WAVERLY, Ohio — Closing arguments continued Tuesday for a trial about a suspect involved in a massacre that happened in Ohio in 2016.
While the defense claims George Wagner IV was never involved in the murder, the prosecutor alleges he is the primary culprit of the crime.
Closing arguments were held in the case against George at Pike County Courthouse. Prosecutors alleged he and his family plotted to murder eight members of the Rhoden family near Pike County in April of 2016.
George and three of his family members were arrested in connection to the massacre in November of 2018. His mother, Angela Wagner, and brother, Jake Wagner, took plea deals and have testified against him. For 13 weeks now, the jury has heard various testimony, including a claim from Angela that a Wagner child was being sexually abused by the Rhoden family.
Prosecutors said the killings are a result for a custody dispute between the two families, because a mother refused to give up her daughter. Six years later, George faces the death penalty if convicted.
During closing arguments, George’s defense attorney said there’s no evidence that George was ever at the scene of the incident. But the special prosecutor believes he participated in the murder because of all the evidence they gathered over the years.
“He wouldn’t kill anybody, and he didn’t kill anybody, and he didn’t go along because it makes no sense,” said John Parker, George’s defense attorney.
“When you look at all that evidence, he’s guilty,” said D. Andrew Wilson, the special prosecutor. “At that point, by law, you’re required to find him guilty.”
Prosecutors do not accuse Wagner of shooting anyone in the 2016 incident, but that he took part in the planning, execution and cover up of the massacre. George’s father, Billy Wagner, is set to go on trial for the murders next year.
Deliberation will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday.
