Pike County Murder Trial | Opening statements begin 

It's 2022 ALL Trials should be streamed. I can understand not wanting your face to be shown but your testimony should still be able to be heard. Thanks WCPO for streaming this trial.

This has to be one of the worst opening statement by a prosecutor I’ve heard.

Bolvine?? (Sp???) These people need to be in prison for the crime of that name alone. But seriously, this is the story of two twisted families, one more so than another. I cannot imagine a father permitting his thirteen year old to date a grown man, but it's even harder to imagine a family so messed up that they'd conspire to kill eight people. I hope all the little kids, including Bolvine, (sp??) are doing okay.

Accidentally came across this trial. I am speechless. What is happening to mankind?

"Um um umm umm". The prosecutor started off weakly. She's rambling and even brought up what COULD have happened? I thought she was going to prove what DID happen. She gets a little better as she goes on.

This prosecutor has me thinking I could be a lawyer. The family relationships are confusing. There should be a permanent set up with the family tree of the victims with one or two dot points about them underneath (loving father etc) for memory prompts for the jury. It seems like the locations of the residences will be important too so why not have that on the board as well maybe with some larger pictures to the side so she doesn’t have to say “remember that place where there was only the porch left?”. I’d probably also have pictures of the defendant with his family members. Clearly they are going to come up again and again so we need to have a visual reminder of who these people are. There’s also just a bunch of extraneous detail included. It’s like when you are told you need to do an executive summary so you take the first sentence from every paragraph instead of actually thinking about what the actual point of your paper is. I don’t need to hear what every witness is going to argue. I need to hear the general gist of what the defendant did, when, with what and with whom so I can navigate the trial. Add in a bit of sympathy for the victims and that’s a good opening statement. This one will just have the jury turned off immediately. “I’m kinda bouncing around here” understatement of the year.

First time watching, not yet at the end of this video, now at the part of this mother has some sick hold on her son's, this is one sick family with weak minded sons. My heart goes out to the love ones of the loss family. Last night watched the brothers testimony, this morning seen the cousin testimony of the family, they were so touching to me, then found this video, as of now I see what the story is of this family, although this happened in 2016 it is so powerful to watch. My prayers go out to all the victims love ones, I'm so sorry for your tragic loss.

I can’t even grasp the concept of this case. At least 3, possibly 4 family members down for mass murder. How does this happen.

Hope she doesn't do the closing

The judge literally just said Myspace at the 5:00 mark🤣

I hope what he did to get custody of his child is brought up in court.

He named his son Bovine?????? Wtf!

The States opening seemed kinda haphazard and scattered. At times I had no idea what she was talking about.

WCPO9 Thank you guys for your relentless coverage of this case. It’s a tragedy and honestly the whole world is watching n waiting for justice for the victims and family. We appreciate all the hard work involved and doing such a fantastic job keeping us included in the process. Prayers for all the victims and family.

Lose the prosecutor...if you plan to win this case. She appears ill prepared. Too big of a case for her....5 minutes in and I find myself tuning her out.

The prosecutor says "um"every sentence. It`s extremely difficult to listen to her. 🤔

This a terrible terrible murder and tragedy it affects so many precious lives. I can’t fathom why someone would do that. 😭 so very sad!

I wish we could see video footage of the field trip that the jury got to go on to see all of the houses and properties where the murders were done.

No offense to the prosecution, but every time she says 'um' it sounds like 'I didn't really care enough to speak through my presentation with authority'. And, for her to say 'you know', that's like asking the jury to tell her they agree with her - in opening statements! For as long as it took to bring this case to trial, and as much as dewine made a show out the indictment, her presentation sounds like she isn't prepared.

Whoever asked her to step closer to the microphone should have also suggested she watch her "um" factor.. This will be a perfect example to new law students on what not to do during an opening statement... I had to skip it...

The opening statement is a tough one to follow. A map and a diagram showing the connections to these parties would have helped considerably. The um factor is something the prosecutor needs to work on…

Anybody who has previously watched proceedings leading up to this trial know that the "uhm" thing isnt new lol but this has been a very long time coming!

At the bottom of that photo collage the words typed are family tree. In no way was this a family tree. Maybe if they had constructed it as a family tree, it would have been easier to understand and process. With all the years the prosecution had to prepare, this is what we get??? Wow. Smh

Literally the downfall of every single murderer WALMART security footage!

