Search warrant reveals possible motive in Austin jeweler murder-for-hire plot

More information is coming out about a murder-for-hire plot that led to the death of an Austin jeweler.

A recently released search warrant details what led officers to believe Nicolas Shaughnessy hired someone to try and kill his parents. According to the search warrant, Nicolas Shaughnessy was dealing with financial troubles, owing thousands to his parents.

On March 2, the murder of Theodore Shaughnessy, detectives noticed an open window in the home with no signs of forced entry, all other windows were locked. An interview with Corey Shaughnessy, the wife to Theodore and survivor of the deadly attack, revealed the room with the open window belonged to their son Nicolas Shaughnessy.

Nicolas Shaughnessy arrived on scene with his wife Jaclyn Edison after receiving a call from Travis county deputies about the incident. At this time the two were living in College Station. Detectives interviewed Nicolas where he revealed he was in debt about $30,000 to his mom, Corey Shaughnessy. The money was supposedly a loan to help him start a day trading business. The search warrant goes on to say Nicolas Shaughnessy had an argument early in the week with his mom over the loan.

Detectives then interviewed Jaclyn Edison and searched her phone. They found a conversation addressed to both Nicolas and Jaclyn from a neighbor who wanted $2,600, which they had loaned to Nicolas Shaughnessy the year before.

Later in March, detectives interviewed a friend to Nicolas Shaughnessy who said Nicolas talked about faking his own death and getting life insurance money. Detectives were able to learn Nicolas Shaughnessy was the sole beneficiary of his parents’ life insurance of $2 million in the event both his parents were deceased.

The affidavit reveals officers came to the conclusion Nicolas Shaughnessy and Jaclyn Edison were struggling financially for a considerable amount of time including the day of the murder. A search of Nicolas Shaughnessy’s phone also revealed he was accessing his parents’ surveillance system after the murder using a different IP address, all this before officers called to tell him about the murder.

In May, Nicolas Shaughnessy, and his wife, Jaclyn Edison, were arrested and accused of conspiring together.

In July, 21-year-old Johnny Ramon Leon was also arrested for his possible involvement.