After a one-week delay due to an illness, the trial of George Wagner IV is set to begin with opening statements Monday.
Here's what to expect during the first week:
Opening statements by the prosecution and the defense, which lay the foundation of each side's case and act a roadmap to the jury on what they can expect to hear from each side during the trial.
In this case, prosecutors have disclosed information related to the investigation and evidence in previous motion hearings. However, Special Prosecutor Angela Canepa is expected to provide even more detail to jurors about the state's evidence.
Defense lawyers will also outline how they plan to defend Wagner on the charges. Lawyers have previously said their client did not kill any of the victims and only went with his brother and father because he fear his father may hurt his younger brother, Jake Wagner. But it is unclear if this will be their sole defense.
Opening statements are extremely important for reporters to attend and to report on, as it is often the first time many details are disclosed about a case.
Witness testimony could come as early as Monday afternoon. The first witnesses will likely include those who found the victims and first responders as prosecutors will likely work chronologically to build their case.
Related: Who might be the first to testify
The jury is made up of nine women and three men. There are six alternate juror— five women and one man. The jurors were told to expect the trial to last six to eight weeks. Jurors visited the crime scenes and the route the prosecution alleges the Wagner's took the night of the mass killing.
Background:
Charged: George Wagner IV, 30; his younger brother, Edward "Jake" Wagner; 29; and their parents, George "Billy" Wagner, 51, and Angela Wagner, 51, were indicted in 2018 with 22 crimes, including eight counts of aggravated murder.
Killed: Christopher “Chris” Rhoden Sr., 40; Chris Rhoden’s former wife, Dana Manley Rhoden, 37; their children, Clarence “Frankie” Rhoden, 20, Hanna May Rhoden, 19, and Christopher “Chris” Rhoden Jr., 16; Frankie’s fiancee, Hannah Hazel Gilley, 20; Christopher Sr.’s brother Kenneth Rhoden, 44; and their cousin Gary Rhoden, 38.
The charges
A Pike County grand jury indicted each of the Wagners on 22 crimes, including eight counts of aggravated murder in November 2018. Jake Wagner was indicted on an additional count of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor related to his relationship with Hanna Rhoden. Read the indictments.
Based on covering past trials how strong do you think the defenses case will be when they try and present George Wagner IV as not one of the members who committed any of the murders?
What happens when they witness can not be present that day to give their testimony? You would think that means that they can't give it now because that time has past but would they still be given the chance to speak? Couldn't they be zoomed in or something? With cases, they are schedule to talk about specific topics each day so if you can't attend then you shouldn't be allowed to come another day since your time has past.
You mentioned that the first day of witness testimony may be Monday. What may have delayed that testimony?
With such high profile cases that capture the public's attention like this, do you think the media coverage can end up having influence over a jury? It is interesting that they had them walk the path as I didn't know they did things like that. How much are juror's educated on the case before the trial?
How long are opening statements within these big cases because statements and beginning of the witness testimonies are all in this week so how is everything paced?