The Verdict Is In

app or wherever you get your podcasts. All the State of Ohio asked to show is that George was involved in the case at the beginning, and I think the evidence, in my opinion, showed that he was. You know, one thing that Kneppa did strongly was to show slideshow of each of the victims in the prime of their life and then show them dead in bed. But maybe no mistake about it. Those two children in that we're never

going to be raised anything other than Blacker. That moment when you walk for the jury and you talked to you and you try to remind them what is at stake that these people have died. We're talking about eight people that were slaughtered. This is the Piked and Massacre returned to Pike County Season four, episode twenty four. The verdict is in. I'm Courtney Armstrong, a television producer at Katie Studios. With Stephanie Ladecker and Jeff Shane. We're at

the closing arguments of George Wagner the Fourth's trial. It's important to note that George Wagner has pleaded not guilty and has maintained he did not kill anyone. His father, Billy Wagner, whose trial is upcoming, has also pleaded not guilty to all charges. We're in piked in for the final days of trial. We've heard testimony from Jake, Angela and George Wagner. But before we can hear closing arguments,

Judge Daring has some news for the jury. The jury learned the death penalty against George Widener the Fourth has been taken off the table. That is the plea deal the prosecution struck with George's brother Jake and his mother Angela an exchange for their testimony. After the announcement, the judge addresses the court the jury, we have reached the point of which council for each side will be giving

closing arguments prosecutor Angree Kneppa begins our closing arguments. I just want to first of all, start by thinking each and every one of you. You guys have probably served at least, as far as I know, the longest of any criminal jury, and each of you have paid strict attention. We are here because eight innocent victims were slaughtered, most of them in their sleep, all of them unarmed. These murders should never have happened. Forensic expert Joseph Scott Morgan

speaks to the significance of these closing arguments. I think they do matter. I think that it's like going to a beautiful concert where there's going to be this grand crescendo, that thing that moves people. You better bring it, and it needs to be that thing that is going to resonate with those people. And it's taken all this time, thousands of miles can you imagine that have been traveled all over the place, all way up to Alaska and back through Canada. All of that culminates in this moment.

That moment, you know, when you walk to that jury and you talk to them and you try to remind them what is at stake that these people have died. We're talking about eight people that were slaughtered. Prosecutor Canepa shows photos of the victims on the large screen in the courtroom. She starts with Frankie Rodin and reminds the jury about who he was. She then speaks about Hannah Hazel Gilly and a Hazel Hilly very proud of her son,

her six month old son. She was all of twenty years old as well at the very beginning of her life and especially her life as a mother. Her crime, you her testimony that her crime was solely being there, nothing else. If she had not been there, she would still be alive today. The defense of checks prosecutors stopped showing images on the large screen, but she continues speaking about the victims. Chris Senior, There's a lot to say about him. He was obviously a family man, provided for

a family. But the reason that he was killed is because he was the patriarch of this family and they knew that he would again figure out who did it and potentially seek vengeance. Here's James Pilcher, longtime investigative reporter in Cincinnati now at Local twelve. You know one thing that Kennepa did strongly. She tried to do at the beginning was to show slideshow of each of the victims in the prime of their life, show pictures and then show them dead in bed. Well, that led to objections

and then she basically threw that out the window. So she abandoned to slide show, but she still went on to go through here's this victim, here's this victim. I'll at them, bringing it back to them and bringing it

back to the fact that they were asleep. Prosecutor Kneppa touches on all of the evidence presented in trial, laying out the timeline from the beginning and hitting on each piece of evidence tying George Wagner and his immediate family to the murder of the Rodent, Manly and Gilly families. Special Prosecutor Andrei Geneppa said there was plenty of direct and circumstantial evidence a tie George Wagener the four to

the homicide. One example the false statements that Wagner's gave two investigators that everything was fine between Jake and Hannah Rodin when she was killed, but custody over their daughters was at a boiling. Then we see the Facebook message from Hannah May saying that she won't sign papers. Ever, they'll have to kill her first, and we know that in four short months later, she and seven members of

her family are dead. But we know that in January of twenty sixteen, they had made the decision that they were going to kill them, and you start seeing the purchases corresponding to that timeline. It's hard to imagine that eight people would lose their lives over such a flimsy motive, but it's true. Prosecutor Caneppa reminds the jury of the evidence presented throughout the case, the shoe prints matching George Wagner's at the crime scene, as well as the bullet

casings matching the weapons used in the murder. We know that George went into that room, and we know that he stepped into blood, and we see it on our diagrams exactly where that was. Prosecutor Caneppa reminds the jurors of George Wagner's testimony where he claimed he hadn't known that his brother Jake and father Billy were going to murder members of the Rodent, Manly and Gilly families. Did you know your family was going to kill these people? No?

