WAVERLY, OHIO — Christopher Rhoden Sr. was shot five times at close range in his face, once in his chin and bullets pierced his heart, liver and intestines, the forensic pathologist who performed his autopsy testified Tuesday.
Rhoden, 40, was shot a nine times by two different weapons and the gunshots to his face likely were fired by someone standing over him while he was not moving, said Hamilton County's Chief Deputy Coroner Karen Looman. Any of the nine wounds would have been lethal, she told jurors.
Looman's detailed and sometimes gruesome testimony came during the second week of testimony in the trial of George Wagner IV, 30, who faces eight counts of aggravated murder in the 2016 slayings of Rhoden family members in rural Pike County.
Looman noted that one of the wounds to his face lodged in his spine and caused an “internal decapitation." The gunshot to his right forearm was from a high-powered rifle or shotgun and nearly tore his arm off, she said.
“His arm was barely hanging on to the end of his elbow,” Looman told jurors.
She performed all the autopsies on the victims, including Gary Rhoden, whose body was found on April 22, 2016 with Christopher Rhoden Sr.'s after the two were dragged through his trailer and into a back bedroom.
Gary Rhoden, 38, a Rhoden cousin, was shot three times in the head and the bullets fractured his skull, Looman told jurors. He was shot once in the left temple by a gun that was held against his skin, she said. Any one of the wounds would have killed him instantly, she said.
Gary Rhoden had cocaine and caffeine in his system when he died, she said toxicology reports showed. Christopher Rhoden Sr. had caffeine in his system and no other drugs, she said.
Looman testified for about 4 1/2 hours, showing jurors photos of the bodies and detailing the path of each bullet and described the condition of both bodies. She testified that it was likely they were the first victims in the killing spree because each body had signs of decomposition she did not see in the six other victims.
Special Prosecutor Angela Canepa opened several evidence bags that contained the men's clothing and asked Looman to show the jurors where the bullet holes were.
Rhoden and Manley family members bowed their heads and wept throughout her testimony. At one point, one family member left the gallery.
Bureau of Criminal Investigation special investigator Todd Fortner also testified Tuesday. He began to detail how investigators found the outside of 4199 Union Hill Road, where Clarence "Frankie" Rhoden and Hannah Hazel Gilley lived. Their bodies were found in bed on either side of their 6-month-old son who was alive and physically unharmed.
Fortner showed jurors the toddler's blood soaked diaper that was bagged as evidence. He detailed the outside of the trailer and noted that he found a knife, sledgehammer and a pair of pliers near the back door of that trailer. He also noted an open window on the back of the trailer as well.
Fortner is expected to continue his testimony as prosecutors will move on to the second crime scene. The trial is expected to last six to eight weeks.
Why didn't you name the family member who left the room? Was it just to respect their privacy, or was there some other reason? Why do you think the murderer(s) didn't kill the children of the victims? I think it's interesting that they showed so much horrific brutality by unnecessarily shooting the victims so many times, yet left the children alive. Why is it important to inform the courtroom about what was in the victim's digestive systems? Do you get confused by the medical terminology used during the trial, or has your history of reporting on crime given you a good understanding of that language?
When it comes to murder cases I always think some of the scenes, photos and even autopsy reports can be quite gruesome. Do you think the jurors can be traumatized by what they see and if so how are they cared for afterwards? Do you ever find yourself tramuatized by the info?
How do you think someone leaves the courtroom feeling? Do you think that the longer the testimony, they better chance they have? I really like seeing the pictures you post on your blogs. Makes me feel like I'm there and I'm getting see everything that is happen as well.
Does reading the various testimonials affect your mental state in any way? Do they often give four-hour testimony?
Has there been anything that has been said so far in the trial that has shocked you?
Does listening to all the different testimonies have an effect on you mentally? I would be an emotional wreck if I were there listening to Fortner's testimony and then showing the bloody diaper from the 6-month-son of Clarence "Frankie" Rhoden and Hannah Hazel Gilley.