Jones had severe burns over much of his body and was airlifted to a hospital in Lincoln, where he was listed in serious condition, Bolduc said. Jones was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter but has not yet been booked because he remains at the hospital, Bolduc said. It could not immediately be determined whether he had legal representation. Police said gunfire is believed to have “played a role” in the incidents at both homes. Crime scene investigators obtained physical evidence at the two fire scenes that pointed to a suspect who lived directly across the street from one of the fires. Bolduc credited firefighters with putting out the fires while preserving evidence of the crimes, which led police to the suspect. Bolduc said it was premature to talk about a motive. “I want to acknowledge the indescribable grief that this community is experiencing right now. And that will be compounded by the betrayal of trust that they will feel because a member of the community here has allegedly committed these crimes,” Bolduc said. The four victims in the case were identified as a family of three adults, 85-year-old Janet Twiford, 86-year-old Gene Twiford and 55-year-old Dana Twiford. and the woman found in the first home, 53-year-old Michele Ebeling. Shortly after 3 a.m. Thursday, Cedar County 911 received a call about an explosion at a home in Laurel Township, Bolduc said during a news conference. When firefighters arrived, they discovered a body inside. While investigators were at the scene, a second fire was reported a few blocks away, where authorities found “three people deceased inside that residence,” Bolduc said. “Fire crews worked diligently to put out the fire but also to preserve items that may be inside the home,” Bolduc said. Investigators said accelerants may have been used in both fires and anyone inside the homes may have been burned. James Roberts, who has owned Laurel’s Hometown Market for more than a year, said news of the deaths had shocked the small town. Laurel has a population of about 1,000 and is located in Cedar County in the northeastern part of the state. “Things like this don’t happen in this town,” Roberts said. “Everybody here knows everybody.” He said the grocery store has delivered food to state troopers and firefighters who responded to the scene and are at a nearby church. Staff packed hamburgers and sandwiches, including sloppy joes and some water to show their support.
“It’s a tight-knit city,” Roberts said. “Everyone here is family.”