Pike County killings trial: Former sister-in-law describes life with Wagner family
WAVERLY, Ohio – Proceedings in the murder trial of George Wagner IV continued Friday with testimony from Wagner IV's former sister-in-law.
Wagner IV is facing eight counts of aggravated murder and 14 other charges in connection with the shooting deaths of seven members of the Rhoden family and one future member.
Elizabeth Armer, who married Wagner IV's brother Jake in March 2018 after the family moved to Alaska, took the stand Friday. She read from a journal she kept during the three months she lived with the Wagners. Armer married Jake Wagner on March 24, 2018, and left him and the Wagner family in early July, later filing for divorce.
In one journal entry, Armer said the Wagners did not allow for privacy and autonomy. "Nobody seems to understand basic ownership," she wrote.
Armer said she had little contact with Wagner IV himself and, in response to questions from Wagner IV's attorney, said none of the Wagners admitted guilt in the crimes to her.
Jurors heard 500 pages worth of text messages between Jake Wagner and Hanna May Rhoden on Thursday. The messages portrayed the couple as in love but also in constant conflict about where to live, how to live and how to raise the child they had together.
Wagner IV was mentioned just one or twice in the exchanges as "your brother." Wagner IV's attorney John Parker objected to the introduction of the texts. The prosecution said the texts go to the heart of their case: that the Wagners killed the Rhodens to win custody of Jake and Hanna's child.
The texts made clear that Jake Wagner "wasn't going to easily obtain custody of Sophia," Special Prosecutor Angela Canepa said.
Friday in #PikeCountyMassacre trial of #GeorgeWagnerIV trial for@enquirer. pic.twitter.com/4B2r0L4Ctp
— Patricia Gallagher Newberry (@pattinewberry) October 21, 2022
Break in the action this morning in #PikeCountyMassacre trial of #GeorgeWagnerIV as Jake Wagner's former wife testifies. Elizabeth "Beth" Armer (earlier Elizabeth Freeman, then Elizabeth Wagner) married the defendant's brother in early 2018 in Alaska. 1/5
— Patricia Gallagher Newberry (@pattinewberry) October 21, 2022
In continued testimony in #PikeCountyMassacre trial of #GeorgeWagnerIV this morning, the defendant's former sister-in-law was asked to read excerpts from a journal she kept during the three months she lived with the Wagners. (Photo @Brooke_LaValley) 1/9 pic.twitter.com/q7XBrm6sMT
— Patricia Gallagher Newberry (@pattinewberry) October 21, 2022
Break in the action this morning in #PikeCountyMassacre trial of #GeorgeWagnerIV as Jake Wagner's former wife testifies. Elizabeth "Beth" Armer (earlier Elizabeth Freeman, then Elizabeth Wagner) married the defendant's brother in early 2018 in Alaska. 1/5
— Patricia Gallagher Newberry (@pattinewberry) October 21, 2022
In cross exam in the #PikeCountyMassacre trial of #GeorgeWagnerIV this afternoon, former Wagner IV sister-in-law Elizabeth Armer said she had little contact w/Wagner IV himself. She met him just twice in Alaska, then for a few days in Missouri, then lived w/them in Ohio. 1/8 pic.twitter.com/jQBUFLKxyq
— Patricia Gallagher Newberry (@pattinewberry) October 21, 2022
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Pike County murder trial: Ex-sister-in-law Elizabeth Armer testifies