Going to happen. The prosecution then ties George to the crimes through Jake Wagner and Angela Wagner's testimony. George says to Jake, the family has spoken. There is nothing that happens in that household that is not a group decision. Jake and Angela have told you everything that this defendant did that night. I'm not here to say that Jake Wagner is a hero by any stretch of imagination. He

is a despicable, vile human being. But the difference between him and his brother is that he at least came full kinetic acknowledges that when George took the stand and he disputed what his brother and mother testified about him. You've heard Jake and your mother both say that that was the motive, and my mom and brother are lying to you. They have been like everybody else. Angela Wagner, this is her son. Ask yourself, what motive would she

have to say that George was involved. If George wasn't involved, why would you do that to your son? You would say, Jake, Billy and I didn't. Despite all the evidence presented by prosecutors, it could come down to who the jury believes Jake and Angela or defendant George. Prosecutor Kneppa addresses Jake and Angela Wagner's testimony head on. So let's talk about Jake and Angela's testimony. Jake Wagner gave us a lot of information. His testimony was corroborated by physical evidence. He led us

to the murder weapons. So again, what Jake had to tell us was corroborated with physical evidence that we didn't know about. It was also corroborated with physical evidence we did know about. Then we talked to Angela Wagner, and she corroborates what Jake Wagner told us. They basically corroborate each other. And the magical and mystical thing about that is, as you heard, she was not provided with her son's statement. She had no idea what he said to us when

he sat down with us. Again, James Pilcher, one of the points she made very clearly was Jake and Angela had no chance to corroborate none. They couldn't see each other's statements. They're in separate jails. They couldn't talk, they couldn't watch each other's testimony. Nothing. How come their stories line up so well versus what George had to say, and they're both saying the same thing, are close enough to the same thing, whereas Georgie is saying something completely different.

Who are you going to believe? And then on top of that, she makes a point it's one thing for a brother to testify against her brother, but it's another thing for a mother to testify against her hunt even as she says she loved that came across is very compelling. Prosecutor Krneppa argues that Jake and Angela Wagner's testimony matches, especially on one key point. Both Jake and Angela tell you they are guilty. Jake is guilty, Angela is guilty.

They don't deny that, they don't lie about that. The reason the story's match is because they both finally decided to tell the truth. He's attorney and legal analyst Mike Allen. I think the credibility goes with Angela because George any number of times just said I don't recall, I don't remember, I didn't count him up. But there are a lot of times that he said that I don't recall hearing that in Angela or Jake's testimony. For that matter. It

was just pretty straightforward. So I think if you didn't have the physical evidence and it's George against those two, I think they win and George doesn't because a lot of things he didn't remember, and he contradicted himself on a number of occasions. Well, George Wagner appeared calm during his testimony on the stand. Prosecutor Canneppa reminds the jury

of the wire tapp recording of George. I would strongly invite you to listen to that recording again and ask yourselves if that is the voice, or the demeanor, or the attitude or the approach of somebody who would ever sit one out again. James Pilcher, I will say Kneppa did kind of bring it home early on when she said you saw George up on the stand, but then you also heard George on these recordings. Well, the real

George Wagner, please stand up. Those are my words, not hers, But basically she's saying, the real George Wagner is not the one that was able to help on the stand. He was coached, there was whatever he was. The real George Wagner is the one year in those recordings. For all intensive purpose as a madman. He indicated to you that a few days before the homicides that Billy told George that he wanted George to shoot Chris in the head.

He went up there to Union Hill Road on April twenty first, twenty sixteen, knowing full well what was going to happen. Well, George may not have pulled the trigger during the murders. The prosecution contends that doesn't matter. To prove conspiracy to murder, he doesn't have to be the person that actually pulled the trigger. Right. You heard that Jake Wagner pled to eight counts of aggravated murder because he pulled the trigger as to five according to him,

but he was compliciting three. You heard Angela Wagner say that she also was guilty of accounts of aggravated murder because she was complicit in it because she knew what they were going to do. She aided and embedded them. You were complicit because you knew what was going to happen. You knew what they were going to go do, and you aid it and ebedted them. Here's Jeff speaking with

Mike Allen. So I think she really hammered home, which I think is important to remind the listeners is that George could still be found guilty of murder even if he didn't pull the trigger under Ohio law, Like, as long as he's involved in the planning and the cover up,

that's enough to find him guilty. All the State of Ohio asked to show is that George was involved in the case at the beginning, and I think the evidence, in my opinion, showed that he was in the beginning and then he was part of the execution of the crime. And I think that's clear that he was a part of it and a part of the cover up, and that gets you into the complicity part of it. And

that's all you need for a murder conviction. I mean, you don't have to show, and they couldn't show, and they didn't show that George pulled the trigger because he didn't, but he was in it up to his neck, and I think that was clear at the end of all the testimony and evidence, and Miss Kinnappot really kind of just hit on all of those points in her closing. The prosecution also spoke to the plea deal given to

Jake in exchange for his testimony. Mister Parker has called this the deal of the century for Jake Wagner, the deal of the century. But let's just talk a little bit about that. First of all, he played guilty to every county indictment except for the death timing specifications, which we dismissed in exchange for him telling us what happened.

