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HARTINGTON – A Laurel woman is seeking a change of venue for her upcoming murder trial.
Doug Stratton, Norfolk lawyer for 45-year-old Carrie Jones, filed the motion last week in Cedar County District Court.
She’s accused of first-degree murder, tampering with evidence and being an accessory to murder.
She is accused of pushing her husband, Jason Jones, to kill Gene Twiford because of the sexually charged statements Twiford directed toward her over the years.
Jason Jones was convicted by a jury last month of murdering Twiford, his wife, Janet, and his daughter, Dana, along with another Laurel woman Michele Ebeling, and setting their homes on fire on Aug. 4, 2022.
The jury also found the murders to be aggravated, making him eligible for the death penalty. A three-judge panel have yet to decide his fate - life in prison or death.
Carrie Jones also is accused of harboring her husband after the murders and disposing of the clothes he was wearing at the time of the crimes.
Jason Jones’ case was moved out of Cedar County and tried in Dakota County after Judge Bryan Meismer determined he wouldn’t be able to receive a fair trial in Cedar County.
And that’s the next move in Carrie Jones’ case.
The motion to change venue details findings from 200 supplemental juror questionnaires including: - 24 of the questionnaires were sent to Laurel addresses, many within blocks of the crime scenes and one located right across the street.
- 113 indicated they already formed an opinion of Carrie Jones’ guilt based on media coverage or speaking with witnesses.
- 80 stated they couldn’t set aside their opinion of Carrie Jones’ guilt.
- 72 have expressed their opinion of her guilt to others.
- 47 directly knew the Twifords or their family members.
- 60 knew at least one person on the witness list.
Stratton said the questionnaires also indicated a “deep and bitter prejudice” toward Carrie Jones with comments like “The Twifords deserve justice also I would be concerned about my safety of my hometown if either walked free ever again,” and, “My mind is already made up, Mrs. Jones is a devil worshipper.”
Stratton also detailed media coverage which began the day of the murders and continued to be widespread over the last two years during the investigation and pre-trial proceedings.
He said to try Carrie Jones in Cedar County or use a compromised jury would violate her right to a fair trial by an impartial jury guaranteed by the Sixth and 14th Amendments to the U.S.Constitution.
A hearing on the motion for the change of venue was set for later this month.
