Prosecutors will not seek the death penalty for suspects charged in the capital murder of Cedar Park jeweler Ted Shaugnessy.
KVUE reports that Nicolas Shaugnessy looked around College Station for help in killing his parents to collect $8 million dollars of insurance money. Shaugnessy reportedly offered fifteen thousand dollars to Johnny Leon III and Arieon Smith for the hit. Ted Shaugnessy was killed in March of 2018. Leon and Smith intended to kill his wife but she hid and called 9-1-1.
Nicolas’ wife Jaclyn Edison was also charged with conspiracy but has been cooperating with prosecutors and has had her bond reduced. Leon and Smith are still in Travis County Jail awaiting trial. Leon is charged with Capital Murder. Smith is charged with Capital Murder by terrorist threat and an out-of-county misdemeanor.