Not just telling us what happened. But you heard from Special Agent Scheider that the victim's family was consulted in this and as you might imagine, if this was somebody that you loved, you would want to know what happened more than and some of them got the peace of minding we're looking for because their loved one wesleeping. Some of them did not, but they wanted to know, and they wanted us to do the deal again, Mike Allen. Obviously from their conduct in the courtroom, there's a close

relationship between the prosecutor and the Road and family. I don't think they have any problem at all with the deals that were made in this case. But in any homicide case, you have to get buy in from the victim's family, and I think that's what she did here. I see a lot of cooperation and a lot of admiration too. So I don't have any doubt that Angie Kaneppa consulted probably at length with the Road and family before they cut the deal with Jake and Angela. After

nearly five hours, Prosecutor Kannappa finishes her closing argument. I know this is very, very long. I just wanted to kind of try my best to kind of lay a foundation of the evidence that we believe supports a conviction of George Wagner the fourth of each and every count in this indictment, whether he is a principal offender or whether he is equicit in it. He knew what was

going to happen. He participated in what happened. Jake and Angela have told you everything that this defendant did that night, and his participation in the aggravated murders and all the other crimes listed in the indictment. Respectfully, the class that you return verdicts of guilty as to each count into each specification. Thank you. The day of the trial ends

with Prosecutor Kneppa's closing argument. Here's Mike Allen, followed by investigative reporter A Jeanette Levy of the Lawn Crime Network. The defense has to make the points that they want to make, and they also apt to counter what the prosecutor says in closing argument. I think that Jake and Angelis's testimony, coupled with the wire taps that do not bode well for George. He still sounds like he's in the thick of this and he knows exactly what's going on.

You would think that that would just be very difficult for the defense to overcome, for them to come into court and feel confident that they were going to somehow poke enough holes in Jake and Angelis's testimony to make George not guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. We're going to take a break. We'll be back in a moment. Oh. I'm Carol Fisher, and I'm hosting a podcast called Girlfriends. Back in the nineteen nineties in Las Vegas, a few of us dated the most eligible bachelor in town, Bob.

He spoke several languages, he did medical missionary work, and he was Jewish. He was perfect on paper, but he wasn't. He really wasn't. He shouted into the point she went unconscious. Bob could lie about anything, but only takes the one time when somebody ends up dead. Unfortunately for bob Us girlfriends know how to fight back. I wanted him to pay for his crime. He needed to be put to justice. I'll be honest with your FIS saw him right now, I'd spit on him. I would call him and I

would say, I know you killed my sister. I will always hound you and haunt you. You can listen to the girlfriends on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast, or wherever you get your podcasts. The next day, the defense delivers their closing remarks. John Parker opens with a joke about how he's not going to go as long as the state did. In his closing remarks, Parker then goes after the state's key witnesses, Jake and Angela Wagner. Angela and Jake,

he's a mama's boy who heard testimony about that. They're liars, they're connorst they're thieves. Defense attorney Parker brings up Jake's character, laughing and smiling and smirking as he's talking about these murders. He's called waterfall. I think he's like, God, he didn't see that care in the world. It's like it's like sitting around talking about a football game on Monday morning. Is the way he's talking about killing these people. It's disgusting.

He's a sick man. You can't believe what that guy says. The defense hits again on an argument that they've used repeatedly throughout the trial, that the evidence tying George w Agners of the murderers is at best circumstantial. There's not proof here beyond the usual doubt that George's even up there, and we could offer him nothing for his testimony. He was vigorously cross examined. You saw his demeanor. Compare that to Jinks and his mother testimony. George is the shooter.

There's no reliable testimony that he was even there. This has to be proven beyond a reasonable There's all kinds of reasons to doubt. Parker then tries to dismantle the state's argument that the Wagners are a walking criminal conspiracy. The state in this case that you have seen with respect to George, paints with a very very broad brush. All right, how many times have we heard they them, you guys, the Wagners. All right, George's wants about trial here,

all right. We are not here to defend Billy, are not here to defend Angela we're certainly not here to defend Jakes, all right, And basically, I mean there were days and days that went by when you didn't hear Georgie's name, and that's significant. Parker asked the jury to return a verdict of not guilty on all charges. You folks stand between the power of the government man with George White. So you've seen the power of the government and in this particular case, they've overreached when it comes

to Georgia. Mike Allen offers his thoughts to how the defense did on closing arguments. Well, I think he did as well as he could. And his closing argument did not take five hours. But he did as well as he could with what he had, which wasn't a heck of a lot. He just didn't, you know. He called the state's witnesses liars, con artists, mainly Jake and Angela, really hit Jay Carr and really, I mean that's pretty

much all he had. When you're a defense counsel, you get the case that you get and you're not going to be able to change things factually. So the short answer is, I think they did as well as they could. After the defense rests Andrew Wilson delivers the prosecution's rebuttal.

The concept of complicity works in Ohio is that if two or more people set out to achieve a criminal purpose, a criminal goal, when one doing one part of others doing the other part, then each one of them is individually guilty as if they were the principal offender Festival.

