Chris Graves
Rhoden family killings: George Wagner sentenced to life in prison without parole; vows to appeal
WAVERLY, Ohio — George Washington Wagner IV, one of the people at the center of eight coldblooded killings that devastated a southern...
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Chris Graves
Dec 8, 20222 min read
This just in: When criminal trial = political appointment
You should recognize this name in this press release. Andy Wilson was one of the prosecutors in the George Wagner IV trial. Ohio Gov....
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Chris Graves
Dec 7, 20226 min read
Rhoden family murders: George Wagner IV case reporting next steps
Often for journalists, when a major trial —or any major event — concludes our work continues and sometimes even intensifies. Coming up in...
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Chris Graves
Dec 5, 20221 min read
Jury convicts George Wagner IV on all counts in Rhoden family slayings
WAVERLY, Ohio — In the end, one of Ohio’s most complex and costly murder trials came down to one brother’s word against the other’s. On...
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Chris Graves
Nov 30, 20223 min read
Fate of George Wagner IV rests with jury in Ohio's most complex murder trial
WAVERLY, Ohio — The fate of a George Wagner IV, who along with his family was charged in the 2016 slayings of eight members of a southern...
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Chris Graves
Nov 28, 20223 min read
Prosecutor in Rhoden family killing case tells jurors to look at evidence and not lies of defendant
George Wagner IV is a liar whose two-day testimony in his defense does not match the evidence and is in direct contradiction to that of...
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Chris Graves
Nov 28, 20225 min read
Rhoden family killings: Closing arguments, jury to get case
Lawyers in Ohio's most costly and complex criminal trial will address jurors for the last time beginning Monday after more than three...
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Chris Graves
Nov 21, 20222 min read
Rhoden family killings: Prosecutors and defense rest case, jurors get Thanksgiving week off
After nearly three months, thousands of pieces of evidence and dozens of witnesses, prosecutors and defense lawyers in Ohio largest, most...
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Chris Graves
Nov 21, 20223 min read
Rhoden family mass killing prosecutor points to discrepancies in George Wagner IV testimony
In the second day of testimony in his own defense, the man accused in the conspiracy to kill eight member of a southern Ohio family in...
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Chris Graves
Nov 17, 20224 min read
Rhoden family murder case: Defendant George Wagner IV testifies in his defense, stunning onlookers
In a stunning move, George Wagner IV testified Wednesday in his own defense saying he did not know his family plotted, planned and killed...
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Chris Graves
Nov 14, 20221 min read
Review: 'What to know: Seven themes as defense takes over in Pike County murder trial'
We have discussed, and will continue to discuss, story structure. Please read the story below, reported and written by Patti Newberry, a...
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Chris Graves
Nov 14, 20223 min read
George Wagner IV trial: Prosecution rests its case; what to expect with defense
After nine weeks of testimony, the state of Ohio rested its case against George Wagner IV on Thursday and the defense will officially...
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Chris Graves
Nov 6, 20222 min read
An error in ethics: What would you do?
WAVERLY, Ohio — The editor-in-chief of a southern Ohio website faces a felony charge of illegal wire-tapping after authorities allege he...
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Chris Graves
Nov 6, 20225 min read
Wagner mother testifies against her son, puts him at Rhoden family crime scenes
WAVERLY, Ohio — The mother of the man accused in a 2016 mass murder told jurors that her husband hatched the plan to kill eight members...
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Chris Graves
Oct 30, 20224 min read
Rhoden family murder trial: Defense calls prosecution's witness 'stone-cold killer' and liar
WAVERLY, Ohio — The star prosecution witness in the trial of the man accused in the brutal slayings of eight members of a southern Ohio...
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Chris Graves
Oct 25, 20226 min read
Jake Wagner admits killing 5 of 8 Rhoden family members: 'I had no other choice'
WAVERLY, Ohio — In matter-of-fact chilling detail, Jake Wagner recounted Monday how he systematically killed five members of a southern...
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Chris Graves
Oct 24, 20224 min read
George Wagner IV's former sister-in-law details 'terrifying' life with family in mass-murder trial
WAVERLY, Ohio — The former sister-in-law of George Wagner IV detailed Friday her nearly four-month marriage to his brother saying it was...
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Chris Graves
Oct 18, 20224 min read
George Wagner IV mass murder trial: Wiretaps, listening devices and voices of the accused
WAVERLY, Ohio — In a series of recorded 2017 wiretaps played for jurors Monday, the man accused of killing eight members of a southern...
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Chris Graves
Oct 18, 20223 min read
George Wagner IV trial: Decisions you make as a reporter ...
WAVERLY, Ohio — Pike County Sheriff's deputies escorted Derek Myers, the editor of the Scioto Valley Guardian, out of court on Friday...
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Chris Graves
Oct 14, 20223 min read
Rhoden family murder case: Jurors hear Angela Wagner for the first time
WAVERLY, Ohio — For the first time, jurors on Thursday heard from the matriarch of the family accused in the slayings of eight members of...
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