In the early morning hours of August 4, 2022, a sense of unease settled over the small town of Laurel, Nebraska, as firefighters responded to a reported explosion and fire at a residence. Inside, they made a grim discovery. The body of 53-year-old Michele Ebeling was found; she had been shot. The fire, it turned out, was intentionally set in an attempt to conceal the violent crime that had taken place. This tragic event marked the beginning of a horrific day for the community, as it was soon discovered that Ebeling was the first of four victims in a brutal killing spree.
The investigation quickly led law enforcement to a second burning home just a few blocks away. There, they found the bodies of Gene and Janet Twiford, and their daughter, Dana. All three had also been shot to death. The common thread in these shocking crimes was a neighbor, Jason Jones. Evidence, including receipts and a firearm found at the scenes, pointed directly to him. When authorities located Jones, he was suffering from severe burns, injuries he sustained while setting the victims' homes ablaze.
Jason Jones was arrested and ultimately convicted of four counts of first-degree murder, two counts of second-degree arson, and multiple weapons charges. He now faces a sentence of either life in prison or the death penalty. The investigation did not end with him. His wife, Carrie Jones, was also implicated in the heinous crimes. Prosecutors argued that she had been the driving force behind the initial murder, having encouraged her husband to kill Gene Twiford, whom she claimed had been harassing her. Text messages between the couple revealed conversations about killing Twiford months before the murders.
Carrie Jones was found guilty of first-degree murder for her role in Gene Twiford's death, as well as for tampering with evidence and being an accessory to a felony. She faces a mandatory life sentence. During her husband's trial, it was revealed that after he returned home with severe burns from setting the fires, she helped him hide and get rid of incriminating evidence, including his burned clothing. She did not seek medical help for his life-threatening injuries, a decision prosecutors believe was made to avoid suspicion. The tragic death of Michele Ebeling was described by prosecutors as part of a senseless rampage, with Carrie Jones having called her "weird" and stating that Ebeling made her uncomfortable by staring at her from across the street.