That's how it works. There's been no direct testimony that he actually pulled the trigger and any one of those murders, would you better believe he's up to his eyeball as they plot, they prepare, as they execute, If they cover up those murders, he's in it up to his highlands. The prosecution has a huge advantage, and boy, I tell you, I think they utilized it in this case to where they get the final word. They get to address the jury after the defense does their closing argument. It's done

because the state has the burden of proof. That's why they get the last fight at the apple. You know, having been a defense counsel and having been a prosecutor that I can tell you that's a huge advantage for the state prosecutor. Wilson addresses Jake and Angelo Wagner's testimony. They match. The only way that happens without burd knowing what he said is that they're telling the truth about what they observed, what they knew. Well goes on to

address Jake and his testimony. He's not our star witness. He's a terrible, terrible human being. He's evil, and he's going to spend the rest of his miserable existence locked in a cage. He's going to spend the rest of his life separated from what means most of him, his fam He will never be free again. And as incredibly distasteful as it was, the state entered into an agreement with Jake. For one we need him one thing, Toms. That's that's what we need from him. Him leading us

to those guns was incredibly important. Wilson also reveals while the prosecution didn't play the tape of George Wagner's interview at the Canadian border again James Pilcher, and that was because they didn't want that tape to service his own

testimony and his own denial. If he was going to deny it, he was going to have to deny it from the stand, and they didn't want to give him the opportunity to tailor his testimony to what he said at that point, which was key too, because he did have a major inconsistency between what he said at the border versus what he said on the stand. At the border he said he went to bed about some time

after midnight after watching the Ferry movie whatever. But then on the stand he said he went to bed before ten with the kids, and yeah, he should have heard them leave, but he didn't. He usually stays up an hour after he goes to bed, and somehow he didn't hear Jake and Billy Leaves didn't even know they had gone. So that was a major inconsistency, and Wilson brought that home in his clothing. Andrew Wilson then shows a photo

of the Wagner family with all the kids. Or don't you look at this picture, man, This picture speaks volumes. It speaks volumes. They don't want you to believe that this case is about custom, that these murders had anything to do about custom, but made no mistake about it. Those two children in that picture were never going to be raised anything other than Blacker. They want to control of those kids, and that's what this was all about. It started with George's son with Tabitha and getting control

over that little boy. And it was the same thing about Jake's daughter with Hannah, but Hannah had a support system, Hannah had a family, and they were going to fight back. Wilson closes out the prosecution's rebuttal with one final thought. He is guilty. He's guilty. And when you make that final when you look at all that others, he's guilty. At that point, by law, you're are defined him guilt and that's what he'll do because that's what he is.

Andy Wilson's rebuttal closing, I mean, everybody who watched it was like, I think that just sealed the deal. He answered every outstanding question defense had raised to a t. He was enthusiastic, he was forceful. Forensic expert Joseph Scott Morgan agrees, when that bailiff causes that jury to rise, and you better leave an impressional when I get back there, and you know that that big crescendo is what you want.

It's one of the oldest cliches of prosecutors used, and they'll say things like do not let their desks be in vain, hold those people accountable for what they have done. Snuffing out these lives in the most horrific way possible, These people who have scarred our county forever and ever and ever for generations to come, hold them accountable, and they might even throw in God. They'll say, you know,

someday they'll be judged by God. But right now, as you're tom to judge them upon what they have done. Before the day ends, Judge during gives instructions to the jury. The next morning, at eight thirty am, the jury begins deliberations. After a two and a half year investigation, after a three and a half month trial, the longest criminal trial in the history of Ohio, the most expensive trial in the history of Ohio, it is now in the hands

of nine women and three men, the twelve jurors. Generally speaking, if they're out for a short period of time, if they're not out long, that's good for the state, the prosecution. If the longer they go, it's better for the defense because you know they're thinking about it. Then the other thing too, The longer they go, the better chance that they will have a hung jury, which is a victory for the defense. Attorney. With the fate of George Wagner

in the jury's hands. All the defense and prosecution can do is wait, what are those hours like? It would be so tense. Let me tell you something. They are the slowest hours in a trial lawyer's life. From when a jury begins to deliberate until when they come up with a verdict. You stay around your office and then just kind of like dwell on it and it's just hard to concentrate on anything else. It's kind of brutal.

But on the other hand, it's exciting too, because you know, then you get back in the courtroom and the jury walks in and you know you're looking at whether they look in the eye, and you know then they'll give their verdict. So it's tough, but it's also exciting. I guess it's the best way to put it. Two and a half hours into deliberation the jury as to see Judge deering. There were some rumblings when that note came

out with the question. There was a couple of people who thought it might have been a verdict and we're like, no,

one wasn't the case. So some false information got put out there initially, and at about eleven they sent down a question and apparently went on the record and they'd asked the transcript of Jake's testimony, or at least just a part of it, and Judge Jarring said, no, you have to get all of it, and I'm gonna want you to read all of it because it's not fair to exact certain excerpts, especially if you're just going to look at one part from the direct examination and not

look at what the cross examination was. That wouldn't be fair. Takes it out of context. And he said, to be honest, it's not fair. And if you're going to do this, really I should make you read the transcripts of all of the witnesses. But even if it's just Shake, it's seven hundred and fifty, seven hundred and sixty pages. Jerry goes back to deliberating. Then about four o'clock on Wednesday, we were notified that they had a verdict, and we're like, wow,

