Fourth Suspect Tied to Murder of Texas Jeweler Arrested

Austin, Texas—A fourth suspect has been identified and arrested in connection with the murder-for-hire plot that resulted in the death of a longtime Austin jeweler earlier this year.

The Travis County Sherriff’s Office confirmed that Arieon Smith, 21, was arrested Friday.

According to court documents, Corey Shaughnessy told investigators that she and her husband, Theodore (Ted), were awoken early on the morning of March 2 by the sound of their dogs barking.

Ted grabbed his handgun and got up to investigate. Less than a minute later, Corey heard gunfire so she also armed herself and got out of bed.

She and the intruder exchanged gunfire until she ran out of ammunition; it is believed the suspect was injured in the exchange. Corey then hid in the closet and called 911, remaining there until police came.

When deputies arrived, they discovered the body of 55-year-old Ted Shaughnessy with multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead on the scene.

Shaughnessy and his wife owned Gallerie Jewelers in Austin.

Shaughnessy’s son, Nicholas, and his wife, Jaclyn Alexa Edison, both were arrested in early June.

Nicholas was indicted for capital murder in August, while Edison posted bond on a charge of solicitation to commit capital murder.

Nicholas is accused of allegedly heading up the plot to hire Smith and another man, Johnny Roman Leon III, to kill Ted and Corey Shaughnessy so they could collect the insurance money.

Leon was arrested in July and since has been indicted on a charge of capital murder.

According to the affidavit for Smith’s arrest, investigators retrieved his phone records, which confirmed that he had communicated with Leon many times on the day before and day of the murder.

Smith said he was friends with Leon and had met Nicolas in a club. He initially said he didn’t know any details of the crime but later admitted to driving to College Station, Texas in a friend’s car to meet with Leon, who asked him to participate in the murder for money, the affidavit states.

Smith said he refused but loaned Leon his friend’s car to drive to Austin while he stayed in a College Station hotel with a friend all night. However, that friend later told police that Smith had in fact left the hotel during the night with Leon.

Smith now faces a capital murder charge and is being held on a $1 million bond.