Pike County murder trial: Prosecution tries to tie murder plot to movie plot

WAVERLY, Ohio — Prosecutors presented evidence on Monday that they said backs up their claim that a movie influenced the Wagner family's plan to kill eight members of the Rhoden family in 2016.

The capital murder trial of George Wagner IV continued into its ninth week on Monday. Wagner IV faces a possible death sentence if found guilty of helping his father, brother and mother plan, execute and cover up the murders of eight members of the Rhoden family in 2016.

George Wagner IV — along with his mother Angela, father George "Billy" Wagner and brother Edward "Jake" Wagner — is accused of shooting and killing the Rhoden family members "execution-style." The family's bodies were found on April 22, 2016. He faces eight charges of aggravated murder, along with other charges associated with tampering with evidence, conspiracy and forgery.

Found dead that day were 40-year-old Christopher Rhoden Sr., 37-year-old Dana Rhoden, 20-year-old Hannah "Hazel" Gilley, 16-year-old Christopher Rhoden Jr., 20-year-old Clarence "Frankie" Rhoden, 37-year-old Gary Rhoden, 19-year-old Hanna May Rhoden, and 44-year-old Kenneth Rhoden.

The trial is the first time a person has faced a jury for the deaths of the Rhoden family six years ago.

George's mother, Angela, and brother, Jake, accepted plea deals in 2021 with the hopes of escaping the death penalty.

The Wagner father, Billy, maintains his innocence from jail.

Monday, lead prosecutor Angela Canepa told jurors that the Wagner sons were fans of the films Boondock Saints and its sequel. Jake testified against his brother in October as part of a plea bargain he made with the state. He said then that he watched a clip from Boondock Saints II before the murder spree to hype himself up.

Canepa called Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations Special Agent Ryan Scheiderer to the stand Monday afternoon. He showed jurors photos of the Wagner father's hand tattoo of a scorpion. He said a character in the films has a tattoo on his trigger finger in a spot similar to where the Wagner father has that tattoo. He said the movie characters discuss a fable involving a scorpion killing a frog.

Also, Scheiderer said the father in the films murders his best friend. Canepa reminded jurors that the Wagner father considered Chris Rhoden Sr. a best friend.

The prosecution told jurors the Wagner family killed the Rhodens because they thought it was the only way to protect Jake's daughter from abuse. He shared that child with Hanna May Rhoden.

They connected that motive to the films because the main characters are vigilante brothers who kill those they believe deserve to die. Prosecutors pointed to ski masks found on the Wagner's property that match the ski masks those brothers wear in the movie. Canepa showed jurors photos of silencers that investigators found as evidence in the case and compared those to the guns used in the movies.

The defense team objected repeatedly throughout the presentation. Attorney John Parker argued this is speculation, asking jurors to make inferences based on a movie.

The defense was allowed to call some witnesses Monday even though prosecutors have not wrapped up their case. The defense was told by the prosecution they could call their witnesses beginning Monday, but a delay in the trial Friday hindered the prosecution's ability to wrap their case on schedule.

Because witnesses were already scheduled to appear Monday, the defense opened their case with their witnesses, but the prosecution was still able to call witnesses necessary to close their case.

Defense attorneys called the tattoo artist who gave the Wagner father the scorpion tattoo. His name is Shawn Fisher. He said he also gave Jake and George tattoos. Fisher discredited the prosecution's theory that the Wagner men got tattoos to commemorate the murders. He said he came up with George's tattoo himself. He said it was designed to cover up an old tattoo George had on his arm of a diesel company logo. He said skulls, eight balls and playing cards are his go-to designs if a client does not have their own ideas. He told jurors that the Wagner men did not come together to get their tattoos.

The defense called former bosses and pastors to back up their claim that George was different from his family and showed more concern for others.

"It was all just a lot of media attention and stuff and George was concerned about what the negative effects it would have on me personally and the church, and he didn't want to cause any further harm with him being there. So, he didn't want to come in," said Caleb Sinereski, pastor at a church in Alaska where the Wagner family attended service.

"In a short, George was smart and Jake struggled, " said Kelly Sinereski, Caleb's father and a pastor.

He said George was more independent. Throughout the trial, the defense has maintained that George wanted to distance himself from his family. They say he wanted to escape their lifestyle of stealing and committing insurance fraud.

Prosecutors do not believe George killed anyone in this case. However, they say he witnessed the shootings and helped cover them up.

The defense has argued George was never there the night of the massacre. They have also presented the idea that he tagged along with his brother and father to protect his brother.

You can read recaps of each day of the trial in our coverage below:

• Trial proceedings continue after delay
• Trial postponed to Monday over evidentiary issues
• Murders were about protection, not custody, said Angela
• Angela told the prosecution bloody shoeprints belonged to George
• Angela Wagner called to stand, opted out of recording
• Investigators describe recovering, testing murder weapons
• Jake Wagner finishes testimony as seventh week of trial wrapped up
• Photos of murder weapons are shown for first time as Jake testifies for third day
• Jake Wagner 'could not bear to think' or speak about his crimes after the murders
• 'I felt I had no other choice than to kill Hanna,' Jake Wagner told jury
• 'I was afraid they were going to kill me,' Jake's ex-wife testifies
• Texts between Hanna Rhoden and Jake Wagner detail ongoing custody argument
• Witnesses describe intertwined Wagner finances and a device found inside a well
• Clandestine recordings made by Jake, Wagner family finances presented
• Wire taps played for jury as court enters sixth week of testimony
• George Wagner IV's grandmother testifies
• Interview with Angela played for jury, Angela's half brother takes stand
• Texts highlight Wagner family dynamic, purchases for possible silencer
• Dozens of guns collected in search of Flying W Farm, but no murder weapons
• Jury shown evidence collected from Wagner belongings
• Evidence collected on Wagner property presented
• BCI agents testified to evidence
• Ex-wife of George Wagner IV describes 'strange and controlling' Wagner home
• Jury hears from George Wagner IV's ex-wife as fourth week of testimony begins
• Family members tearfully describe the day of the homicides
• Bloody shoe prints, cell phone records are focus
• Experts testify about ballistics, shoeprint evidence
• Third week of trial moves on to Kenneth Rhoden's home
• Evidence presented from third crime scene
• Scene where Dana, Chris. Jr and Hanna May Rhoden were killed is focus
• Testimony focuses on second of four crime scenes
• Coroner describes two of eight victims autopsied
• Forensic testimony continues into Monday
• Forensic evidence takes center stage
• Testimony centers on Kenneth Rhoden, final victim discovered
• Emergency responders testify about chaotic scenes
• Witnesses describe discovering their family members' bodies
• Opening statements detail grisly moments in the six-year-old murder case
• Read a full timeline of the Pike County murder investigation

Watch opening statements below:

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