“There was hit on my head,” Pigge added.
The interview was viewed Tuesday during a hearing held to determine whether Pigge, 28, was mentally capable of waiving his rights not to incriminate himself. He is charged with murder and having a deadly weapon under detention in Warren County Common Pleas Court.
Prison guards found the brick believed to have been used to kill Wade, but were unable to locate other bricks apparently removed from the 2-foot by 2-foot hole in the wall separating them from the neighboring cell in the segregation unit of the prison, according to reports released last week by the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.
Pigge said he used the holes to climb between the cells and to include inmates in the adjoining cell in card games.
Pigge also told the investigator he took action because, as a snitch, he faced retribution from the gang. Although drug tests indicated otherwise, Pigge also said he had been awake all night on methamphetamine when he attacked Wade as they wrapped up a game of rummy in their cell.
Asked if Wade was a member of the gang, Pigge said, “He just ran with them.”
Pigge ended the interview abruptly after indicating he feared for his life as a result of Wade’s killing.
“They’re going to try to kill me for this,” he said during the video. There has been no other evidence presented indicating the prison gang wanted to murder Pigge.
Dr. James Hagen, a psychotherapist who examined Pigge before he was convicted of murder in Ross County in 2009, said he was developmentally disabled. However after watching the video interview following the February killing, Hagen said he believed Pigge understood what he was doing when he waived his rights before talking to investigators.
Judge Donald Oda II said he would issue a written opinion on whether Pigge’s statements, including a confession, could be used against him at his trial.
Pigge is scheduled to return to court on Dec. 15 and stand trial in February.
About the Author
