Pike County Murder Trial | Opening statements continue 

The plea deals in this case are pathetic. Angela is getting 30 years for plotting and abetting 8 murders. Anything short of life for all involved is a slap on the wrist.

Poor Hannah. Gets sexually abused by a family friend, meet and falls in love with Jake. Gets pregnant at 15 and is murdered when she's 19. Such a short and distressing life. And now her daughter Sophia has a horrible start in life as well. Rest in peace Hannah 🙏

The opening prosecuter could have done a better job, she seemed all over the place and didn't really seem focused on the evidence. I felt frustrated in trying to follow.

This prosecutor has no idea how to prioritize information. Her opening statement did not need to take this long. Hit the main points and lay the framework. Bring out the story with the witnesses and the evidence throughout! I’d be so bored as a juror I would be antsy to hear the defense attorney. Not a good foot to get off to as the prosecution.

Clearly, this prosecutor could have used more of her time to fine tune and methodically lay out the facts in this case. This is not the case, however this happened 6 years ago! Their office had ample time to come together and work on an awesome opening statement, giving direct and concise information to the jury. But NO, instead, we get THIS. Stammering, misinforming, apologetic blithering. If I lived in that County, I'd be asking why my hard earned tax dollars are paying for this BS? And, if this is a "special prosecutor" I'd say shame on you. Ridiculous! Notice I didn't say umm once.

This case is so complex and every piece of information is extremely important. I have fallen asleep 3 times trying to listen to this prosecutor. God knows how these jurors were feeling 🤦🏽‍♀️

Judge: Madam court reporter can you please read back the last sentence? I think the jury may have misunderstood it. Court Reporter: umm umm umm and umm umm and umm ummmmmm. Judge: Thank you madam court reporter. I thought maybe the transcript would reflect a missing but incriminating “ummm” which could affect an ummm appeal.

Prosecutor needs to be mindful of 'listener fatigue'. Her entire opening could've been scaled down by 25%. I wonder if she did a mock opening to get feedback about her length?

Somebody at the DA's office REALLY needs to tell her to STOP saying ummm. She sounds like a 6 year old & I really can't listen to her through this whole trial!!!!!

I don’t understand why she would be the one to give opening statements bless her heart but she’s just not good at it

This is brutal to listen to. Hard to believe people can do such evil. 💔

Not impressed with the prosecutor. She comes off as barely informed of the details of this case. How many times did she apologize for misstatements and exaggeration, three? Four? I don't think she practiced her opening at all, did no-one give her feedback? Sounds like she's winging it....how many years ago did this happen 😟

I’m sure the Prosecutor is neck deep in work with this case, but come on, this is a BIG case, someone dropped the ball. This opening is subpar for a case of this caliber.

Wow the prosecutor must've had to back peddle half way through her own statement. What a way to start.

I hope the jury doesn’t start to filter out or start to brain wonder due to prosecutors enormous amounts of ums, ands, I thinks and “we kinda know”. She is sounding unsure and inexperienced. I couldn’t wait for this trial to start and now I’m already getting bored and find myself saying come on just get to it! Sorry, I’m just truly worried she’s gonna confuse the jury rather than give jury the confidence it needs to convict. Pray for truth to be found no matter which way it goes. Justice for all involved

I just can’t with UM opening statement……as a juror I would be so frustrated. She makes almost impossible to follow the timeline and important info. God Bless the court reporter as well.

9/12/22 - Scary that these ppl exist in a civilized nation. We are in trouble - evil is literally in the air. God please protect our souls!

Thank you for posting this trial ❤️❤️ JUSTICE

Your honor I would like to object to the state prosecutor’s abuse of the space filling word “umm”! The prosecution is obviously insulting this jury’s intelligence by inferring none of them can comprehend a complete sentence.

Umm count from 6:59 to 24:24 = 115 times. This Prosecutor said it 115 times in a matter of less than 16 minutes. Ummm, I think that's too much.

