Suvechha Sarkar
NBC’s ‘Dateline: Ghosts Can’t Talk’ delves deeper into the heartbreaking murder of 55-year-old Theodore Shaughnessy, affectionately known as Ted, in March 2018. He was at his home in Austin, Texas, when two armed assailants broke into his house and shot him. As the investigation progressed, it unraveled a murder-for-hire plot by his own son, Nicolas Shaughnessy, AKA Nick, and Nick’s then-wife, Jaclyn Edison, AKA Jackie. Nick had hired two gunmen, Arieon Smith and Johnny Leon, to carry out the murder. The episode also features emotional interviews from Ted’s loved ones and the officials.
Jaclyn Edison Tied the Knot With Ted Shaughnessy’s Son, Nick, in 2017
Jaclyn Edison, also known as Jackie, was born sometime in 1999. She was initially living in New Jersey and reportedly attended Holmdel High School, where she was a member of the cheerleading team and also the field hockey team. According to reports, she completed her high school diploma after moving to Austin, Texas. There, Jackie crossed paths with Nicolas Shaughnessy, AKA Nick. They soon began dating, and she grew close not just to him but also to his parents, Theodore Shaughnessy, lovingly known as Ted, and Corey Shaughnessy. Nick and Jackie secretly got married in 2017. By 2018, Jackie enrolled at Texas A&M University, where she pursued a degree in Engineering. Around that same time, she and Nick began living together at their apartment in College Station, Texas.
Things seemed to be going well until March 2, 2018, when Ted was shot dead in his own home. According to reports, the findings of two different types of shell casings, .40 caliber and .380 caliber, led the investigators to deduce that there might have been two gunmen. They next checked Ted’s home security system, which reportedly showed that the window in Nick’s bedroom had been opened around 4:27 am. Additionally, reports state that officials were unable to find a .40 caliber gun that was missing from Nick’s room. As per police records, while questioning Nick, they learned that he had given the weapon to his friend, Spencer Patterson. However, Spencer was eliminated as a suspect since investigators found no evidence against him. Court records specify that they discovered .380 ammo back at Nick’s apartment during a search.
Jaclyn, Nick, and the Two Hitmen Were Arrested Through Digital and Physical Clues
The search reportedly raised suspicions since six rounds of .380 ammo were missing. According to official records, the detectives discovered that Nick’s day-trading account had no funds, indicating that he and Jackie were facing financial difficulties. Additionally, forensic experts reportedly found that both of Jackie’s and Nick’s cell phones had missing data around the same time. The court affidavit states that when that data was recovered, investigators found suspicious text exchanges. Just a few days before the murder, Nick had texted Jackie saying that he was “working on it,” to which she had replied, “Do they want 50K or not?” As per reports, Jackie had also texted, “We can’t afford to pay half before.” Furthermore, official reports reveal that Nick had also asked her to withdraw $1,000 so that if “it” happened, they would have cash in hand.
According to investigative reports, detectives learned that Nick had accessed Ted’s home security system through his own mobile and turned off the alarm system shortly before the murder on March 2, 2018. Reports indicate that the authorities believed that Nick and Jackie were the masterminds behind the murder-for-hire plot of Ted. Ultimately, both of them were arrested on May 29, 2018. They were indicted on the charge of criminal solicitation to commit capital murder. As per police reports, officials then found one of the hitmen, Johnny Leon, through CCTV footage at Nick and Jackie’s apartment. He then reportedly confessed to being involved in the murder. Johnny’s cellphone records led the investigators to the second hitman, Arieon Smith, whose mobile data placed him at the scene of the crime. Reports state that Arieon later admitted to killing Ted.
Johnny and Arieon were arrested in July 2018 and on December 7, 2018, respectively. They were both charged with capital murder. According to court records, during Jackie’s questioning, she claimed that Nick was the one to plan the murder of both his parents. In her statements, she informed the detectives that Ted had a life insurance policy worth $1 million, but it was allegedly not Nick’s original motive. She reportedly admitted to being present in the car several times when Nick drove to Austin to visit Ted and Corey’s house during the planning process. As per reports, Jackie claimed that Nick had told her that Ted was allegedly depressed, and hence, he needed to be killed. Further records note that Jackie alleged Nick said to her that since Corey wouldn’t be able to live without Ted, she would also be killed.
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While Jaclyn is Seemingly Out on Probation, Nick, Johnny, and Arieon Are Incarcerated in State Prison Today
After Jackie’s arrest, she was initially held on a $1,000,000 bail, which was later reportedly reduced by the prosecutors to $250,000. According to reports, the bond reduction occurred due to her cooperation with the authorities. Around two weeks after her arrest, she was released on bond from the Travis County Jail. Nick entered into a guilty plea agreement on April 7, 2021, and was sentenced to 35 years in prison. Around that time, Jackie reportedly got a divorce from Nick. He would become eligible for parole in less than 20 years, with the parole date set for November 26, 2035. Johnny and Arieon also pleaded guilty. They were reportedly sentenced to 35 years in prison with the possibility of parole after nearly 20 years.
Jackie also avoided a trial by agreeing to plead guilty to a reduced charge of conspiracy to attempt capital murder in June 2023. It also helped her escape a life imprisonment sentence. She received a 120-day prison sentence, along with 10 years of probation. Additionally, the judge ordered her to surrender her passport and complete 300 hours of community service. Additionally, Jackie was asked to spend two days in jail each year on Ted’s death anniversary. She was also barred from contacting Corey, Ted’s other family members, or her co-conspirators. As of writing, Jackie has completed serving 120 days in prison and appears to be maintaining a low profile. Currently, Nick, Johnny, and Arieon are serving their sentence at different state prison facilities.
