A SUSPECT believed to be linked to a series of fires at two homes, which left four dead, has been arrested.
Nebraska State Police announced the arrest of suspect Jason Jones on Friday, who was found hiding in his home across the street from one of the crime scenes in Laurel.
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NSP superintendent Col. John Bolduc said Jones, 42, had serious burns across his body and was taken to the hospital in severe condition.
Bolduc added that investigators obtained "multiple pieces of evidence" linking Jones to the scene.
“I want to acknowledge indescribable grief that this community is experiencing right now and that’s going to be compounded by the betrayal of trust that they’re going to feel because a community member here is alleged to have committed these crimes,” Bolduc said.
The fire at one home killed a family, who have been identified as Gene Twiford, 86, Janet Twiford, 85, and their son Dana Twiford, 55.
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Michele Ebeling, 53, was killed in the second blaze.
All four bodies were discovered with gunshot wounds. A motive has yet to be determined.
First responders received reports of an explosion around 3am on Thursday, prompting several law enforcement agencies to rush to the scene.
Fire crews found the house ablaze and discovered the first body inside the home, Bolduc said Thursday.
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While crews worked to put out the flames at this home, officials received another report of a nearby home that burst into flames, state patrol said.
Responders rushed to the second scene, where they found three more bodies inside.
Fire investigators believe that accelerants may have been used in each of the fires, according to authorities.
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Local businesses and other buildings in the area were placed on lockdown in the wake of the explosions.
Laurel is home to fewer than 1,000 people and is located about 100 miles northwest of Omaha.