Please! For the sake of saving this case and the sanity of the jury and viewers, someone make her STOP! Why on earth is she going into so much detail of the evidence in her opening statement?! This time should be used to engage the jury, give them a run down of which experts or witnesses would be testifying to certain types of evidence, giving a solid motive, and any information should be firm and concise and in an order that is understandable. Save the finer details for testimony, where there will be less use of the non-word “ummm” by witnesses and experts who actually took the time to prepare accordingly. The jury has likely forgotten half the details that she’s stammered and UMMMMED through (if not because of info overload combined with constant breaks in speech so she can add another UMM, then surely through boredom of this lacklustre presentation), only to hear her retract information, say she neglected to give additional information, saying she misspoke, bouncing back and forth between the version of events and scrambling for images to match her fumbling statement. Saying things like, “I think”, “I wanna say”, “I believe” sounds more like fragmented guesswork and doesn’t sound very convincing for a jury trial which will be relying heavily on solid evidence and facts in order for the jury to convict and possibly hand down a death penalty. I usually relish in opening statements for a trial of this magnitude, and I can barely follow her. For the sake of the victims and their families, I really hope the prosecutor doesn’t destroy this case and the justice they seek because she is a bumbling mess. I have never seen such a poorly presented opening statement by a prosecutor in a death penalty trial, or any jury trial for that matter. The state only gets one chance to secure a conviction…you’d think they would have come better prepared…goodness knows they’ve had enough time. At this point, I’m feeling like Ronnie O’Neal had a more fluent opening statement representing himself at trial 🤦‍♀️

Not the most well spoken (great story teller) attorney. It helps SO MUCH when you have a crime with the SHEER numbers of suspects and victims that are in involved in this crime!

A jurors attention span is 15-20 minutes. Her opening was 2.5 hours and very poorly presented.

A three hour opening statement can be condensed to 30 min by simply editing out the word “ummm”. So bleeping annoying to listen to such an educated Attormey with the speaking skills of a 4th grader.

Good gravy, Defense is equally annoying. You're not Mr. Roger's, you're not welcoming us to your neighborhood.... speak like a normal professional adult man. People can only take so much of that sing songy nasal voice. Ugh.

8 people brutally murdered, involving two very large families, and the jury is not sequestered!! On their own for lunch, breaks, and mingled with everyone that is there!, they will definitely hear conversations, watch people, and be influenced! Bad decision not to sequester, at least during the day!

Clearly she's not listening to herself say ummm so many times or she would 🛑🛑🛑🛑🛑🛑

I figured Angela was the one who started this whole thing.

OMG just stop talking

I had to google cistern. Possums floating in the cistern? Good God! A reporter who went out there was told she'd have to climb a hill to get cell service.

1:18:38 WTF? The prosecutor called these mass murderers "boys." Were any minors at the time of this mass murder? This is CRAZY!!

This case has been drawn out 6 nearly 7 years, involving several suspects & victims as well as covering multiple crimes scenes & tons of evidence. This is a very complex case, give the lady a break, she's trying to provide all information & I'm sure it's a big puzzle to keep up with & laying out a huge time-line. I'd rather her take her time & lay it put, This isn't a small case, it's high profile involving alot of ppl.

Ummmmm Ummmmm Ummmmm I hope this prosecutor speaks better next time. I understand anxiety with a live trial but this was ridiculous.

I will never understand people complaining about the delivery of facts by the prosecution. The things she’s saying are what the family and all of us have waited for years to hear. The Rhoden family was literally massacred in the worst ways imaginable and people complain about her “ummms” 🤦🏼‍♀️ enough!!!! a whole family is dead, children have no parents. She’s doing her best to fight for this family as well as the ones living without their beloved family members. I just can’t take the criticism. I don’t understand it. Omg

Hopefully she/her firm sees these comments and prepares for her next trial MUCH better than she did for this one. Hands down the worst, most disorganized opening I’ve ever heard. Most of this will be presented DURING the trial, so she’s basically wasted 3 hours. Not a good look for the state…and really unfortunate for the people they represent - the family deserves better.

Old Jake didn't age well. He looks like he's in his early 50's 😳.

George acting all innocent, but, what's telling ìs his respiration, up down up down. He needs to be convicted. Bye George.

Maybe Canepa is speaking correctly for her jury audience, but for me it is not convincing. Too many weak words, and many things sound like hearsay.I hope she can step up.