that was very very quick. So that's like seven hours just you know, less than seven hours of deliberation if you count their breaks. And I took them at least thirty minutes to an hour to sign all the forms because there are twenty two forms that all twelve had to sign for all twenty two charges. The bailiff came upstairs, and he went back into the judge's chambers, and then he came out and he looked over at a couple of us sitting in the gallery and said, be ready

in twenty five minutes. I said, what a verdict in twenty five minutes? And he said, there's a verdict in twenty five minutes, and I just tweeted it out immediately. The jury enters the courtroom, a lot of people will say, Oh, if the jurors come in and they don't look at the defendant, that means it's a guilty verdict, And if they come in and they look at the defendant, it's a not guilty verdict. The clerk hands the verdict forms to judge during he reads the jury's verdict. Verdict does

to count one. It says, way the jury find beyond the reasonable doubt that the defendant, George Washington Whacker the fourth is guilty of aggravated murder as charged in account one of the indictment, Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, is that true verdict? Again, Antonette Levy. When the first guilty verdict was read, you've heard kind of a noise of gasp, but almost like a cry of sorts, and that came from the road and family, and I feel like that was just some type of big, you know,

a sense of relief on their part. There were a lot of tears. I think these were tears of relief. It's like an emotional release. You know, you're sitting there, waiting and waiting. You've been sitting there for all of these weeks, looking at horrible things, hearing are horrible things, seeing horrible things, and I think they knew collectively when that first guilty verdict was read, they were all going to be guilty. Judge during continues reading the verdict. George

Wagner has found guilty on all eight murder charges. He has also found guilty of aggravated burglary, conspiracy, gun charges, and tampering with evidence for a total of twenty two charges. George Wagner's reaction to the verdict was similar to his demeanor throughout the trial. George Wagner showed no emotion. No lawyer John Parker kind of he shook his hair, kind of nodded and you know, seeing a little upset, but no, George showed absolutely no emotion. He just kept his eyes down.

I think George Wagner when they brought him in and just looking at his face, he knew, he knew that he was going to be convicted, and I felt like I just saw his eyes kind of blank, just, you know, briefly and kind of quickly. Once the first guilty verdict was read Judge Darings. That's George Wagner, sentencing for December nineteenth. After the verdict, the Roden family gives a press conference speaking on their behalf is Tony Roden Chris Roden, Senior's brother.

I would like to thank the citizens of the state of ble Hia for barn this burden that should have never happened to this family and southern not a little bit of peace. We still have a long route to go, We'll get there because we are a family. Where's the party. We're gonna go home, and we've a little easier tonight that we don't take for granted anymore, as we love the ones we got and never let go if you never A reporter asked the Roden family their thoughts on

George Wagner. Here's Tony Roden's response. I feel sorry for him. Why why? As human, how do you find the humanity time like this, when he did so much to your family. I think we all have human in us. There's just a difference in us. The prosecution also gives a statement to the press and the Road and Wagner and Gilly families. Here's Andrew Kneppa, followed by Rob junk from the State. You guys have trusted us with your lives and the lives of your loved ones. And I know today's verdict

does not bring your loved ones back. I know that, but I do hope that it gives you some some linse of peace that yet another one of the evil monsters that did this to your family have been held accountable. Justice was done, and again they heard the voices of our eight victims a day the jury listened. They understood, we can never ever ever bring them back. But I can tell you that good Lord Willing George Wagner the fourth will never be in a position to hurt any

woman ever again. Journalists and legal experts who have been following the case for years weighing on the verdict and Jeanette Levy, I wasn't completely surprised when they came back with guilty verdicts because it was so fast the way that I read the indictment. If you're guilty of one murder, you've got to be guilty of all of them. You know that it's a conspiracy case, and all of these

homicides happened on the same night. So if the theory is that all three of the guys were there, Billy, Jake, and George, and these homicides were committed carried out that night. Under the law, if he's complicit with the complicity instruction that was given to the jury, then he's guilty of everything unless there's a compromise. After the guilty verdict, George Wagner is taken back to jail where he will wait until he is sentenced. Let's stop here for another break.

December nineteenth is the day George Wagner is to be sentenced for the murders of the Rodent, Manly and Gilly family members. Even if George Randy Deering does stack a minimum possible sentence of thirty years, concurrently, Wagner still faces significant time for sixteen other charges. Are sentencing YEA so true, yeah, Prosecutor Angie Kanepa begins her sentencing remarks, it isn't such far often, but this is one of the most serious

attributing murders as a statable hire. Not that a murder, of course comes without pain and horror, that is killed and those leccupied, but the killing of eighteen one such a thing of accated fashion for literally no reason in all in one night, I suggest, does make this one of the most serious aggating murder cases Ohio has seen today.

I urged the courts and focus specifically a meaning on that hand hatched to the families and fashion mum sentence in this case, and this is the unjustified, unprovoked, horrible senses killing them innocent people. We urged the court to impose eight consecutive life without parole sentences regarding the murder of each of these lives, and Jim post maximum and consecutive sentences to each of the remaining counts as well.

