Testimony is continuing Monday in the Pike County murder trial of George Wagner IV.Bill Bodziak, a shoe impression expert, is on the stand Monday. Bodziak specializes in footwear and tire impressions. He’s testified in high profile cases like OJ Simpson’s and Timothy McVeigh’s.Monday’s testimony comes after days of testimony from George’s brother Jake.Jake Wagner, who already pleaded guilty in this case, took the stand last week as part of his plea bargain, prosecutors agreed to take the death penalty off the table for himself and his family members if he testified against his brother.In Pike County on Friday, Jake Wagner admitted to it all. He was back on the stand, testifying against his brother, George Wagner, in connection to the 2016 Pike County massacre where eight members of the Rhoden family were murdered.”You’re a cold-blooded killer?” defense attorney John Parker asked.”Yes,” Jake Wagner said.”A liar?” Parker asked.”I was,” Jake Wagner said.The defense is trying to paint Jake Wagner as the evil sibling as he testified against his brother. Jake Wagner admitted he has been a criminal since childhood.He told jurors that when he was 10 or 11 years old, his father, Billy Wagner, taught him how to pick locks, then showed him how to break into vending machines, and eventually steal cattle, vehicles and fuel from semi-trucks.Parker also questioned Jake Wagner about his mother, Angela Wagner.”Your mother would burn down houses for money?” Parker asked.”I mean, yes” Jake Wagner answered.He said one time the family built “a big nice house” using materials that were stolen.Jake Wagner also said his mother would breed dogs and sell them as purebreds when they were not.Aside from living a life filled with crime, Jake Wagner admitted he has memory problems.”I would say my memory is kind of like a jigsaw puzzle,” Jake Wagner said. He said sometimes he remembers something that didn’t happen and vice versa.When it comes to April 21, 2016, the night eight members of the Rhoden family were murdered, Jake Wagner said he’s been slightly successful in wiping his memory, but the defense got him to admit George Wagner wasn’t supposed to go.”He didn’t want this to happen?” Parker asked.Jake Wagner said, “That’s correct.”Parker asked, “He went along at the last second to protect you?””Yes,” Jake Wagner said.Jake Wagner testified his brother did not fire a shot.Jake Wagner already pleaded guilty in this case. As part of his plea bargain, prosecutors agreed to take the death penalty off the table for himself and his family members if he testified against his brother.Angela Wagner accepted a similar plea.Billy Wagner has yet to go on trial.
Testimony is continuing Monday in the Pike County murder trial of George Wagner IV.
Bill Bodziak, a shoe impression expert, is on the stand Monday. Bodziak specializes in footwear and tire impressions. He’s testified in high profile cases like OJ Simpson’s and Timothy McVeigh’s.
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Monday’s testimony comes after days of testimony from George’s brother Jake.
Jake Wagner, who already pleaded guilty in this case, took the stand last week as part of his plea bargain, prosecutors agreed to take the death penalty off the table for himself and his family members if he testified against his brother.
In Pike County on Friday, Jake Wagner admitted to it all.
He was back on the stand, testifying against his brother, George Wagner, in connection to the 2016 Pike County massacre where eight members of the Rhoden family were murdered.
“You’re a cold-blooded killer?” defense attorney John Parker asked.
“Yes,” Jake Wagner said.
“A liar?” Parker asked.
“I was,” Jake Wagner said.
The defense is trying to paint Jake Wagner as the evil sibling as he testified against his brother. Jake Wagner admitted he has been a criminal since childhood.
He told jurors that when he was 10 or 11 years old, his father, Billy Wagner, taught him how to pick locks, then showed him how to break into vending machines, and eventually steal cattle, vehicles and fuel from semi-trucks.
Parker also questioned Jake Wagner about his mother, Angela Wagner.
“Your mother would burn down houses for money?” Parker asked.
“I mean, yes” Jake Wagner answered.
He said one time the family built “a big nice house” using materials that were stolen.
Jake Wagner also said his mother would breed dogs and sell them as purebreds when they were not.
Aside from living a life filled with crime, Jake Wagner admitted he has memory problems.
“I would say my memory is kind of like a jigsaw puzzle,” Jake Wagner said.
He said sometimes he remembers something that didn’t happen and vice versa.
When it comes to April 21, 2016, the night eight members of the Rhoden family were murdered, Jake Wagner said he’s been slightly successful in wiping his memory, but the defense got him to admit George Wagner wasn’t supposed to go.
“He didn’t want this to happen?” Parker asked.
Jake Wagner said, “That’s correct.”
Parker asked, “He went along at the last second to protect you?”
“Yes,” Jake Wagner said.
Jake Wagner testified his brother did not fire a shot.
Jake Wagner already pleaded guilty in this case. As part of his plea bargain, prosecutors agreed to take the death penalty off the table for himself and his family members if he testified against his brother.
Angela Wagner accepted a similar plea.
Billy Wagner has yet to go on trial.
