A man who was found guilty in the murders of eight people from another Ohio family is now seeking a new trial. George Wagner IV has filed a request with the Ohio Court of Appeals, claiming that there were multiple errors during his 2022 trial. He was convicted on all 22 counts he faced, including eight counts of aggravated murder. Wagner argues that there is a “reasonable probability” that jurors were influenced by these alleged errors.
Prosecutors have 60 days to respond to the petition. Wagner was handed eight consecutive life sentences, one for each victim, along with an additional 121 years for other offenses. In his appeal, he points out errors such as allowing prosecutors to present evidence of crimes and guns unrelated to the Rhoden killings, which only served to link Wagner to his family’s criminal activities.
The appeal argues that it is uncertain whether jurors convicted George based on the belief that he was similar to his criminal family members. Prosecutors maintain that the killings, which initially raised suspicions of drug cartel involvement, actually stemmed from a custody dispute over Wagner’s niece. The shootings took place at three mobile homes and a camper near Piketon in April 2016, causing fear among residents and prompting an extensive criminal investigation.
George Wagner denied any involvement in the killings and testified that he would have intervened if he had known about the plans. However, prosecutors argued that he was aware of the scheme, participated in it, and therefore should be held accountable for the murders. While he was not accused of pulling the trigger, prosecutors claimed that Wagner was present with his brother and father during the attacks, entered the homes with them, and assisted in moving two bodies.
In a separate development, George’s younger brother, Edward “Jake” Wagner, pleaded guilty to aggravated murder and other charges. He agreed to testify against George and their parents in exchange for avoiding potential death sentences. Their mother, Angela Wagner, admitted to participating in planning the killings. On the other hand, their father, George “Billy” Wagner III, has pleaded not guilty in the case, and his trial is set to begin on January 6th.
