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MADISON — Prosecutors in the Carrie Jones trial presented footage and evidence from the Jones’ home, highlighting a lack of burn damage and residue on Monday.
Jones is on trial in connection with the Aug. 4, 2022, murder of four Laurel residents. Her husband, Jason Jones, was convicted in September 2024 of killing Gene Twiford, his wife, Janet, and their daughter, Dana, as well as Elm Street neighbor, Michelle Ebeling.
The state called two returning witnesses, both Nebraska State Patrol Investigators, Brad Higgins and Tyler Mann, to identify photos and items gathered from all three related homes involved in the case.
The state also called Chief Fire Marshal Investigator Adam Matzner to examine and explain photos taken of fire evidence found in the homes at 209 Elm Street and 503 Elm Street.
Matzner identified two charred “red in color” gas cans, one each located at the separate houses. He also noted unusual “ignitable liquid” marks on the carpeting and floors and charred pieces of clothing that was found out in the yard.
He testified that in his expert opinion, both fires were classified as incendiary fires or fires that had been set intentionally with the use of gasoline.
A search warrant was issued for 206 Elm Street in Laurel after SWAT apprehended Jason Jones and found him covered with severe burns considered consistent with a “flash fire.”
Higgins testified that the search warrant was to search for evidence in the home and for clothes Jason Jones may have worn when the fires were started.
Higgins said during the search, no clothing was found that was burnt, singed or smelled of gasoline, but they did find a comforter and a McDonald’s bag in the trash. He also testified he was aware the trash typically got taken out on Tuesdays and recognized the days leading up to the search were the day of the murder and arson, a Thursday, and the day after, a Friday.
Higgins said he and a few officers returned to the Jones’ residence on Aug. 11 to look for any more evidence and retrieved two pairs of composite toe boots believed to be Carrie’s.
The state presented body cam footage of Higgins when he returned on Aug. 11. In the video, Jones claimed the boots and appears saddened by having to purchase another pair for her work.
Higgins testified the boots were retrieved because they appeared to have similar tracks to ones left at the victims’ homes, but they were later dismissed because they were not consistent.
Also during the body cam footage, Jones is asked what happened to the clothes Jason was wearing when he got burned. She responded, saying she put everything in a “black bag” and “tossed” it into another room, and was now unsure of where it was.
“Like I told him, I helped my husband and then I went to sleep,” Jones remarked on the body cam footage.
Investigator Mann identified a 15-minute walk-through video of the Jones’ residence taken after Jason’s arrest and testified, there were no bags that may have contained clothing.
He said the search after the video was taken produced numerous cellular devices that were taken in for examination, as well as two firearms and two knives.
Through all the searches, it was testified that the only item with burn residue was one of the knives retrieved.
The trial is set to continue the rest of this week, starting at 9 a.m. daily at the Madison County courthouse.
