Judge increases bond in Laurel murder case

HARTINGTON - A Laurel man accused of murdering four people had his bond increased at his first hearing in Cedar County Court here Wednesday afternoon.

Judge Douglas Luebbe had previously set bond for Jason A. Jones, 42, at $5 million but re-set the bond at no bond.

Corey O’Brien of the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office indicated Jones was not only a danger to others but also himself with evidence that self-harm was a part of his alleged crimes.

He is accused of four counts of first-degree murder, two counts of first-degree arson, and four counts of use of a firearm to commit a felony in the Aug. 4 deaths of his neighbors, Michele Shankles-Ebeling, 53, Gene Twiford, 86, Janet Twiford, 85, and Dana Twiford, 55.

First responders were called to 209 Elm St. in Laurel around 3 a.m., Aug. 4 to the report of an explosion and house fire, finding Michele Shankles-Ebeling, 53, deceased. About five hours later, local law enforcement on scene noticed smoke coming from a home a few blocks away at 503 Elm St.

Gene Twiford, his wife Janet and their daughter Dana were found to be deceased at that home.

All of the victims were found with what appeared to be gunshot wounds, according to court documents.

In the early morning hours of Aug. 5, the Nebraska State Patrol SWAT Team found Jones with significant burns while they were serving a warrant at his home in Laurel. Jones was transported to CHI St. Elizabeth Burn Center where he received treatment until his release Oct. 27.

At last week’s hearing, Jones appeared via video conferencing in a brown Corrections-issued uniform and confined to a wheelchair. He listened and responded appropriately as Luebbe reviewed his rights in the case alongside his court-appointed attorneys, Todd Lancaster and Matt McDonald of the Nebraska Commission on Public Advocacy.

If convicted, Jones will face a minimum of life in prison and a maximum sentence of death. A preliminary hearing in the case was set for Wednesday, Dec. 7.

The county court case was moved to be held in the Cedar County District Court room to accommodate those attending. About 15 from the public attended the hearing and 10 media representatives. The Cedar County Sheriff’s Office provided wand metal detection upon entry.

The case will be prosecuted by the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office with assistance from Cedar County Attorney Nick Matney.

On Friday, O’Brien filed a motion to unseal the arrest warrant affidavit for the limited purpose of copying and sending defense counsel a copy. After this task is completed, O’Brien argued the document should be re-sealed.

He said in the motion that the public release of the document would jeopardize the integrity of the continuing investigation of the case and “compromise the safety, integrity and availability of potentially crucial witnesses and evidence yet to have been identified or obtained.”

“With the widespread interest of the media ... the State would contend that public disclosure at this time of either of these documents would jeopardize the ability of the defendant to receive a fair trial and could compromise other rights and interests of the defendant,” O’Brien said in the motion.

O’Brien indicated Jones’ lawyers did not object to the motion. Luebbe had yet to rule on the motion Monday.