Who Is Nick Shaughnessy & Where Is He Now? 2026 Update & Background

Nicolas Shaughnessy entered the Shaughnessy household as a toddler adopted from Ukraine. Ted and Corey welcomed him with enthusiasm and built their lives around providing stability, education, and opportunity. He grew up in Austin surrounded by a loving home, a successful family business, and every resource parents could offer.

Friends recall a curious teenager drawn to money, status, and the idea of building wealth. In high school, he spoke openly about plans to learn financial trading and live on his own terms. Those ambitions shaped his identity and influenced the choices that came later.

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Marriage, Money Problems, and a Dangerous Shift

At 18, Nick married his girlfriend, Jaclyn Edison, in secret. The marriage stayed hidden from his parents for months. Not long after, the couple moved to College Station, where Nick attempted to support himself through day trading. Losses piled up. Loans from friends and family went unpaid. His mother provided him with funds for living expenses and trading activity, but the debts grew.

Investigators later found texts and records that showed growing financial strain. Messaging between Nick and Jaclyn revealed talk about large sums of money and discussions about payments to outside parties. Conversations with acquaintances hinted at a disturbing idea developing in the background. Nick had begun to talk about what life would look like once he inherited the Shaughnessy estate.

The Murder Plot

Prosecutors say the plan centered on the life insurance policies and the value of the jewelry business. Evidence showed Nick reached out to people he believed could commit violence on his behalf. Two men entered the Shaughnessy home on March 2, 2018. Ted was shot and killed. Corey survived after firing back and calling 911.

The investigation traced phone data, alarm records, texts, bank withdrawals, and witness statements. It also uncovered a disturbing text message trail. Surveillance footage linked Nick to individuals who had visited his apartment days before the murder. Interviews with one of those men revealed a confession and details about the payment structure. The murder weapon traced back to a missing firearm from Nick’s childhood bedroom.

Arrest, Plea, and Sentencing

Nick and Jaclyn were arrested in May 2018. For months, Corey believed the accusations were wrong. After reading the affidavits, she began to realize the scope of the evidence. Prosecutors charged Nick with capital murder. Facing a possible death sentence, he accepted a plea agreement. He pleaded guilty to murder and received a 35‑year prison sentence, along with the two men who carried out the attack.

In interviews following his conviction, Nick acknowledged his role in the plot. He spoke about pressure, ego, and the destructive path he created. He also spoke about regret and his desire for forgiveness. For Corey, those words brought no comfort. The loss of her husband and the knowledge of her son’s involvement reshaped her life.

Where Nick Is Now

Nicolas Shaughnessy is serving his sentence in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. He will remain incarcerated through much of his adult life, with the possibility of parole in his mid‑thirties. Prison records show he has focused on education. He has taken college coursework and vocational programs designed to prepare inmates for life after release.

He continues to write letters to his mother, though they have no direct relationship. He has stated that rebuilding trust is his long‑term goal. For Corey, that remains uncertain. She describes the man behind bars as someone she does not recognize. The boy she remembers no longer exists.

A Legacy of Damage

The case left more than one victim. A husband died. A wife lives with trauma and loss. A family business disappeared. A community lost a figure who brought joy through craftsmanship. And a son threw away the life his parents built for him.

The Dateline episode revisits that night in Austin and the painful truth uncovered afterward. Nick’s story now stands as a study in greed, manipulation, and the collapse of a family once defined by love and connection.