Dateline NBC “Ghosts Can’t Talk” January 12 2024 Recap & Preview
Dateline NBC will be featuring this case in an episode titled “Ghosts Can’t Talk,” scheduled to air on January 12, 2024, at 9 PM/8PM Central Time exploring the murder-for-hire plot of Ted Shaughnessy and its profound impact on the Shaughnessy family and the community.
Interviewed in this episode include Corey Shaughnessy, Nicolas Shaughnessy, Travis County Sheriff’s investigators James Moore and Paul Salo, Defense Attorney Rick Flores, family friends Tad Cole and Vicki Frenk, and others.
What Happened to Ted Shaughnessy & Nicolas Shaughnessy?
In 2018, Nicolas Shaughnessy, the son of Austin jeweler Ted Shaughnessy, hatched a plan to have his parents killed in order to claim a substantial life insurance payout. Nicolas and his then-wife, Jaclyn Edison, initially contemplated carrying out the murders themselves. However, they later recruited Johnny Leon, a young man they knew, to execute the plan. Their motivation was not solely financial; they also coveted the status and success associated with their parents’ business in Austin.
The plot ultimately led to Ted Shaughnessy’s tragic death. Corey Shaughnessy, Ted’s wife and Nicolas’ mother, survived the attack after fighting back against the intruders. The perpetrators entered the Shaughnessy home in the middle of the night, using Nicolas’ phone to disable the security system. Ted was fatally shot in the encounter.
Nicolas admitted to his involvement in the murder-for-hire plot and expressed deep regret for his actions. He explained that he and Jaclyn initially contemplated committing the murders themselves but later decided they were unable to do so. They ultimately enlisted Leon for the task. The motive behind the murder plan was driven by greed, as Nicolas was set to inherit a substantial sum of money in the event of his parents’ death.
Jaclyn Edison, who had previously cooperated with investigators, was also charged in connection with the conspiracy. However, she received a sentence of 10 years probation, avoiding prison time due to a plea deal.
In a court statement, Corey Shaughnessy expressed her grief, sense of betrayal, and disbelief that her son and former daughter-in-law were involved in such a heinous crime. She recounted how Nicolas and Jaclyn had lived with her after the murder and had taken advantage of her kindness and support.
Ultimately, Nicolas Shaughnessy, Johnny Leon, and another accomplice, Arieon Smith, were sentenced to 35 years in prison for their roles in the murder plot. The case involved complex family dynamics, financial motives, and a shocking act of violence that resulted in the loss of a life.