The defendant in his sentencing memorandum begs for mercy. He showed no mercy for the victims who just wanted to live. They have no one to beg for their lives or demand due process. He judgury and executioner in their lives. He deserves no mercy in presentence motions Wagner's lawyers asked for her a sentence which would give him the possibility of a parole. The prosecution asked for the maximum possible life without parole and for the eight murder counts to

be served consecutively. With presentencing motion is over, Prosecutor Karneppa tells the court that members of the Rodent, Manly, and Gilly families are going to deliver their victim impact statements. James Pilcher, a jury of nine women and three men, took less than eight hours to find George Wagner the Fourth guilty on all twenty two charges for his role in the twenty sixteen Pike County massacre. Now Wagner must not only face his punishment, but the survivors from the Rodent, Gilly,

and Manly families. They get their first opportunity to address a Wagner directly about the crimes. Ten family members give statements in person or through victims advocates. Here's Andrea's Shoemaker, mother of Hannah Hazel Gilly, George Wagner or the fourth Lear introduce myself. You see you said enough? Did you never met my mom? Hannah Hazel Gilling? I'm a mom Andrewsmaker. I'll stand here today to be her voice, since you, George Wide and the fourth and your evil family took her.

Frankie Road, I shout to be son in law, the young man who gave me my first grandson. The love you have for my beautiful baby girl, Hanna Hayes was what was your two sons? A heart ache for you son. My grandson was made an orphan in one night. I see the pain in his eyes. He mourned for a dadd shit and it was something he won't do for

the record, life is one of his daddy. And Hannah Hazel Gilly, my basic girl only the age of three, gone mad, who fell on the way to love with a young man drinking rode the love of Hannah Hanzel Billy's life. Hannah Hazel was the first of my children to give me the blessing of becoming a man all Hannah Hannah Hazel Billy was her first time mom to

her beautiful son, and what a mommy she was. She loved her son with her whole heart and for her to Hendy have six months six months of his life, that is the one thing she wanted to see in her whole young life as to watch him grow up. My baby girl, I miss you, but on worse, another life taken wake too soon, but will never be forgotten. Hannah Man was such an innocent young lady, a great mother to two beautiful girls. I watch your baby girl mourn,

mourn to know who her mommy was. I answer questions that should have never had to be asked in the first place. My heart is forever broken that she and her sister will never knew the mommy. The list of victims gets longer. The eight lives are just the ones no longer on this earth are we has a new family.

The Gillie Manlies and the Rogues have all suffered. We are all suffering, hurting, always heartbroken, forever without our children, all because the devils, like the dark Devil's hunt at night, just like you, George Wagner the Fourth and your evil family did on Friday April at twenty first and twenty seconds of two thousand and sixteen. All I want is my baby girl, Hannah Hazel, and that I will never had.

I only agree to the state because I want all these older families to get justice on earth while they're still here. Because of the fact that Gary's dad, Dannah's dad, and my dad didn't get their justice while on this earth. And I pray to God that's your son learns what kind of a monster you really are and never wants anything to do with you. And I pray Judge, deary that used turned out with the George wrightner the forts really is, and make him suffer with life and princes.

Here's Kendra Roden, daughter of Kenny Rowden. As I said here today, I know I should I should have peace because you never been found guilty. Anermals Ranks accounts. I should feel relief that justice is being served, but there is no real justice, and peace is not a feeling I have. Anime was my piece, and because of you and your family, she was gone eight life, sinking in so many more, traumatized by the horrendous acts committed by the like her family. For months, I was riddled with

questions of human why. I tried to find souls in the belief that most of my family numbers died instantly from being shot in my head. Unfortunately that was not true. When SIGNED thought my father's life the spot and the corner seat, and my father died within minutes of being shot minutes, not seconds. So now I'm like wondering for how long did he remain conscious? Did he feel the pain? How long was he conscious for knowing his death was

imminent and there was nothing he could do? What went through his mind in those moments that I imagined felt like hours as he died alone? What about hannime and she liked next to her nursing infant? Did she die of fear? Not knowing what would happen to her child? How long did she like there helplessly knowing she could do nothing to protect her infant from the evil The

storm thron stormed through her home that night. The questions were accompanied by nightmares night after night, black asleep, really crazy. I thought I could not escape it. Every time it was my eyes I was taking back to the horrific moments I found out that my family was murdered. I'd like for anything to stop and never in new pain and grief to the point I nearly ended my own life and December of twenties of eighteen. In twenty eighteen, I had my daughter. It should have been a moment

filled with nothing but joy. Instead, it was filled with heartache, knowing my father would never hold my daughter. Now. As I planned for my wedding, I dread walking down the aisle because my father will not be walking with me or handing me over as a father should. I won't look over to the bride's names and see handed me as my maid of honor. I won't see Frankie and the crowd making some sort of promotion to make me

laugh and call my nurse. Christopher won't be there as a life of the party making a scene as as usual, Giffy. So you see, eight lines were taken in the most brutal ways, but many more lines were stolen. You took moments that were no more yours to take than the life you and your family took. I am sorry you never got to know the unconditional love of a mother and father, but it does not excuse your participation in

the grim murders your family committed every whole. My family and I are not asking for your demise, but I do ask that you receive the maximenalty. It is not justice that I believe in my heart. It is the closest we can get. Here's Frankie Rodin's former girlfriend and mother of their son. My first little segment is actually one that my son, who has written himself a victim of the ninth. It was now since hermy dear George,

