Prosecutor says in closing argument Pike County killings were a Wagner 'family affair'

Update 3:03 p.m. Special Prosecutor Angela Canepa wrapped up her closing statement in the trial of George Wagner IV by emphasizing the testimony against him from his mother and brother, who said Wagner IV participated in the killings of eight people in Pike County in 2016.

"The family has spoken," Canepa said, echoing Wagner IV when he told brother Jake Wagner he needed to end his marriage, per audio evidence. "Jake and (mother) Angela have told you everything this defendant did that night."

The jury will reconvene at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday to hear the closing statement from Wagner IV's attorneys.

Update 1:20 p.m. Special Prosecutor Angela Canepa put circumstantial and direct evidence in front of jurors in quick succession Monday morning to try to convince them to convict George Wagner IV on aggravated murder and other charges in connection with the 2016 Pike County killings.

In the category of circumstantial evidence, Canepa said the Wagners aimed to control all the women and children in their lives, including monitoring the social media of their wives and girlfriends. Additionally, they bought parts for homemade gun silencers, got tattoos with ties to the homicides and watched a clip from "Boondock Saints" four hours before the first victims were shot to death the night of April 21, 2016.

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For direct evidence, Canepa highlighted testimony from Angela and Jake Wagner, the defendant's mother and brother, and shoe print evidence from the crime scenes that matched shoes Angela bought for Jake and George for the night of the killings.

When Canepa concludes, Wagner IV's defense begins. The prosecution then gets the last word, with rebuttal, before the judge provides jury instruction.

Update 11:20 a.m.: Special Prosecutor Angela Canepa told jurors the evidence the prosecution presented shows the 2016 Pike County killings were a Wagner "family affair."

While no evidence or witness pointed to George Wagner IV shooting any of the eight victims, evidence does show he was intimately involved in the "criminal enterprise" and that he would not be someone "who would ever sit one out, who would ever not be involved," she said.

Canepa told the nine women and three men of the jury that circumstantial evidence is important in the case. Shoe prints, spent bullets and weapons all tie the Wagners to the killings.

Before Canepa began her closing, Judge Randy Deering told the jury they would not be sequestered during their deliberations. He also informed them that death penalty would not be an option if they find Wagner IV guilty.

Previous reporting:

WAVERLY, Ohio – Lawyers are expected to make their closing arguments Monday in the Pike County murder trial of George Wagner IV.

When proceedings recessed last Tuesday for the Thanksgiving holiday break, Pike County Common Pleas Court Judge Randy Deering directed attorneys working to defend and prosecute Wagner IV to return at 9 a.m. to wrap up final discussion about instructions for the jury.

After that, the prosecution will present its closing, followed by the defense, with prosecutors then getting a second turn.

Once complete, Deering will read jury instructions and dismiss the panel of nine women and three men to begin their deliberations.

Deering said he expected the jury to get the case no later than Wednesday.

Deering has the option of sequestering the jury as they deliberate. Last week, however, he indicated that jurors would work in the courthouse jury room – noting that its small size would require photos, weapons, clothing and other physical evidence in the case be delivered to jurors' at their request.

Wagner IV entered a not guilty plea to eight counts of aggravated murder and 14 other charges related to the 2016 shooting deaths of the Rhoden family.

Prosecution witnesses said Wagner IV helped plan, carry out and cover up the homicides.

Wagner IV, testifying in his own defense, said he went to bed at 10 p.m. on the night of the crimes and only learned that seven Rhodens and one future family member were killed from TV news the next day.

Wagner IV's trial began Aug. 29. Brother Edward "Jake" Wagner and mother Angela Wagner pleaded guilty in the case last year. George "Billy" Wagner III, also pleading not guilty, will be tried next year.

This story will be updated.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Closing arguments begin Monday in Pike County murder trial