Instead of telling the jurors what each witness will say, put them on and have them say it! Openings should be to the point and as quick as you can, or you have already lost the jurors before you even start.

This woman is all over the place. When you have 8 victims, 4 co-suspects/guilty parties, a bunch of babies and gfs and xgfs, it's already confusing. She should've planned this better. Not like she hasn't had time.

I sure hope Tabitha has full custody of her son now.

This lawyer went to "UM" university... 😐

This might be the worst opening statement by a prosecutor I have EVER SEEN...

Justice for the Rhodens & the Gilleys 🙏🏻

I just noticed she never said,"The evidence will show....", like you usually hear during most opening statements. She just rambled mostly about everyone else but him. Sounds like they're going for guilt by association.

Its hard to believe that someone would name a child Bovine but yet here they are. Smh!

Is the defendant conscious? He hasn't moved the whole two hours! * I stand corrected, he moved at the 2:04 mark lol. Angela is a real nut case! Her need to control other people's lives is ridiculous! She needs to be locked away forever!

It amazes me how many attorneys, when speaking, say Umm! It is unbelievably irritating and I don’t understand how they don’t realize how much they say it and how incredibly unprepared and unintelligent it makes them sound! It drives me crazy and is definitely a pet peeve of mine! 😤 The woman prosecutor needs to record herself and listen to how often she says Umm and work on this bad habit she has picked up and FIX IT….it’s NERVE WRACKING !! 🙉 💆🏾‍♀️

Uhmm...smack my lips......ugh

I’ve never heard anyone being named Bovine. That refers to cattle. I’m sorry if anyone finds this disrespectful, but it’s weird

⭐️ I once stood trial for attempted murder, way back in 2002. Prosecutors opening spoke of how a dirtbag had kicked in my moms door, beat her up & robbed her. Despite a stack of evidence, the D.A decided not to go ahead with an indictment. Meanwhile I’m just 4 days into my 1st deployment to Afghanistan so a few weeks after I returned a guy in a mask was seen on shabby cctv “stalking” the guy from his favorite bar, to his truck where the masked guy put a Mossberg shotgun, a small 10.5” weapon & he shot him 3 times. The fat pig actually survived 3 slugs but will always wear a bag for both 1 & 2. The owner of the stolen getaway car admitted he lied to cops, the lead detective was caught in a lie also. The victim, who was now a recovered addict said, “I just told cops what they wanted to hear coz they promised to drop my cases.” The jury took 4 hours to exonerate. Don’t break law of course & remember states like mine that are pro-2A go hardest on gun crimes coz it’s these ppl who are messing it up for the rest of the ppl.⭐️

Opening was pretty bad. "Umms" are annoying once you notice them, but that's not really important. The real problem was the way she strung together various bits of evidence without forming a narrative. It's like reading the dictionary instead of a 3-act story. I couldn't picture what happened and I can barely remember what she said. I know there has to be training for these types of things. At least run it by your colleagues. The case is too important to wing it.

Why in the hell would Angela save the receipt for those shoes?

If she don’t saying “ummm” uma scream 😱!!!!! She is making the case weak!!!! Somebody save her

This is a very poor presentation from the state. One hour into it, she has introduced the victims & why they were at the house and who was sleeping and taking pictures and whatnt but she doesn't say what caused this family feud. When did it all start and how did it end up the way it did? She should start at who the victims are, who killed them and why. Then introduce the who the characters are.

Couldn't watch the video all the "ums" lady speaking says "um" 946 times in her story 😏

This family reminds me the movie Deliverance.

THANKYOU for the opening and all the hard work from all the smart ppl who cracked this case Dedication here

Aw George and tabitha named their kid bovine wow poor kid ridiculous name

My question is if Jake and the mom confuss to the murders why are Ed and Billy fighting the case why don't they plead out to life and save the family from the trail

Bovine

why did it take so long to arrest them? they had all the evidence they needed almost from day one after the murders.

So much information

Can we start a petition to ask the judge to make her collect her thoughts and stop with the ummms and ands!!

I hope little Bovine is now free to roam the fields.

