Jones will not have to be in courtroom for murder trial

HARTINGTON — A Laurel man accused in a quadruple murder case won’t appear in court during his trial this fall.

Jason Jones, 44, appeared by videoconference in Cedar County District Court Monday morning so Judge Bryan Meismer could fully advise him of his rights before making his ruling.

In making the motion to waive appearance at trial, Jones’ attorney, Todd Lancaster of the Nebraska Public Advocacy Commission in Lincoln, argued his client’s medical condition makes it difficult for him to sit for long periods of time.

Jones is accused of shooting four Laurel residents — Michele Shankles-Ebeling, Gene Twiford, Janet Twiford and Dana Twiford — and then setting their houses on fire on Aug. 4, 2022.

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.

He will stand trial on four charges of first degree murder, four charges of use of a firearm to commit a felony and two charges of first-degree arson.

Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty in the case which was moved to Dakota County. The trial is slated to start Sept. 8.

During the trial, Meismer will inform the jury not to read anything into Jones’ absence.