George "Billy" Wagner III, the lone remaining defendant in the notorious 2016 Pike County massacre, was expected to appear in court today for a hearing that could determine whether his trial will be moved out of Pike County. Wagner has maintained his not-guilty plea in the execution-style slayings of eight members of the Rhoden and Gilley families, WLWT reports.
His relocation over the weekend to the Pickaway County Jail places him near his Columbus-based attorneys before his trial, set for early January. Wagner, 53, had been held at Butler County Jail since his arrest nearly six years ago. This shift in Wagner's detention comes as he faces multiple charges, including eight counts of aggravated murder, with a familial backdrop. His wife and two grown sons have all been convicted or pleaded guilty to their roles in the same crimes, FOX19 NOW elaborates.
The defense's request for a venue change is driven, in part, by the publicity from Wagner's son, George's trial, which has already concluded with a life sentence. The prosecution reportedly has countered this argument, suggesting that not all publicity is necessarily prejudicial. Local12 covered the detail that Wagner's defense team is fighting to move the trial due to the media attention it has garnered.
The court's decision on the venue change and other motions will be critical in the run-up to Wagner's trial in January. Since sentencing, George Wagner IV has appealed his conviction. The financial repercussions continue accumulating, with state and local officials estimating costs at nearly $4 million, all footed by Ohio taxpayers, including the forthcoming appeal and Billy Wagner's pending trial, as reported by FOX19 NOW.
