Jan. 1923: Death penalty being considered at murder trial
Jan. 25, 2023
HARTINGTON — The case against a Laurel couple charged with murder progressed in Cedar County District Court here Monday.
Carrie Jones, 43, appeared with her court-appointed attorney, Doug Stratton, Norfolk, while her husband, Jason A. Jones, did not appear, but his lawyer, Todd Lancaster, Nebraska Commission on Public Advocacy, filed documents on his behalf.
Both of the Joneses are being charged with murder and other charges related to the Aug. 4, 2022, deaths of Gene Twiford, Janet Twiford, Dana Twiford and Michele Shankles-Ebeling in Laurel.
Prosecutors — the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office assisted by the Cedar County Attorney’s Office — are seeking the death penalty against Jason Jones.
Corey O’Brien of the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office noted that aggravating evidence would be put forth indicating Jones killed the Twifords in the act or attempted act of burglary at their home at 509 Elm St., Laurel; that he committed multiple murders within a short period of time; and that fires were set to conceal his identity, among others.
However, Lancaster filed a motion to quash sections of the Nebraska death penalty statutes.
The motion to quash the death penalty is set to be heard Feb. 27 before Judge Bryan Meismer.
If Jason Jones is convicted, a three-judge panel would determine in a separate hearing whether the case warrants the death penalty by considering aggravating and mitigating circumstances. The aggravators would have to be proven in order for a death penalty sentence to be imposed.
Carrie Jones appeared before Meismer for a 15-minute hearing Monday. At that time, a preliminary hearing was set for Feb. 15, and Meismer also granted the appointment of Nathan Stratton as co-counsel in the case.
The affidavit supporting Carrie Jones’ arrest was ordered to be unsealed so Doug Stratton could get a copy of it.
Jan. 25, 2023
HARTINGTON — Plans are underway to complete the Hartington Veterans Memorial in time for the official grand opening and dedication planned for Saturday, May 27.
A reception at the VFW will follow the 2 p.m. dedication ceremony.
Further work on the memorial was suspended over the winter, and as soon as the weather warms up, work will commence until the memorial construction is completed, which is targeted for early May of this year.
The last work to be done on the memorial before this winter was the completion of all the concrete flooring and installation of the drainage system.
The concrete floor slopes 13 inches from the west end of the memorial to the east end to allow for proper drainage. In addition, two kneeling bronze soldiers were placed last fall and both need additional concrete work at the base this spring.
According to Project Chairman Dan Kathol, the following work has yet to be completed late this winter or early spring with the timing dependent upon favorable weather.