Lawyers want to move murder trials
HARTINGTON – Defense lawyers for a Laurel couple accused of murdering four people intend to file a motion for a change of venue for the upcoming trials.
Jason Jones, 43, waived his appearance in Cedar County District Court Monday morning, while his wife, Carrie Jones, 44, was brought in front of the court and Judge Bryan Meismer heard status updates in both cases.
Todd Lancaster of the Nebraska Public Advocacy Commission and Jason Jones’ lawyer indicated he would be filing a motion in limine (without the jury present) to argue the exclusion of certain evidence at trial, and also for a change in venue and a motion for supplemental juror questionnaires.
Doug Stratton, court-appointed attorney for Carrie Jones, indicated he would be filing similar motions in her case.
“It’s our intention, so we’re not doing things twice, to piggy-back on their hearing as well, and that saves the court some time and all the parties involved some time,” Stratton said.
Corey O’Brien of the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office, who is prosecuting the Jones’ cases, wanted to make sure that a hearing on the two cases at the same time would each create a clear court record with separate exhibits designated for each.
“While we have a similar factual situation I think they’re very different cases. My intention is to keep things as separately as possible,” Meismer said.
Stratton said he would also file a waiver of speedy trial rights in the Carrie Jones case.
All motions are expected to be filed in the next two weeks, and a hearing date was set for March 28.
The Joneses are charged with murder in an event that left four people – Gene Twiford, Janet Twiford, Dana Twiford and Michele Shankles-Ebeling – dead in 2022.
First responders were called to Shankles-Ebeling’s home at 209 Elm St., Laurel, around 3 a.m., Aug. 4, to the report of an explosion and fire. About five hours later, 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 Neb. Department of Corrections.
While Jason Jones is considered the principal offender, under Nebraska statutes, Carrie Jones can be found guilty as well if she aided and encouraged him to carry out the killing, according to the attorney general’s office.
At Carrie Jones’ preliminary hearing, investigators testified that she was motivated to murder Twiford after years of his verbal harassment.
Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against her husband.
The Jones’ cases were heard in front of a sizable court audience Monday with more than a dozen of victims’ family members in attendance as well as media representatives.
In other court proceedings Monday: - Meismer granted David Phillips Jr., 21, Kenner, La., to appear unshackled and in civilian clothing in front of a jury during trial on charges of second-degree murder, use of a firearm to commit a felony and possession of a stolen firearm, in the death of 31-yearold Israel Matos-Colon, Fowlerville, Mich.
The shooting occurred March 1, 2023, at a U.S. Cellular tower worksite about two miles north of Hartington.
Phillips’ lawyer, Lancaster, and the attorney general’s office argued a motion in limine to exclude certain evidence at trial.
Meismer took the matter under advisement and will make a ruling at a later date. Phillips’ next court date was set for March 28. A trial was set for April.
- Timothy Lueth Jr., 42, Hartington, had a trial date set for February in his case in which he is accused of felony child abuse and assault by strangulation.
The charges stem from a March 20 incident in Hartington. According to court records, the victim and two other children were at a home with Lueth when he found her in a closet, grabbed her by the neck and threw her down. She indicated it was hard for her to breathe and witnesses said she was coughing. One of the witnesses said Lueth lifted the girl up high enough by her neck that her feet were not touching the ground. The girl received medical attention after the alleged assault.
- Joseph Grant, 30, Concord, entered guilty pleas to possession of a deadly weapon by a prohibited person, stalking, terroristic threats, driving under the influence of alcohol-first offense, and failure to submit to testing.
Eleven other charges against him were dismissed as part of a plea agreement. Grant’s charges stem from the threatening of a Laurel man with a knife and stalking a woman at her workplace.
Meismer granted a bond reduction from $100,000 to $50,000, and set Grant’s sentencing date for March 26.
- Christopher Barta, 30, Irene, S.D., pleaded guilty to criminal mischief in the theft of three spans of center pivot irrigation wire from a Cedar County farm last summer. Sentencing was set for Feb. 26.
- Phelan Schwager, 36, Randolph, pleaded not guilty on a second-degree assault charge for allegedly fighting with another inmate at the Cedar County jail. That charge and others - possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of a stolen firearm, theft by receiving, criminal mischief, possession of a controlled substance and criminal mischief - will be taken up by the court again Feb. 26.