I find myself wondering why you killed my daddy. There are things that make me sad because I can't learn from him. He could have taught me stuff like working on Derby cars in kim County. My mommy tried, but it's not as good as daddy was. I've been scared since that night, knowing bad guys came into my house I was sleeping. I am always scared now that I will lose my mommy. You did that to me. I just want to reg that I hate with your family,

thinks are the words of a ten boy. For him to tell me he watched his daddy's team fall while he tried to wake him up because his baby brother scream is traumatic itself, but knowing that he has seen stuff hurts my heart so much. The sleepless nights, the panic attacks, and constant worry is so exhausting. You and

your family did that. This is his story and I'm just living in We may have been friends in the past, but for you to get up her on that stand and take an oath and still lie on me, excuse me on her, but I hope you burned Hill George. I will say, there's one thing I have learned is that God wants us to forgive, and maybe one day I will forgive you. But at this time I just can't think. Here are Here's April Manley, Danna Rodin's sister in law. As I stand here today, I realized I'm

standing here for my father in law. Ward. See, Leonard brought a short fight with liver cancer. All he wanted to do was be with these baby girl, Dana Rodin and make sure she was okay. For that reason, he wouldn't fight for his life. Leonard would tell us time and time again that he was sorry for leaving us, but he just couldn't walk this world without Dana any longer. He made me promise that I would see these childs through,

that I would be at every court day. So here I stand today, at the end of one of them. I don't only stand here for winter, but myself as well. You see, James Manley and I would be married twenty eight years in this ship week. The Rogans are also in my family, but in heart as well. I was the maiden maid of honor at Dana Chris's wedding. I did be set Raking Hannah a little Chris from the time I was born until they was open up to stay by themselves. Even after they was old enough to

look after themselves, I would still see them daily. That's why I referred to them as my babies. Then go to the morning April twenty seconds Sey sixteen, where all of our lives changed forever and will never be the same again. Not one, not too but eight family members were taken away from us. It was like the bottom

fill on my soul. Hundreds of people around me, but I felt like I watched the scord the life so this day and my husband stepped screaming sis and he sleep so the only thing he called the You know, my stepson was never afraid of the dark. He was now fifteen years old and still't gonna go outside by himself after he says, they came in the dark took them all away before that night, he was never free. I hope George Waggener spends the rest of his life

in prison without seeing your loved ones. For the rest of your life, just like you made sure we went and see ours. I hope you feel the loneliness and the emptiness that we feel for the rest of your life. And I have one last whish wish for you, George, see you and your family made sure you were the last ones to see our family a lie. I hope every night, when you close your eyes you see them eight faces, and I hope they hatch you for the rest of your life. Lisa, niece to Chris and kind

of Throwden goes next. Growing up, our parents tell us fosters do not exist, but I had come to know about have a lie in my adult life. There are so many moments that he made an impact for me greatly over the last eight years six years. Sorry, but a few of us moments are very handful moments that I will forever remember, vividly going into a funeral home and seeing eight caskets light along the wall of our

loved ones. Walking into that room with my family, hearing the streams from my mothers, my aunt and my uncles while trying to hold them up because the lakes gave away. Six years and eight months later, we still have these invariable moments where we feel like we could just break, knowing the callous way they were taken from us. You would not only lose her mommy on April twenty seconds,

but she loves all of her immediate family. And then one November thirteenth, twenty eighteen, she lost her dad's side of her immediate family. Regardless of the monsters they are who still had a bond, the devastation it impact will forever way having owned her for the rest of Hawaii. I've tried to wrap my head around why my family was given a death sentence, but nothing will justify the why.

My cousin Hannah May was given a death sentence because she was a strong old mother who wanted to raise her daughter and continue to grow her family outside the Wagner's control. My cousin Gary, Hannah Hazel, little Chris to my hand Nata was given a death sentence for just simply being there. My cousin Frankie, my uncle Chris, and Michael Kenneth were given a sentence for being the protectors of our family. No amount justice given in this court will come close to what is deserved, but this man

deserves nothing less. That has been the rest of his life in prison. Tony Rowden, brother of Chris Senior, and Kenneth Roden speaks last by reading a statement from his mother, Geneva Roden. George Wagoner, you are hell breathing on two signs, are not reading. My grandchildren are not breathing. They are all children left behind. I'd just like to see some

guests with all of the impact statements heard. Judge Randy Deering addresses the court, mister Wagoners, or any reason that you want to states like sentence should not be pronounced and in possed commedia. Is there anything that you wish to say on your own behalf or any information you wish to provide a mitigation? The judge then prepares to

hand down the sentence. First of all, no sentence that the court manposed in this case would right the wrong that has been inflicted upon the victuals and their families. Murder is an irreversible act. The court does find that these murders do constitute the worst form of the offense, and the court quite frankly finds the contentive has showed no remorse, just denial to the courts considered all of these factors that the course required to consider, and again

