How Nebraska law enforcement found evidence linking man to Laurel homicides
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Evidence at 2 crime scenes led investigators to man arrested for 4 homicides in Laurel, Nebraska

Evidence at 2 crime scenes led investigators to man arrested for 4 homicides in Laurel, Nebraska
WITH BREAKING NEWS. INVESTIGATORS SAY A STRING OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE THAT TWO CRIME SCENES LED THEM TO THE MAN SUSPECTED OF KILLING FOUR PEOPLE IN LAUREL, NEBRASKA. THANKS FOR JOINING US. I’M BILL SCHAMERT THE FACT IS 42 YEAR OLD JASON JONES FOUND BY A STATE PATROL SWAT TEAM BADLY BURNED IN HIS HOME ACROSS THE STREET FROM ONE OF THE MURDER SCENES TROOPERS IDENTIFIED ALL FOUR VICTIMS TODAY 53 YEAR OLD MICHELLE ABILENE WAS FOUND IN THE FIRST HOUSE FIRE THREE BLOCKS AWAY LAW ENFORCEMENT FOUND 86 YEAR OLD GENE. TWYFORD 85 YEAR OLD JANET TWYFORD AND 55 YEAR OLD DANA TWY FOR INVESTIGATORS. SAY ALL FOUR WERE SHOT. OKAY TV NEWS WATCH SEVEN JOEY SAVCHEK IS LIVE WITH THE BREAKING DETAILS. JOEY BILL WE SPOKE TO THE REVEREND FROM LAUREL’S UNITED METHODIST CHURCH. HE SAYS PEOPLE MOVED TO SMALL TOWNS FOR A SENSE OF SECURITY AND THAT HIS COMMUNITY IS UNDERSTANDABLY UNSETTLED THE LAUREL MAN SUSPECTED OF COMMITTING. THESE CRIMES WAS AIRLIFTED TO A LINCOLN HOSPITAL AFTER A SWAT TEAM ENTERED HIS HOME AS OF THE LATEST UPDATE FRIDAY. HE’S IN SERIOUS CONDITION POLICE SAY IT’S TOO EARLY TO DISCUSS EMOTIVE, BUT THEY ADD FIREFIGHTERS WORKED DILIGENTLY TO PUT OUT FLAMES WITHOUT DESTROYING EVIDENCE THAT COULD AND DID LEAD THEM TO A SUSPECT THE REVEREND SAYS THE TWYFORD FAMILY WAS WELL KNOWN IN THE COMMUNITY. SO WE CAN’T CHANGE WHAT HAS HAPPENED. AND WHAT WE CAN CHANGE IS HOW WE BOTH RESPOND. TO IT. AND THEN HOW DO WE WORK? TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS DOESN’T HAPPEN. NOT JUST IN LAUREL, BUT ANYWHERE. INVESTIGATORS SAY IT APPEARS A PRY BAR WAS USED TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE TWYFORD’S HOME. THEY FOUND THE BARN NEAR THE DOOR AND A GUN INSIDE ON THE LIVING ROOM FLOOR ACCORDING TO THE WEAPON SERIAL NUMBER IT WAS PURCHASED BY JONES IN FEBRUARY 2021 POLICE SAY THERE WAS NO VIOLENCE. HE WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY BILL. JOEY THANK YOU. AGAIN JONES IS IN A LINCOLN HOSPITAL FOR THOSE SEVERE BURNS. HE FACES FOUR COUNTS OF FIRST-DEGREE MURDER AND TWO FELONY ARSON COUNTS INVESTIGATORS SAY HE WAS FILLING GAS CANS JUST HOURS BEFORE THE GUNFIRE ACCORDING TO THE ARREST WARRANT AFFIDAVIT OBTAINED BY KETV NEWS WATCH 7 INVESTIGATES INVESTIGATORS RECOVERED RECEIPTS FROM A BACKPACK IN MURDER VICTIM MICHELLE ABILENE’S HOME. ONE WAS FOR GAS FROM A CONVENIENCE STORE ACROSS TOWN THE OTHER FOR CAN PURCHASED IN SIOUX CITY THE CREDIT CARD USED IN BOTH PURCHASES BELONGS TO JONES SECURITY CAMERA VIDEOS SHOWS HIM PUMPING GAS INT
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Evidence at 2 crime scenes led investigators to man arrested for 4 homicides in Laurel, Nebraska
Investigators said a string of physical evidence at two crime scenes led them to the man suspected of killing four people Thursday in Laurel, Nebraska.Court documents reveal how Nebraska law enforcement compiled evidence against the 42-year-old Jason Jones, who was found by a state patrol SWAT team badly burned in his home across the street from one of the murder scenes.Around 3:11 a.m., Laurel Fire and EMS arrived at the first crime scene and located a woman "lying inside the back door of the residence in a pool of blood," according to court documents.The woman, identified as 53-year-old Michele Ebeling, was pronounced dead on the scene.According to court documents, Ebeling appeared to have suffered two gunshot wounds, one to the chest and one to the head.Burn marks were observed on the floor, walls and furniture at the first crime scene, indicating a fire had occurred, according to court documents. First responders also observed the smell of smoke and the smell of gasoline from inside the house.According to court documents, law enforcement also saw a red fuel container inside the front door of the residence and a "discolored trail on the floor," indicating an accelerant was used.After obtaining a search warrant, officers located a black backpack in the kitchen of the first residence, according to court documents. Several receipts were inside the backpack, including one dated Aug. 3 at 4:41 p.m., to a Cubby's Gas Station in Laurel. The credit card used for the purchase was in Jason Jones' name. There was also a receipt to Fleet Farm in Sioux City for the purchase of a 6-gallon auto shutoff gas can, along with a fuel tank and camping backpack. A third receipt was to Rath's Mini Mart in Laurel, dated Aug. 3 at 7:49 p.m.According to court documents, law enforcement found security camera video at Rath's Mini Mart that shows Jones pumping gas into two cans just before 8 p.m. on Wednesday.At the second crime scene, first responders found smoke and soot damage consistent with a fire, according to court documents.Law enforcement found three deceased parties, all with gunshot wounds, inside the residence.The three victims at the second residence were identified as 86-year-old Gene Twiford, 85-year-old Janet Twiford and 55-year-old Dana Twiford.Further investigation of the scene showed a pry bar was used to gain access to the rear door of the residence, which investigators found on the ground near the rear door, according to court documents. A magazine to a firearm was also found in this area, and law enforcement found a firearm and a Molotov cocktail inside the residence, according to court documents.The firearm found in the residence was identified as a black Ruger 57, which records showed was purchased by Jones in 2021, according to court documents.When Jones was taken into custody, law enforcement said he had severe burns. Nebraska State Police said he was airlifted to a Lincoln hospital and is in serious condition as of Friday morning.According to court documents, Jones was arrested on four counts of first-degree murder, two counts of first-degree arson and four counts of use of a firearm to commit a felony.