“Umm” - “right” - “umm”- “right”

Omg that prosecutor is beyond awful,she's all over the place .

She should have made a power point and told the story from that. She sounds like me at my Monday meetings. This is my 3rd day trying to get through this

“Bovine” Where they changed with Felony First Name?

Has she ever done an opening statement...or seen/listened to one?? This is poorly communicated, unorganized, and too much detail for an opening statement!! 🤦🏽‍♀️

This prosecutor was horrible after all this time and saying UM every few words

We could’ve saved an hour or more if there were no “Uhmmm’s” 🙄😤 Is there ANY way that we could swap her with someone else?🙄 Sooo annoying!

I know a lot of people won't agree with me but I feel if Jake Wagner hadn't come forward they wouldn't have alot of the evidence they have now. They also have the whole story except he's sorry for his roll & I think he said he did most of the shootings which I'm not so convinced. I feel like he's punishing himself for going along with his Mother's plan & not having the wisdom or strength to say no. The youngest was the one to come forward to take the blame to maybe save some of his family members. I truly believe he hates himself as much as the other family hates him for what he's done but I feel he deserves a second chance. A person's frontal lobe of the brain that's used for decision making, consequences & so much more isn't fully developed until the age of 25. Think how Jake's Mother even brought her own Mother into this is insane. I would almost guarantee Jake would never had done this as he worked & he still got along with Hanna although they we're children when Hanna had there child then getting married far to young. My heart goes out to the family left behind over these senseless murders may they some day find peace.I sincerely don't want to upset anyone I'm only speaking as a married mother of two young men. This Mother deserves the death penalty for dragging all those to young to know better into this because she's a control freak! God bless them all my heartfelt condolences.🙏❤️🇨🇦

Won’t these be exhibits? Why show them now????

Jesus Fucking Christ, did no one with the DA's office tell her to stop with the constant "um's" during break?!

I've been obsessed with case for a week now.

I feel like the prosecutor filed way too many minor charges in this case. All these obstruction, forgery, burglary, mom hacking the xgf fb. Etc. It made a complex legal case way more complex. It's like she can't see the forest thru the trees.

I just want to say I can follow the prosecutor just fine, sure she has to back up sometimes but she's trying to get in as much info she can with what time she has . This is a very poor county and never did anyone expect as their job in a small rural county think they'd have 8 people murdered at one . They have limited money even to spend. I'm very disappointed that they made the deal with Jake and Angela but wonder if they would have had enough proof without it .

She doesn’t seem good at opening statements

Who ended up gaining custody of little Sofia Wagner?

I’m sure it’s not easy but toastmasters would have helped her prepare with this. They count your ummms to alleviate when public speaking

They tried to cover up but kept everything around them

I hope her need to give more detail than necessary during opening statement will be to her benefit. If one is going to explain partial details to a crime, more than what most would be during opening statements, then she should explain what a goose box is. A box they built as a gift on fathers day that floats in the middle of their beloved fishing pond. And When you say they have a grove, you mean a grow, like a assortment of pot plants in a feild. Good thing about this opening testimony, which was long and with a lot of um’s; if key witness testimony is not televised, we have some beef to the story.

Then after they kill Chris sr they walk over to Frankie house look around then return after they left and ur telling me that Jake crawled in a window and they still didn't hear nothing and was able to walk right in the room and bang there dead nobody moved didn't hear nothing in ur house that's unbelievable that u do not have any clue that all this is going on

Just a few of my observations ... prosecutor tapping on the podium is grating on the nerves. She's not the best speaker & goes into entirely too much detail, as all of the evidence will be given & testified to during the continuation of the trial. She should have had her opening scripted/written out & read from verbatim, so that she could stay consistent, on point, & keep a straight line of speaking/thinking, holding the audience's attention. The opening really should be a synopsis, a high level overview of the story of what happened during their crime spree overall. There are so many facets & moving pieces to the case, that going into as much detail as she did is simply time consuming & boring. George looking evil/angry that he got caught & that his brother & mother ratted on them all. What an evil family! Sounds like they all had a controlling, cult like mentality (also misogynistic) as a whole. Looking forward to catching up on the rest of the trial.

