Texas Shootout (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE)
12Digest
This podcast episode delves into the complex and shocking case of Ted Shawnessy, a jewelry store owner in Austin, Texas, who was found dead in his kitchen. The investigation begins with the discovery of Ted's body by his wife, Corey, who claims she was attacked by intruders and fired her gun in self-defense. However, inconsistencies in her story and the lack of evidence of a robbery raise suspicions for detectives James Moore and Paul Salo. As the investigation progresses, the detectives uncover a web of secrets and lies. Ted's son, Nicholas, and his girlfriend, Jackie, arrive at the scene and are questioned. Nicholas reveals a strange story about helping a neighbor track her cheating husband, but the detectives suspect there's more to it. The investigation leads the detectives to Spencer Patterson, a friend of Nicholas who knew about a secret window in Nicholas's bedroom. Spencer becomes a suspect, and the detectives discover a 380 caliber gun in his possession that is linked to the crime scene. In a shocking turn of events, Spencer confesses that Nicholas had talked to him about wanting to murder his parents and hiring hitmen. The truth is revealed: Nicholas and Jackie, driven by greed and Nicholas's financial troubles, hired hitmen to kill Ted and Corey. The hitmen's plan went wrong, leading to a shootout and Ted's death. Nicholas and Jackie's attempt to cover up their involvement is exposed, and their tech savviness, including Nicholas's ability to control the alarm system and text messages with Jackie, ultimately leads to their arrest. The episode concludes with the sentencing of Nicholas, Jackie, and the hitmen, highlighting the devastating consequences of greed and the lengths people will go to for financial gain.
Outlines
The Mysterious Death of Ted Shawnessy
This chapter introduces the story of Ted Shawnessy, a jewelry store owner in Austin, Texas, who was found dead in his kitchen. The circumstances surrounding his death are suspicious, leading detectives to investigate a possible murder.
The Investigation Begins
This chapter introduces the detectives, James Moore and Paul Salo, who arrive at the scene and begin their investigation. They find evidence of a chaotic scene, including multiple bullet casings and Ted's dog, Bart, shot dead.
Suspicions Arise
This chapter highlights the detectives' growing suspicions about Corey's involvement in Ted's death, pointing to inconsistencies in her story and the lack of evidence of a robbery.
Following the Leads
This chapter describes the detectives' investigation into the neighbor's husband and their growing suspicion that someone Ted knew might be involved.
The Truth Revealed
This chapter reveals the truth behind Ted's murder, based on Spencer's confession and evidence collected throughout the investigation.
Keywords
Murder for Hire
A crime in which someone pays another person to kill someone else. This can involve a contract, a promise of payment, or other forms of compensation.
Hitman
A person hired to kill someone, often for money or other forms of compensation. Hitmen are typically involved in organized crime or other criminal activities.
Forensic Evidence
Evidence collected and analyzed in a criminal investigation, often used to identify suspects, establish a timeline of events, or prove guilt or innocence.
Life Insurance Policy
A contract between an insurance company and a policyholder, in which the insurance company agrees to pay a death benefit to a beneficiary upon the death of the policyholder.
Beneficiary
A person or entity designated to receive the proceeds of a life insurance policy, trust, or other financial instrument upon the death of the insured or grantor.
Plea Deal
An agreement between a prosecutor and a defendant in a criminal case, in which the defendant pleads guilty to a lesser charge or charges in exchange for a reduced sentence or other concessions.
Q&A
What were the circumstances surrounding Ted Shawnessy's death?
Ted was found dead in his kitchen, with multiple gunshot wounds. His wife, Corey, claimed she was attacked by intruders and fired her gun in self-defense, but inconsistencies in her story raised suspicions.
Who were the main suspects in Ted's murder?
The main suspects were Corey, who stood to inherit a significant amount of money, and Spencer, Ted's son's friend, who knew about the window and the safe.
What evidence led to the arrest of Nicholas and Jackie?
Evidence included Nicholas's confession that he had hired hitmen, his tech skills that allowed him to control the alarm system, and text messages between him and Jackie arranging the murder.
What was the motive behind Nicholas and Jackie's plan to kill Ted and Corey?
Nicholas was heavily in debt from day trading and wanted to inherit his parents' wealth, including their jewelry store, house, and life insurance policies.
What was the outcome of the case?
Nicholas and the hitmen were sentenced to 35 years in prison, while Jackie received 10 years of probation with a requirement to spend two nights in jail every year on the anniversary of Ted's murder.
Show Notes
On an early morning in 2018, a woman in her 50s stood in the doorway of her bedroom in Austin, TX – firing off shots from her .357 revolver into the dark kitchen a few yards away. Someone in the kitchen fired back, and bullets whizzed past her and crashed into the wall. The woman saw shadows moving back and forth in the kitchen, but no matter where she aimed in the darkness, she just couldn’t hit anyone. She kept firing until she heard a CLICK – her gun was empty. Terrified, she turned and ran into her bedroom closet to hide. Later that morning, when detectives arrived at the house and walked into the kitchen, the scene looked almost like something out of an old western movie – like some insane shootout had taken place in this quiet, upscale neighborhood. The dead body of a middle-aged man lay on the floor, surrounded by multiple bullet casings from what looked like several different weapons. And a handgun rested near the dead man’s out-stretched hand. The woman who lived there described the wild events of the morning to the detectives, and she claimed people had broken into her house and killed her husband, but they must have run when she opened fire on them. But the detectives had no way of knowing what had really happened, and they immediately started to wonder if this entire crime scene – this massive shootout – had just been staged to cover-up a good old-fashioned case of a wife murdering her husband.
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