The prosecutor sounds like she just got the case yesterday and not prepared. Too much information about all the other people (non-victims) for an opening statement. She could mention them and say we're going talk about them later in the trial. This is poorly presented and confusing, especially when you have 8 murdered people.

The volume of this trial is hard to hear.

It's scary to know how low the bar is set for people allowed to make life altering decisions for others.

She left out Kenneth Rhoden when doing each person's profile. 🙁

States opening has more ummms than words... she seems very ummmprepared

I thought Dana was on her phone and Hannah may was nursing her Baby when they were killed only Chris Jr was sleeping in that residence

Bovine? Really?

Prosecutor is a rambler which is sad since it’s such a evil tragic mass murder 💔

There's nothing more disappointing than a dull opening statement.... For a trial like this they need the person to be ON POINT! Way too much dithering and Ums!

Um would be tolerable if she got some fire I. In her opening..a mother being executed while nursing...babies covered in blood, the innocence of the the victims. She should study Jodie Arias prosecutor'sopening or Kathy Fegler ?)

This prosecutor needs to be locked up for that opener. I mean like like that's a felony right there.

Seeing the bald defence attorney chuckle and smile during opening arguments make me just cringe and pissed off.

She did NOT call her kid bovine good lord was their no,parental input to talk to hervabout appropriate names for a child

Attorney is not a great speaker but she is so thorough I feel like I was there. She set it up well😊

I had to back it up to make sure I heard Bolvine right.... that's just mean

What a tragedy!

Whatta family!! I cannot understand the thought process of these people.

And um

Hard to listen to this with all of the ,"Ummm,'s" Wow. It is annoying.

Umm ummm ummm ummm

THE REASON THEY DON'T HAVE A CONSTANT DIAGRAM OF EVERYONE IN THIS CASE UP WHERE THE JURORS CAN SEE IT IS....THEY ONLY HAD 6 YEARS TO PUT IT ALL TOGETHER. SHEEEESH!!! ITS NOT ENOUGH TIME.

I hope she kicks into gear cause that was a really slow start. Fingers crossed.

Not only does the prosecutor say I’m a lot….so does the judge.

Great judge 💯

Tabitha and George Jr. named their child Bovine?!?!?!?!?! Cow? Wow. That is messed up.

All this banging around is murder on my head phones

Excellent opening. Makes it all very clear.

Prosecutor goes into too much details . Too much to follow

😂😂😂😂 He does NOT look anything like Norman Reedus! No matter how much he wanted to believe that in his head. Never! Don't do my boy Norman like that!

Poor lady typing um um um um um um .....

She wanted him to pet her bunnies? Um, seriously?

TO THE PROSECUTOR, THE ONE GIVING THE OPENING STATEMENTS.... CAN YOU PLEASE SAY "UM" A LOT MORE? SAYING IT ONCE EVERY 3 WORDS IS JUST NOT ENOUGH!!!🤓

The ummd are driving me umm crazy

1:55:03 “…..if you kill a zombie and they hear, then the other zombies come”

The prosecution opening was hard to follow and she said umm too much

Dude he hasn't move the whole time not onetime not even he's face get flushed from hearing about the damning evidence they have he must've taken a hand full of Xanax there no emotional expression I would've been squirming like crazy or atleast my blood pressure would have been going up that's crazy

Why did all 8 have to die?! In their insane reasoning

Umm stop saying that 😐

Gosh it’s just so sad looking at each one of these innocent people who lost their lives that day. So horrible and heartbreaking. I will never understand. They just assumed they could and would get away with this. Gosh. How in the middle of the night did these intruders go unseen and unheard and was able to get so many. Gosh. So sad. RIP to each one. Plz anyone who watches this I hope and pray they protect themselves and trust NO1!!!!

Has the judge got a crystal ball on his bench.

Please work on “um” issue….public speaking hazard. Good prosecutor.

Umm...umm...she has me confused...

Prosecutor isn't well prepared and I don't understand why?. It's a big case and they couldn't find someone experienced?

Opening Statements begin @17:10

Geez don’t even provide lunch for jurors 🤦‍♀️

This is a massive case.

I'm sorry, too many ums

"We will be streamlining this as much as possible" says the prosecution with all of the "ums" and extraneous information. 🤣 For a case with 8 murder victims, there should have been a much better opening statement.

The opening by the prosecution is almost unwatchable because of all of the UMs😤