Why did somebody need Texas couple Ted and Corey Shaughnessy lifeless?

When rich Austin jewelers Corey and Ted Shaughnessy are attacked by intruders in their very own dwelling, investigators initially puzzled if it was a theft gone flawed. The reply was extra sinister than anybody may have anticipated.    

March 2, 2018: A shootout in the dark

In a sprawling suburban dwelling in Austin, Texas, 55-year-old Ted Shaughnessy, and his spouse Corey have been asleep, when in the midst of the evening, they have been awoken by dwelling invaders. When Ted went to take a look at the scene, he was confronted with a barrage of gunfire.

Corey Shaughnessy fights again 

As shooters continued to fireside within the Shaughnessy dwelling, Corey used her personal handgun to shoot again. When Corey ran out of ammunition, she hid in a closet and referred to as the police, frantically pleading for assist. Ted, her husband of 30 years, lay lifeless close to their kitchen desk.

Bart, one of many household’s beloved Rottweilers additionally shot lifeless

Investigators arrive on the scene

Paul Salo and James Moore of the Travis County Sheriff’s Workplace arrived to research the capturing. Moore described the crime scene as, ”a hail of gunfire.”

The Shaughnessy dwelling was in a state of chaos with damaged glass in all places and bullets lodged within the partitions. Investigators discovered several types of bullet casings on the ground. This led them to consider that there was multiple shooter accountable for the assault.

An open window raises suspicion

Whereas inspecting the scene, investigators observed an open window on the facet of the home, they usually puzzled if the intruders had used it to get into the Shaughnessy residence. The window led to an unoccupied bed room that had as soon as belonged to their son, Nick Shaughnessy. 

Inside a drawer in that room, police found an empty gun field and puzzled if the lacking gun, a .40 caliber gun, may have been used within the capturing. 

Nick Shaughnessy and Jackie Edison arrive

Corey broke the information of her husband’s loss of life to Nick, then 19, who lived two hours away together with his girlfriend Jackie Edison in Faculty Station, Texas. They instantly drove to Austin. On the scene, Nick did one thing investigators thought was odd. The open facet window was not seen from the road. With out being informed it was open or that investigators thought it might need been the entry level, Nick walked proper over to it.  

Why was the couple focused? 

Ted and Corey Shaughnessy owned a jewellery retailer in Austin, Texas. Corey thought that being jewelers might need made them targets.  However Amy Meredith, the previous assistant district lawyer, famous that nothing from the house was stolen, and started to consider it was an inside job.     

Police query Nick Shaughnessy and Jackie Edison 

Nick and Edison have been taken to the station for questioning later that day. They informed detectives that they had been at their residence in Faculty Station on the time of the assault. Nick additionally informed detectives that he had not been in Austin for a month.

A search warrant reveals extra clues

A couple of days later, investigators executed a search warrant for Nick and Edison’s residence. Of their search, investigators discovered ammunition. Although widespread amongst gun homeowners, they found that the ammunition was the identical model and caliber that was discovered on the crime scene.

Nick Shaughnessy and Jackie Edison are married and transfer in with Corey 

By their search, investigators additionally realized that Nick and Jackie have been secretly married. This was information to Corey, as properly. Regardless of feeling they have been too younger, she provided to assist them plan a correct marriage ceremony. And he or she had ample alternative as a result of within the days after Ted’s loss of life, the younger couple moved in with Corey.

At this level, investigators suspected Nick and Edison could have deliberate the assault on the Ted and Corey. Because it was nonetheless only a working principle, they might not inform Corey.

Corey Shaughnessy stands by her son as investigators shut in

Whatever the suspicions surrounding her son, Corey stood by him, hiring him a protection lawyer and sustaining his innocence.  

Nick Shaughnessy’s whereabouts are questioned    

As authorities continued to research, incriminating data arose. Though telephone data confirmed Nick had been greater than 100 miles away on the time of his father’s homicide, in addition they confirmed proof of a lie. Nick informed authorities he hadn’t been to Austin for a month, however telephone data proved in any other case. Cellphone utilization confirmed Nick in Austin on Feb. 28,  simply two days earlier than Ted’s loss of life.

Jackie Edison withdraws cash from the financial institution

Investigators additionally say they discovered textual content messages between Nick and Edison that present suspicious correspondence. In a single textual content, Nick asks Edison to make a money withdrawal. Detectives say that Jackie did in actual fact make this withdrawal, taking out $1,000 from the financial institution, simply days earlier than the homicide.      

A key witness

In Could of 2018, investigators talked to a highschool good friend of Nick’s named Spencer Patterson. Patterson proved to be an essential witness. He informed investigators that Nick had approached him, letting him know that he anticipated to come back into $8 million as soon as his dad and mom died.

A double arrest

On Could 29, 2018, Nick Shaughnessy and Jackie Edison have been arrested for felony solicitation.     

Revealing surveillance footage

Safety footage from Nick and Jackie’s entrance porch proved to be a serious flip within the case. Recorded simply two days earlier than the assault, it reveals Nick greeting two males on the entrance door.

One of many males within the video is carrying a T-shirt with a emblem, which led detectives to a close-by window firm.  An worker’s daughter informed detectives she had met the person within the surveillance footage. His title was Cameron Vosmek.

Cameron Vosmek’s spouse tells all 

Detectives went to Vosmek’s dwelling, and he wasn’t there. However his spouse appeared to know precisely why that they had proven up.

She informed them a person named Johnny Leon had requested her husband to commit homicide for cash. Vosmek declined to assist Leon and was dominated out as a suspect. However detectives now knew who the opposite man within the surveillance video was.

A 3rd arrest

Johnny Leon was questioned by police and arrested for capital homicide. And police have been capable of finding proof that Leon didn’t act alone. On Leon’s telephone investigators discovered a flurry of contacts across the time of the homicide with a person named Arieon Smith.

A confession

Police introduced Smith in for questioning and later arrested him for capital homicide. Smith opened up concerning the occasions of that evening. He not solely confessed to being there for the homicide, he additionally admitted to killing Ted. And he led investigators to the lacking homicide weapon. It was the .40 caliber pistol, lacking from the gun field in Nick’s childhood bed room.

Jackie Edison cooperates and activates Nick

After Edison’s arrest, she determined to cooperate with police. She confirmed that Nick had employed anyone to kill his dad and mom.  

Capital homicide prices

Nick Shaughnessy and the 2 alleged hit males have been charged with capital homicide. All three males took a plea: plead responsible to a lowered cost of homicide in return for a sentence of 35 years, with the potential of parole

Jackie Edison’s plea deal

For her cooperation, Jackie Edison was provided a distinct deal. She agreed to plead responsible to conspiracy to commit capital homicide by terror risk or different felony, and serve 120 days and 10 years probation. Moreover, for the subsequent 10 years, on the anniversary of Ted Shaughnessy’s homicide, Edison should spend the evening in jail.

Oct. 17, 2023: Jackie Edison is free

In October 2023, on the day Edison was launched from jail after serving her four-month sentence, ”48 Hours” producer Jenna Jackson was there with questions and a digital camera. When requested, Edison denied being in on the homicide plot and claimed she tried to cease Nick. Investigators say there is no such thing as a proof that Jackie ever tried to cease the homicide.

Remembering Ted Shaughnessy

Corey says her husband Ted treasured making folks really feel particular via his ardour for gems. His absence is felt deeply by those that knew and liked him. Speaking about her survival from the lethal assault, Corey says she is aware of she’s ”been given life” and intends to benefit from it.