Theodore "Ted" Shaughnessy, a 55-year-old Caucasian male, was tragically killed on March 2, 2018, in Austin, Texas. Ted was the beloved owner of Gallerie Jewelers and was known for his kind-hearted nature and dedication to his customers. He and his wife, Corey, were asleep when their home was invaded by two intruders. Ted heroically tried to protect his wife and their dogs, but he was fatally shot during the exchange of gunfire.
Corey survived the attack and managed to call 911.
Initially, the incident was thought to be a botched burglary due to Ted's affluent status as a jeweler. However, the police investigation revealed that there was no forced entry, and the doors in the house were undisturbed except for the entrance to their son Nicolas' room. This led the authorities to shift their focus to a homicide inquiry.
The investigation uncovered that Nicolas Shaughnessy, Ted's son, was facing significant financial difficulties and was the sole beneficiary of a $2 million insurance payout on his parents' lives. This financial motive led the police to suspect that Nicolas had conspired with his wife, Jaclyn Alexa Edison, to hire hitmen to kill his parents.
Nicolas and Jaclyn were arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit capital murder. Jaclyn pled guilty to her role in the plot and was sentenced to 10 years probation, while Nicolas received a 35-year prison sentence. The hitmen, Arieon Smith and Johnny Leon, were also convicted and sentenced to 35 years in prison.
The tragic death of Theodore "Ted" Shaughnessy shook the Austin community, and his memory lives on through the kindness and generosity he showed to everyone he met.
