedly at his brother and said he "loves" George. Jake said his “tipping point,” or the moment he decided Hanna had to be killed, followed an argument the two had about their daughter. Jake said Hanna told him that if their child were molested, Jake would “have to deal with it.”Jake’s testimony underscores what investigators have said for several years: that a child custody dispute prompted the shooting deaths of 8 members of the Rhoden family in April 2016.In his testimony, Jake stated the four intended victims were: Chris Rhoden Sr., his children Hanna and Frankie, and Chris' brother Kenneth. Jake said the other four victims were killed because they were "witnesses."After spending a chunk of time during his testimony Monday morning talking about how he ordered parts for and built gun silencers, Jake said his brother George was with him when he bought a Chevy pickup truck to be used when executing the Pike County Massacre. Jake also talked quite a bit about how intertwined his family members were, i.e. himself, George and their parents. Jake said he initially “had a suggestion,” which was to kill Hanna and make it look like her then-boyfriend Corey Holdren “had done it” to make it look like a suicide. Regarding the night of the murders, prosecutor Angela Canepa asked Jake, “Was George also going to participate in that night?” Jake Wagner answered, “Yes.” Jake Wagner said he and his brother George built a false pickup bed cover so they could remain hidden in the pickup truck Jake bought to use on the night of the murders.Jake then described, in vivid detail, shooting and killing Chris Rhoden Sr., the first of 8 Rhoden loved ones killed in April 2016. Jake said George Wagner was supposed to shoot Chris Sr. but basically froze. So Jake said he pulled the trigger himself.
Confessed killer Jake Wagner took the witness stand this morning in his brother, George’s, murder trial in connection with the 2016 Pike County massacre.
Jake, who avoided trial by pleading guilty to eight counts of aggravated murder in the death of eight members of the Rhoden family last April, testified Monday.
The deal he agreed to when confessing is that he would testify against his brother in open court. In exchange, prosecutors for the State of Ohio agreed to remove the death penalty for George, Jake and their parents, Billy and Angela Wagner.
Jake Wagner declined to let his testimony be shared outside the courtroom, which the judge allowed.
A crowded courtroom of about 50 people listened to Jake's testimony Monday, many of whom are members of the Rhoden family.
In his testimony, he states he had worries that the daughter he had with Hanna Rhoden might have been molested, stating "I had decided … I had no other choice than to kill Hanna.”
Jake Wagner said he was not the first Wagner to cultivate the idea of the Pike County Massacre, saying on the witness stand, “my father first mentioned it to me.” Jake said he initially said he “would not” let that happen.
At one point during this morning's testimony, Jake Wagner mouthed "I'm sorry" to members of the Rhoden family. Jake looked repeatedly at his brother and said he "loves" George.
Jake said his “tipping point,” or the moment he decided Hanna had to be killed, followed an argument the two had about their daughter. Jake said Hanna told him that if their child were molested, Jake would “have to deal with it.”
Jake’s testimony underscores what investigators have said for several years: that a child custody dispute prompted the shooting deaths of 8 members of the Rhoden family in April 2016.
In his testimony, Jake stated the four intended victims were: Chris Rhoden Sr., his children Hanna and Frankie, and Chris' brother Kenneth. Jake said the other four victims were killed because they were "witnesses."
After spending a chunk of time during his testimony Monday morning talking about how he ordered parts for and built gun silencers, Jake said his brother George was with him when he bought a Chevy pickup truck to be used when executing the Pike County Massacre.
Jake also talked quite a bit about how intertwined his family members were, i.e. himself, George and their parents.
Jake said he initially “had a suggestion,” which was to kill Hanna and make it look like her then-boyfriend Corey Holdren “had done it” to make it look like a suicide.
Regarding the night of the murders, prosecutor Angela Canepa asked Jake, “Was George also going to participate in that night?” Jake Wagner answered, “Yes.”
Jake Wagner said he and his brother George built a false pickup bed cover so they could remain hidden in the pickup truck Jake bought to use on the night of the murders.
Jake then described, in vivid detail, shooting and killing Chris Rhoden Sr., the first of 8 Rhoden loved ones killed in April 2016. Jake said George Wagner was supposed to shoot Chris Sr. but basically froze. So Jake said he pulled the trigger himself.
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