Umm let's see the receipt for the shoes is important to save and the gun shells match the shell casings found on the Wagner property umm everybody got that?

Charges are shown around 1:07 maybe a little before.

I wish the defence attorney would cough, just to get his voice back in place.

How would anyone sleep knowing their husband and son's are going to murder all these people ? I get she's evil and cold hearted but still . I don't believe it.

He is right down scary looking. Creepy!

I'd like to say I left out the Father not just Jake's Mother.💐

#JusticeJusticeJusticeJusticefortheRhodens 4x the Justice =Billy ,Angela, George , and Jake . Let them all pay for what they've done the sick evil people that they are.

I don't understand why she wasn't "taught" or "critiqued" how to talk without ums and ahs every other word. Her speech is inexperienced, she keeps "backing up", totally unprepared. If this is the best the DA could come up with, the DA's office needs an overhaul. Dewine is probably appalled, after all the years of gathering evidence so these murderers could be convicted. She is no " special" prosecutor. She's a poor choice.

Listen,this trial will be decided on evidence! Not if the prosecutor uses to many ummms!

Instead of a dive team I think it would have been just as successful to insert a pump I can't imagine any dive team wanting to get in that. Muck it wasn't very deep but very gross and disgusting!

Am I impatient, or is this the longest opening statement ever.😳

How in the world did frank and his wife not hear there neighbor his dad getting shot up if the home made silencer didn't work I'm pretty sure there house wasn't that far apart and they live in trailers so u can hear everything in a trailer?

She sounds like she's telling a fairy tale story. Doesn't sound too Profesional.

Why is his lawyer smirk8ng ?

Dang I am getting used to um um

I can't even hear her. Except for umm

Um. Um. Um ummmmmm

This defense is a joke at best... Jake will tell you George didnt do anything.... but the state is depending on con artists and liars... so they're only telling you the truth when they're exonerating George..... please... smdh

Defense attorney is out right lying....that isn't allowed. Hey defense attorney are we supposed to believe Jake or is he a liar? You're cherry picking items. One minute Jake is vile and evil (I agree) next you say "Jake said George wasn't involved"

Hopefully all 12 jurors are more focused on evidence her actually words than you people and not with all the ummms , how she's dressed and her hair .

um um um um ..... geez that's annoying!

Had ro skip the PA opening statement. I couldn't stand the consistent "um" nonsensical filler.

Also the prosecutor had valid points but ummmm i think ummm right.. omg please stop

I can’t take it, is defense any better? This is unwatchable.

I had to FFW through the most of the DA 🤯

The last two Ohio high profile murder trials ie; Dr William Husel, and Matthau Moore also had weak prosecutors. This prosecutor’s , (umm, ah), opening statement at best is extremely boring and hard to follow.

Very good! The lawyer did a great job at 2:05:20 mark. Separates his client from the others that are accused.

All of the VERY ANNOYING Ums Ums Ums Ums Um Um Um Um were kind of comical in part 1 of her opening statement but now it makes the entire video unwatchable to me!

Same thing at Dania house the door they came in was right by her bed room u don't raise ur head who is at my door little Chris sleeps through two people being shot don't hear don't wake up

I feel for the defendant with these uneducated prosecutors and back country judge!

Um. I'm. Lol

Don't be shocked if the jury doesn't find George Wagner guilty. This prosecutor is blowing g this case.

Prosecutor done a great job. Don't know what all you naysayers are crying about

Yea this lawyer is aweful!!!

1:21:44 - Defense lawyer checks his watch. Ummmm, that’s now been ummmm 4hrs 🥱 1:24:16 - ummm…Checks again 😵‍💫

Ohhh Lordy 🥱😵‍💫 Is this the best attorney they have for opening this case? 🤷🏻‍♀️ I’m seriously gritting my teeth at all of her “umm’s”. This is the worst, and most boring. Opening statement I’ve ever forced myself to watch.🤦🏻‍♀️😴

I have heard “umm right” so many times this 4 hour story telling.. 🥹🥹 Lord.. umm right