The trial for a 30-year-old Ohio man whose family was accused of murdering eight members of the same family six years ago is set to begin.

According to the New York Times, George Wagner IV's trial is set to start this month or early next month.

The Associated Press reported Wagner IV, his parents, and his brother Edward Jake Wagner was charged for fatally shooting eight members of the Rhoden family in 2016.

Prosecutors said the alleged motive for the fatal shooting was over the custody of a child Jake Wagner had with one of the victims, the New York Times and the Washington Times reported.

The Associated Press reported that Jake Wagner pleaded guilty last year after admitting to killing five of the victims.

The news outlet reported that Angela Wagner also pleaded guilty to helping plan the murders.

The newspaper reported that George Wagner III is set to stand trial at a later date.

The Associated Press reported that a judge ruled in June that Jake Warner could testify at his brother's upcoming death penalty trial, the Associated Press reported.

The news outlet reported that Jake Wagner had told prosecutors that his brother didn't kill anyone.

HAMILTON, Ohio —

The West Chester man accused of murdering four family members will not stand trial in May, as planned.

The coronavirus pandemic has caused the capital murder trial to get pushed back to October.

Gurpreet Singh is accused of murdering his wife, Shalinderjit Kaur, and her parents, Hakiakat Singh Pannag and Parmjit Kaur. Shalinderjit Kaur's aunt, Amarjit Kaur, was also killed inside a West Chester apartment in April 2019.

The trial would require selecting 12 jurors and a handful of alternates.

"I just don't see us being able to get 16 people to sit with us for three weeks, away from their families, sitting next to strangers," said Butler County Common Pleas Judge Greg Howard. "Further complicated by the fact, if we are able to do that, what happens if in the middle of trial, a juror says, 'I'm not feeling well. I've lost my sense of taste and smell,' and we have to quarantine everybody."

Howard said in other cases, jurors have expressed concerns with coming into a courtroom during a pandemic, even with safety protocols in place.

Since the rollout of the vaccines isn't going as quickly as people hoped, he said it might be better to move the trial date.

Neither prosecutors and defense attorneys objected to postponing Singh's trial.

"We echo the same concerns where if we have a juror or a family member of a juror or one of the litigants get sick or contract COVID, what would happen to the trial?" said assistant prosecutor Josh Muennich.

Defense attorney Neal Schuett said, "We too don't want some mistrial or to get halfway through and have to take a break and all quarantine."

Singh maintains his innocence. He is now scheduled to stand trial on four counts of aggravated murder on Oct. 18.

This is the second time the trial was delayed because of the pandemic.

It was originally scheduled for last September.

Family members of the victims previously told WLWT, they didn't like the delays but have confidence in the American justice system.

LEBANON, Ohio —

The debate over masks is lingering in Lebanon.

With many kids in quarantine, the district considered changing safety strategies on Wednesday.

But after hours of taking public comment, the decision was "no decision."

The school board tabled the vote after a meeting of more than three hours.

It was an emotional meeting.

People knew their stance and they made it abundantly clear.

Parents flooded the central office for Lebanon City Schools.

The temperature of the room was hot and the discussion was even hotter.

They came expecting a mask mandate vote by school board members.

Some people were against masks.

"Leave the decision to the parents. If it is mandated, there is no endgame and this will go forever," parent Christy Sanders said.

Other parents also agreed with Sanders.

"We're saying stay the course. Give parents the option. Let them decide what they want to do with their children," parent Mike Cope said.

Fewer people appeared to be for masks or mandates.

"There's homecoming, prom, choir concerts, musicals. All of these can be taken away if the schools get shut down for not wearing masks," student Alicia Smith said.

A woman who works in health care also spoke out in favor of masks.

"I just think it's probably the thing to do right now. I wish we could just kind of follow the numbers and, as they go down, then take the masks off," she said.

According to data from the district on Wednesday, 49 students have tested positive for COVID-19, with two breakthrough cases.

It said 17 students are waiting on test results and 536 students have been identified as close contacts and are in quarantine.

The data provided by the school district showed 52 students who are vaccinated or who were masked won't miss class.

But a big issue became abundantly clear after looking closer.

Quarantines, parents and even school board members said, are extensive in comparison to positive cases.

School board members decided to table the vote until they can figure out if they must follow the quarantine protocols set forth by Warren County Health officials.

"The quarantine has got to stop. There are counties in Ohio that are not doing it. We can stop doing it," parent Holly Bates said.

The district made it clear that it is not mandating vaccinations.

Some parents said under their breath, and some quite loudly, "for now."

It's not yet clear when the board will meet again to discuss the issue.

Board members said the superintendent will consult with the district's attorney for better guidance.

NEW RICHMOND, Ohio —

Tuesday brought a heartbreaking announcement in the search for a missing Clermont County man.

The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation believes a body found off of State Route 222 on Monday is that of Robert "Bobby" Farrell Jr., 23, from New Richmond.

Along with new details released by officials, there are still many lingering questions.

The search for Farrell started in New Richmond and has expanded into the county.

Even as family members said his best friend has been arrested, the questions of "How?", "Who?" and "Why?" are still unanswered.

Exclusive WLWT video showed a scene in the 2300 block of State Route 222 in Clermont County on Monday night just before 11 p.m.

The road was blocked off by tape.

Clermont County sheriff's deputies and the Clermont County coroner were in sight as evidence and bags were loaded into a truck.

Investigators have not elaborated on everything they found on Monday night.

But as of Tuesday, Ohio BCI officials said they believe they found the remains of Farrell off the roadway, describing him as the victim of a homicide.

His family has been devastated since he disappeared from New Richmond on July 6.

"He went out with his friend and that's all we really know. He went out with his friend and never came home," Farrell's aunt, Sandy Coorey, said.

Family members said Farrell's best friend, Keyanta Gardner, spent days helping them search for the young dad.

On Monday, we uncovered Gardner was arrested in connection to Farrell's disappearance.

Investigators said he admitted to making false and misleading statements to BCI agents.

The tragedy just keeps getting worse for Farrell's family.

"It just hard when you watch someone grow up as a baby, and just, and you don't know what's happening," Coorey said.

Neighbors in New Richmond and along State Route 222 told WLWT that police have asked for surveillance video from July 6.

Clermont County dispatchers said no one called 911 to report the body, so it's unclear how it was found or when it was put there.

Even still, there is a community demanding justice for Farrell.

The Ohio BCI said though Gardner is already charged with tampering with evidence, additional charges are expected.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Ohio BCI at 1-855-224-6446.