The tranquil atmosphere of Laurel, Nebraska, was shattered when a chilling crime spree unfolded in August 2022. Jason Jones, now sentenced to death, will join 11 others on Nebraska’s death row for a quadruple murder that left the small town reeling.
The Crimes
Allegations of inappropriate remarks made by 85-year-old Gene Twiford towards Jones’ wife reportedly fueled the violent actions of Jason Jones. On the early morning of August 4, 2022, Jones forcefully entered the Twiford residence using a pry bar. Gene Twiford was found shot on his bedroom floor, while his wife, Janet, was attacked “before she even had a chance to get out of her bed,” according to court documents. Their daughter, 55-year-old Dana Twiford, was also killed, with Jones firing at least seven shots into her chest.
Following the brutal killings, Jones ignited parts of the Twiford home with gasoline before making his way back towards his own residence. On his way, he stopped at the home of his neighbor, Michele Ebeling, where he shot her near the back entryway and set her house ablaze. His exact motive for targeting Ebeling remains unclear, though he later described Ebeling and her boyfriend as “weird” and accused them of staring at his wife.
Cedar County 911 received an emergency call at 3:11 a.m. reporting an explosion at Ebeling’s residence. Responders arrived quickly, but Ebeling was pronounced dead at the scene. It wasn’t until more than six hours later that another call reported smoke from the Twiford home. By the time firefighters arrived, the fire had extinguished itself, leaving the living room covered in soot. Despite the sequence of the 911 calls, investigators have determined that the Twifords were killed prior to Ebeling.
The investigation swiftly pointed to Jones as the prime suspect. Evidence included a backpack found at Ebeling’s home containing gasoline receipts from the day before, purchased by Jones. A pistol registered in Jones’ name was discovered on the floor of the Twiford home. Jones was apprehended on August 5 and hospitalized for severe burns he sustained during the arson.
