Court case is delayed for woman accused in murder

HARTINGTON – The case of a Laurel woman accused of murder has been continued until November.

Carrie Jones, 44, waived her right to a speedy trial after her lawyers asked Cedar County District Court to extend hearings and deadlines in the case, citing a “voluminous” amount of discovery in the case and more time needed to review it.

That motion was granted by Judge Bryan Meismer Friday. The next court date was set for November.

Jones is charged with one count of murder, aiding and abetting a felony and tampering for her alleged involvement in the murders of four people in Laurel on Aug. 4, 2022.

Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against her husband, Jason Jones, in the same crime.

First responders were called to the Michele Shankles-Ebeling home in Laurel, around 3 a.m. that August day to the report of an explosion and house fire. About five hours later, local law enforcement on scene noticed smoke coming from the Gene Twiford home. Although the presence of smoke wasn’t evident for several hours, evidence suggests the Twiford fire actually started first.

Shankles-Ebeling, Gene Twiford, Janet Twiford and Dana Twiford, were found with gunshot wounds.

Jason Jones was apprehended the morning after the murders with severe burns over his body and was treated at a Lincoln hospital for several weeks before being released to the Nebraska Department of Corrections.

Carrie Jones was arrested and charged several months later - in December 2022 - for her alleged role in the murders. Her murder charge related to the death of Gene Twiford. Prosecutors allege she encouraged her husband to carry out the killing, motivated to do so after years of Gene Twiford’s verbal harassment.