Jury selection underway in Pike County massacre trial

AND THERE VIEWS ON THE DEATH PENALTY PRIOR CONTACT WITH THE RHODEN OR WAGNER FAMILY AND PRETRAIL PUBLICITY. SINCE HIS ARREST GEORGE WAGNER THE FOURTH HAS MAINTAINED HIS INNOCENCE. THE DEFENSE TEAM CLAIMS HE WAS NOT A TRIGGERMAN WHEN 8 MEMBERS OF THE RHODEN FAMILY WERE SHOT AND KILLED EXECUTION STYLE IN APRIL 2016. JURY SELECTION IS NOW UNDERWAY AND IN A COUNTY OF LESS THAN 28,000 THERE LIKELY WON’T BE ANYONE IN THE POOL WHO ISN’T FAMILIAR WITH THE CASE. THE FIRST FIVE POTENTIAL JURORS QUESTIONED EACH HAD A CONNECTION TO EITHER THE RHODEN OR WAGNER FAMILY. THE FIRST A 23-YEAR-OLD WOMAN WENT TO SCHOOL WITH THE THREE YOUNGER VICTIMS. HANNA, CHRISTOPHER JUNIOR AND FRANKIE. WHEN THE WOMAN WAS ASKED IF SHE WOULD BE ABLE TO HANDLE SEEING CRIME SCENE PHOTOS INVOLVING PEOPLE, SHE KNEW SHE SAID I DON’T THINK IT IS SOMETHING I CAN HANDLE. SHE WAS DISMISSED. ANOTHER POTENTIAL JUROR LIVED IN BUTLER COUNTY DURING THE MASSACRE BUT SHE SAID HER STEPMOTHER USED TO WORK WITH VICTIM, DANA RHODEN. ALTHOUGH THAT POTENTIAL JUROR NOW WORKS FOR A POLICE DEPARTMENT IN PIKE COUNTY AND KNOWS PROSECUTOR ROB JUNK, SHE REMAINS IN THE POOL. ANOTHER WHO MADE THE CUT SAID HE WENT TO SCHOOL WITH VICTIMS CHRISTOPHER RHODEN SENIOR AND ATTENDED CHURCH WITH DANA. A MAN IN HIS 50’S WAS EXCUSED NOT BECAUSE HIS FAMILY HAD PURCHASED HORSES FROM THE WAGNER FAMILY. HE GREW UP CLOSE TO THE CRIME SCENES. HE SAID IT’S WHAT EVERYBODY IN THE ENTIRE COUNTY TALKED ABOUT. HE SAID HE HAS HEARD TOO MUCH AND CAN’T BE UNBIASED. DURING THE TRIAL WHICH IS SCHEDULED TO BEING AT THE END OF THE MONTH, WE EXPECT GEORGE WAGNER’S MOTHER ANGELA AND BROTHER JAKE TO TESTIFY. IF THEY FULFILL THAT PART OF THEIR PLEA DEAL, THE DEATH PENALTY COULD BE TAKEN OFF THE TABLE AS PART OF GEORGE WAGNER’S SENTENCING IF CONVICTED. AS IT STANDS NOW, THIS IS STILL CONSIDERED A DEATH PENALTY CASE IF CONVICTED. ALL OF THE POTENTIAL JURORS WHO ARE BEING QUESTIONED ARE ASKED ABOUT THEIR TAKE ON THE DEATH PENALTY. THEY HAVE TO BE WHAT IS CALLED DEATH CERTIFIED.

It's the largest homicide investigation in Ohio's history, and on Monday, jury selection got underway for one of four suspects in the Pike County massacre.In April 2016, eight members of the Rhoden family were murdered execution style.George Wagner IV is the first to go on trial. His brother, Jake Wagner, and mother, Angela Wagner, previously took a plea deal. His father, George "Billy" Wagner, is scheduled to go on trial later.The court began calling potential jurors into the courtroom to being questioned individually about their views on the death penalty, prior contact with the Rhoden or Wagner family and pretrial publicity. In a county of less than 28,000, there likely won't be anyone in the pool who isn't familiar with the case.The first five potential jurors questioned each had a connection to either the Rhoden or Wagner family.The first, a 23-year-old woman, went to school with the three of the younger victims, Hanna Rhoden, Christopher Rhoden Jr. and Frankie Rhoden.When the woman was asked if she would be able to handle seeing crime scene photos involving people she knew, she said, "I don't think it is something I can handle." She was dismissed.Another potential juror lived in Butler County during the massacre, but she said her stepmother used to work with victim Dana Rhoden. Although that potential juror now works for a police department in Pike County and knows prosecutor Rob Junk, she remained in the pool.Another who made the cut said he went to school with Christopher Rhoden Sr. and attended church with Dana Rhoden.Another man said he had family who had purchased horses from the Wagner family. He grew up close to the crime scenes and said, "It's what everybody in the entire county talked about." He said he has heard too much and can't be unbiased.This part of the jury selection is expected to last two to three weeks.During the trial, which is scheduled to be at the end of the month, Angela Wagner and Jake Wagner are expected to testify. If they fulfill that part of their plea deal, the death penalty could be taken off the table as part of George Wagner's sentencing if convicted.George Wagner has maintained his innocence. The defense team alleges he did not pull the trigger in any of the murders.

WAVERLY, Ohio —

It's the largest homicide investigation in Ohio's history, and on Monday, jury selection got underway for one of four suspects in the Pike County massacre.

In April 2016, eight members of the Rhoden family were murdered execution style.

George Wagner IV is the first to go on trial. His brother, Jake Wagner, and mother, Angela Wagner, previously took a plea deal. His father, George "Billy" Wagner, is scheduled to go on trial later.

The court began calling potential jurors into the courtroom to being questioned individually about their views on the death penalty, prior contact with the Rhoden or Wagner family and pretrial publicity.

In a county of less than 28,000, there likely won't be anyone in the pool who isn't familiar with the case.

The first five potential jurors questioned each had a connection to either the Rhoden or Wagner family.

The first, a 23-year-old woman, went to school with the three of the younger victims, Hanna Rhoden, Christopher Rhoden Jr. and Frankie Rhoden.

When the woman was asked if she would be able to handle seeing crime scene photos involving people she knew, she said, "I don't think it is something I can handle." She was dismissed.

Another potential juror lived in Butler County during the massacre, but she said her stepmother used to work with victim Dana Rhoden. Although that potential juror now works for a police department in Pike County and knows prosecutor Rob Junk, she remained in the pool.

Another who made the cut said he went to school with Christopher Rhoden Sr. and attended church with Dana Rhoden.

Another man said he had family who had purchased horses from the Wagner family. He grew up close to the crime scenes and said, "It's what everybody in the entire county talked about." He said he has heard too much and can't be unbiased.

This part of the jury selection is expected to last two to three weeks.

During the trial, which is scheduled to be at the end of the month, Angela Wagner and Jake Wagner are expected to testify. If they fulfill that part of their plea deal, the death penalty could be taken off the table as part of George Wagner's sentencing if convicted.

George Wagner has maintained his innocence. The defense team alleges he did not pull the trigger in any of the murders.

Jury selection underway in Pike County massacre trial

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