Attorney argues for change of venue in Laurel murders

HARTINGTON – The lawyer for a man accused of a quadruple murder in Laurel is arguing the trial should be moved out of Cedar County due to pretrial publicity and juror bias.

Todd Lancaster of the Nebraska Commission on Public Advocacy and lawyer for Jason Jones, 44, Laurel, used juror questionnaire responses in his latest motion filed last week in the case for a change of venue. A pool of 200 potential jurors were provided questionnaires and responses are "evidence of the public's attitude of deep and and bitter prejudice," toward Jones, Lancaster said, as well as ties to the victims in the case. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty in the case stemming from the deaths of Gene Twiford, Janet Twiford, Dana Twiford and Michele Shankles-Ebeling, in Laurel on Aug. 4, 2022. First responders were called to Shankles-Ebeling's home at 209 Elm St., Laurel, around 3 a.m. Aug. 4, 2022, to the report of an explosion and house fire. About five hours later, local law enforcement on scene noticed smoke coming from the Twiford home just a few blocks away. Although the presence of smoke wasn't evident for several hours, evidence suggests that the Twiford fire actually started first. All of the victims were found to have gunshot wounds. Jones was apprehended at his home 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. While Jason Jones is considered the principal offender, under Nebraska statutes, his wife, Carrie, is also being charged by aided and encouraging him to carry out the killing. At Carrie Jones' preliminary hearing, investigators testified that she was motivated to murder Twiford after years of his verbal harassment. Here's some of the facts outlined in Lancaster's motion for change of venue in Jason Jones' case: - Of the 200 potential jurors, 33 have addresses in Laurel, many within blocks of the crime scenes and one right across the street.

- More than 69 percent of the jury pool indicated they had already formed an opinion of Jones' guilt based on media coverage or speaking with witnesses and other community members.

- 87 of the 200 potential jurors indicated they cannot set aside their opinion about Jones and 15 said Jones would have to prove his innocence, instead of being presumed innocent at the outset. Five said they were unsure if they could set their opinion aside. - Of those 107 potential jurors who have an opinion of Jones' guilt, 84 have expressed their opinion to others. - Nearly half of potential jurors express they are in favor of the death penalty.

- More than 50 potential jurors knew the deceased Twifords or know their indirect relatives. - More than 60 know potential witnesses in the case.

Lancaster also listed specific comments made on juror questionnaires ranging from calling Jason Jones names to saying the trial is a waste of time and money. One comment said, "I think it would be di$cult to be completely fair knowing the family members are counting on the jury to give them justice." Lancaster cites specific news outlets who have extensively broadcast or published information about the crimes and pre-trial proceedings, including the Cedar County News.

According to Nebraska law, criminal cases should be tried in the county where the offense was committed “unless it shall appear to the court by affidavits that a fair and impartial trial cannot be had.” In that case, the court can transfer the proceedings to any other district or county in Nebraska The Nebraska Supreme Court has held that mere exposure to news media accounts of a crime does not alone deprive a defendant of due process but instead a defendant must show the existence of “pervasive misleading pretrial publicity.”

Lancaster cites news reports shortly after the murders in Laurel indicated that a black man was seen driving away from Laurel. This information was provided by law enforcement during an initial press conference, and was reported by local, regional and national news outlets at the time.

“It is clear from the discovery provided to council that there is no one fitting that description that was involved in the case. Yet that misleading report still persists, at least in the mind of a couple jurors,” Lancaster said.

The news coverage of Carrie Jones’ case also included a protection order filed by her neighbors, which included statements, which Lancaster speculates, would not be relevant or admissible at trial in her husband’s case.

That information would be considered pervasive in which potential jurors were exposed, Lancaster said.

He argued that extensive publicity has been confined to Cedar County and northeast Nebraska, and that a change of venue to a county with a larger population would provide a sufficient jury pool to try Jason Jones’ case.

The latest change of venue motion will be part of several pre-trial matters that are set to be heard Thursday.

Carrie Jones’ case is also expected to be heard before Cedar County District Court Judge Bryan Meismer that day.