AUSTIN, Texas — Corey and Ted Shaughnessy, a wealthy couple and Austin jewelers, were attacked by intruders in their suburban home. At first, investigators suspected a possible robbery gone wrong, but what they discovered was more sinister than expected.
On March 2, 2018, Ted and Corey Shaughnessy were awakened in the middle of the night by home invaders. Ted bravely confronted the intruders and was met with gunfire. In a desperate act of self-defense, Corey used her own handgun to fight back. Eventually, she ran out of ammunition and hid in a closet, where she called the police for help. Tragically, Ted was found dead near the kitchen table.
The crime scene painted a grim picture of chaos and violence. Broken glass littered the Shaughnessy home, and bullet holes riddled the walls. Investigators discovered different types of bullet casings, suggesting the involvement of multiple shooters.
While examining the scene, investigators noticed an open window on the side of the house, leading them to suspect that the intruders had used it as an entry point. This window led to an unoccupied bedroom once belonging to the Shaughnessy’s son, Nick. In a drawer in that room, police found an empty gun box, raising suspicions that a missing .40 caliber gun could have been used in the shooting.
News of Ted’s death was delivered to Nick by Corey. Curiously, Nick walked straight to the open side window without prior knowledge of it, arousing investigators’ suspicion. As co-owners of a jewelry store in Austin, the Shaughnessys believed that their profession made them targets, but nothing had been stolen during the attack, leading investigators to consider the possibility of an inside job.
Nick and his girlfriend, Jackie Edison, were quickly brought in for questioning. They claimed to have been at their apartment in College Station, Texas, at the time of the attack. However, phone records showed that Nick had been in Austin just two days prior, contradicting his statement. Suspicious text messages between Nick and Edison were also discovered, including one where Nick asked Edison to make a cash withdrawal from the bank shortly before the murder.
Subsequent investigation revealed that Nick had approached a high school friend, Spencer Patterson, and confided in him about expecting to inherit $8 million once his parents died. This information from Patterson proved to be a crucial piece of evidence.
In a surprising turn of events, security footage from Nick and Jackie’s porch captured Nick greeting two men at the front door two days before the attack. The logo on one of the men’s T-shirts led detectives to a nearby window company, where an employee’s daughter identified him as Cameron Vosmek. Vosmek’s wife revealed that her husband had been asked by a man named Johnny Leon to commit murder for money but had declined. Leon, in turn, was questioned by police and ultimately arrested for capital murder.
Further connections were made when investigators found evidence on Leon’s phone of contact with a man named Arieon Smith. Smith eventually confessed to being involved in the murder and led investigators to the missing murder weapon, the .40 caliber pistol.
Jackie Edison, after her arrest, decided to cooperate with the police. She confirmed Nick’s involvement in hiring someone to kill his parents. Nick Shaughnessy, Cameron Vosmek, and Arieon Smith were all charged with capital murder. In exchange for their guilty pleas to a reduced charge of murder, they were sentenced to 35 years with the possibility of parole.
Jackie Edison received a different plea deal for her cooperation. She pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit capital murder and was sentenced to 120 days imprisonment, followed by 10 years on probation. Additionally, on each anniversary of Ted’s murder for the next 10 years, Edison must spend the night in jail.
In October 2023, when Jackie Edison was released from jail, she denied being involved in the murder plot and claimed that she tried to stop Nick. However, investigators found no evidence to support her claim.
The tragic death of Ted Shaughnessy continues to be deeply felt by his loved ones. Corey Shaughnessy, despite suspicions surrounding her son, stands by him and maintains his innocence. She recognizes the preciousness of life and is determined to make the most of it.
(Note: This article was written in accordance with AP News Style and does not cite any specific news organization.)