is ready to impose sentence. So mister Wagner run asked me to stay. George Wagner stands. Won't count one of the indictment for the offensive aggervation murdered in violation Section two nine three point one eighth of the Revised Code, the victim of that offense being Kenneth Rod accorded by sentences you to serve a mandatory term of life imprisonment without parole. George Wagner is sentenced to life in prison without parole for all eight aggravated murder charges. Judge during

then hands down sentences for fourteen additional counts. The aggregate of the sentence is eight consecutive terms of life imprisonment without parole plus one hundred twenty one years, eighty one years of which are mandatory anything. If not, then we are journey. The final few charges can be served concurrently, but in the end the full sentence is for eight consecutive life sentences in prison plus one hundred and twenty one years in prison, to be served consecutively. The prosecution

agrees with the sentence. We're satisfied with it. The most important thing was getting those eight life without paroles. George Wagner, the fourth will never be in a position to hurt anyone ever again. I'm just happy for a family that they got to see this, They actually got some justice. At this point, George Wagner could file an appeal. Jake Wagner is serving life without parole. Angela Wagner is sentenced to be in prison until she is eighty years old.

Billy Wagner is next to go to trial for the murders. Now all eyes are on Billy Wagner, the dad who faces the same charges that George faced. Billy's trial is still expected to happen at some point next Year's been such a long, awful I've rode for you all. I'm sure you're feeling a lot of emotions, but can you give us any sense of what you're feeling just right now? A little bit of peace. We still have a long road to go. We'll get there. It's we are. Family

is now put brusher on Billy to complete guilty. We can only hope as the season comes to a close, we felt it was important to have one of the Roden family members have the last word. On December nineteenth, twenty twenty two, Chris Senior and Kenneth's brother Tony Roden made a statement in court. His words remind us of the strength, love and loyalty that encompasses not just the victims, but those they left behind. I lost two brothers, Chris

Roden Senior Kenneth Roden. I also lost a niece, Andy Roden. Also lost two nephews, Frankie Roden Chris Roden. I also lost a cousin, Gary Roden. I also lost a sister in law, the Roden Manly. I also lost my nephew, Frankie's fiance, Adam Hazel Guilty. I have so many memories of my brother Chris that I wish I could put them all down on paper, so whoever hears this today could see through my memories how my brother Chris really

was carried gracious, loving family man and kind. My brother Kenneth, my mom's son as a young Bloyd, he would always hang out with me and my other brothers, Chris, Stephen, and Brady. Loved old cars and old trucks, even at a head. He loved his family and he always showed it. When he married, he adopted two kids, loved them as his own. My cousin Gary, my mom's nephew. He would always help people. I would be working with him. We

would stop at store to get something to drink. I'd say, Gary, go in and get us something to drink, and he would. But he also bought lottery tickets out my money. Loved his family. His life cut short by selfish ACKs of other. My sister in law, Damn, my mom's dog in law, always spoke her mind. She would come to my house and tell me what I needed to do at my own house. When she walked in a room with other

people in it, she would always have people laughing. She loved people and it showed she loved her family, would do anything for them. Her life cut short by selfish acts of other. On November the thirteenth, two and eighteen, there was an arrest and the murders of my family. The same year, around Christmas time, my sister woman played phone pad back and forth trying to get the authorities to let and spend Christmas dinner at our family. So

it happened, and all the kids just loved him. And at this Christmas dinner, our mom was handing out presents to her younger grandchildren and her great grandchildren. Pictures were being taken and then his name is called. He walks up to mom. She puts him on her lap, she has him to present, pictures are taking. She puts him down and gives him a hub. I am sitting in the kids Jane crying as I walk. There's no relation to our family, but he is the defendant son. True love.

That's what Will showed that Christmas dinner. It was embedded by our mom to all of her kids. We all have it in us. Chris thought it through his gigs, it showed Kenneth thought it through his and it still showed true love. For more information on the case and relevant photos, follow us on Instagram at Katie Underscore Studios. Now that the Pigton massacre has come to an end this season, Katie Studios invite you to experience our new podcast, Death Island. Just a few miles off the Thailand coast,

The island of Kotau looks like a postcard. It's almost like if you were going to imagine a paradise island, they'll draw a picture of one. That's what Katao looks like. Young tourists from all over the world visit the pristine beaches and crystal clear water, but underneath the surface lies something sinister. In the last two decades, dozens of tourists have died mysteriously on the island. A dark cloud has come over the island and cast its shadow death, mystery,

and danger. I'm journalist Connor Powell. Even while making this podcast, another death on the island just happened. One thing is certain in this beautiful place, no coast is clear. This is Death Island. That's like murdering someone in flame, squeat and saying there's no witnesses. A production of Katie Studios and iHeartRadio. Listen to Death Island every Wednesday on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

The Piked and Masaker is produced by Stephanie Lydecker, Jeff Shane, Chris Cacaro, Andrew Arnow, Gabriel Castillo and me Courtney Armstrong. Editing and sound designed by Jeff Tua. Music by Jared Aston. The Piked and Masaker is a production of iHeartRadio and Katie Studios. For more podcasts from my heart Radio, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.