Becker man being investigated in wife's stabbing

ELK RIVER (AP) -- The man charged this week in the eight-year-old death of his neighbor is also being investigated in the stabbing of his wife, Sherburne County authorities said.

Kent R. Jones, 37, of Becker was charged Tuesday in the death of Linda Jensen, 39, of Big Lake Township, who was found raped and stabbed the morning of Feb. 24, 1992. Jones was charged after authorities, using DNA testing, linked him to evidence at the crime scene.

Jones was arraigned Thursday on charges of second-degree murder and first-degree criminal sexual conduct. Bail was set at $1 million. A grand jury will likely consider first-degree murder charges, authorities said.

Authorities also confirmed they are investigating Jones in the stabbing of his wife, Deborah, earlier this year. At the time, Jones said his wife had slipped in the kitchen and fell on a knife in an open dishwasher. His wife confirmed the story, but investigators are trying to determine the validity of the story.

Jones next court appearance was scheduled for Aug. 8.

Police interviewed Jones in 1992 after Jensen's death, but his wife said he had been home with her the day of the killing, Sheriff Bruce Anderson said. A media campaign last month led police to a witness who said Jones had become very agitated upon mention of Jensen's death. When authorities interviewed him again, there were inconsistencies in his story, Anderson said.

KSTP-TV reported that according to information in a search warrant unveiled Thursday, a former girlfriend told authorities that Jones said he knew Jensen, saying she jogged past his house.

Also, search warrant documents indicate that Jones' alibi could not be corroborated, the station reported. The sheriff's department has also responded to two alleged domestic assaults involving Jones, in 1993 and 1995, according to the documents.

A DNA sample taken from Jones -- who used to live a half-mile from Jensen's home -- matched evidence left at the crime scene, authorities said.