Fair use:
A Laurel man faces four charges of first-degree murder following homicides in Laurel Thursday morning.
nebraska.tv
Laurel man faces four murder charges in relation to homicides, victims identified
by NTV News
Friday, August 5th 2022
10
VIEW ALL PHOTOS
AUGUST 5, 2022 - The crime scene in Laurel. (Photo Credit: KMEG)
LAUREL, Neb. — A Laurel man faces four charges of first-degree murder following homicides in Laurel Thursday morning.
Jason Jones, 42, is charged in Cedar County Court with four counts of first-degree murder, two counts of first-degree arson and four counts of use of a firearm to commit a felony.
According to an arrest affidavit – which was unsealed as of Friday morning – shortly after 3 a.m. Thursday, Cedar County dispatch received a call about an explosion that occurred in the 200 block of Elm Street.
When emergency personnel arrived on scene, they found a woman lying unresponsive inside the back door in a pool of blood. The affidavit says life-saving measures were unsuccessful and the woman was pronounced dead at the scene.
The woman has been identified as Michele Ebeling, 53. She was a resident at that home.
Upon further investigation, law enforcement said Ebeling appeared to have suffered two gunshot wounds – one to the chest and another to the head. A bullet casing was found near the body.
Burn marks were observed at the residence, in addition to smoke and gasoline being smelled, indicating a fire had occurred.
A search warrant was obtained to search the residence. The search led to a black backpack being found containing several receipts. The credit card on the receipt belonged to Jones.
Around 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Cedar County dispatch received a report of smoke coming from a residence in the 500 block of Elm Street – three blocks away from the first incident.
Upon arrival, fire personnel discovered smoke and soot damage consistent with a fire. They also located three deceased individuals inside. All three appeared to have gunshot wounds. A firearm magazine was found in the area and a firearm was located on the living room floor.
The victims have been identified as Gene Twiford, 86, Janet Twiford, 85, and Dana Twiford, 55. All three were residents of the home.
The affidavit said it appeared a pry bar was used to gain access and one was later found on the floor.
Law enforcement later obtained a search warrant for the second residence and located a black Ruger 57 pistol on the living room floor which was later determined to belong to Jones.
Also on Thursday, the affidavit says a Nebraska State Patrol investigator met with an employee at Rath’s Mini Mart in Laurel and accessed security camera footage. The affidavit says Jones was seen shortly after 7:45 p.m. Wednesday pumping gas into two red gas cans, one of which was found at the scene of the first incident.
NSP said investigators developed information to believe that Jones was inside his home in the 200 block of Elm Street in Laurel. The NSP SWAT Team was activated, and an arrest warrant was obtained for Jones. Following repeated attempts to have Jones exit the home voluntarily, the SWAT Team made entry into the home and located Jones in a bedroom, with severe burns.
NSP said he was flown to St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Lincoln for treatment of his burn injuries. He is in custody at the hospital as of Friday morning.
Court records do not list a bond or court date for Jones. On Friday, a judge appointed the Nebraska Commission on Public Advocacy to represent Jones.