Investigators said a string of physical evidence at two crime scenes led them to the man suspected of killing four people Thursday in Laurel, Nebraska.

Court documents reveal how Nebraska law enforcement compiled evidence against the 42-year-old Jason Jones, who was found by a state patrol SWAT team badly burned in his home across the street from one of the murder scenes.

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Around 3:11 a.m., Laurel Fire and EMS arrived at the first crime scene and located a woman "lying inside the back door of the residence in a pool of blood," according to court documents.

The woman, identified as 53-year-old Michele Ebeling, was pronounced dead on the scene.

According to court documents, Ebeling appeared to have suffered two gunshot wounds, one to the chest and one to the head.

Burn marks were observed on the floor, walls and furniture at the first crime scene, indicating a fire had occurred, according to court documents. First responders also observed the smell of smoke and the smell of gasoline from inside the house.

According to court documents, law enforcement also saw a red fuel container inside the front door of the residence and a "discolored trail on the floor," indicating an accelerant was used.

After obtaining a search warrant, officers located a black backpack in the kitchen of the first residence, according to court documents. Several receipts were inside the backpack, including one dated Aug. 3 at 4:41 p.m., to a Cubby's Gas Station in Laurel. The credit card used for the purchase was in Jason Jones' name. There was also a receipt to Fleet Farm in Sioux City for the purchase of a 6-gallon auto shutoff gas can, along with a fuel tank and camping backpack. A third receipt was to Rath's Mini Mart in Laurel, dated Aug. 3 at 7:49 p.m.

According to court documents, law enforcement found security camera video at Rath's Mini Mart that shows Jones pumping gas into two cans just before 8 p.m. on Wednesday.

At the second crime scene, first responders found smoke and soot damage consistent with a fire, according to court documents.

Law enforcement found three deceased parties, all with gunshot wounds, inside the residence.

The three victims at the second residence were identified as 86-year-old Gene Twiford, 85-year-old Janet Twiford and 55-year-old Dana Twiford.

Further investigation of the scene showed a pry bar was used to gain access to the rear door of the residence, which investigators found on the ground near the rear door, according to court documents. A magazine to a firearm was also found in this area, and law enforcement found a firearm and a Molotov cocktail inside the residence, according to court documents.

The firearm found in the residence was identified as a black Ruger 57, which records showed was purchased by Jones in 2021, according to court documents.

When Jones was taken into custody, law enforcement said he had severe burns. Nebraska State Police said he was airlifted to a Lincoln hospital and is in serious condition as of Friday morning.

According to court documents, Jones was arrested on four counts of first-degree murder, two counts of first-degree arson and four counts of use of a firearm to commit a felony.