AUSTIN (KXAN) — We’re now hearing more from those who know the Shaughnessy family.
Ted Shaughnessy, a prominent Austin jeweler, was murdered in his southwest Travis County home on March 2.
Now, his 19-year-old son and daughter-in-law are charged with hiring someone to murder Ted and Corey Shaughnessy.
Corey escaped unharmed.
KXAN met with a woman who can’t reconcile the accusations with the family she came to know over the years.
The toy store Over the Rainbow has been in business 42 years and Sharon Linsalata has been with the store for 28 of those years.
In a place with that kind of history in Austin, customers at Over the Rainbow are more like family. Within KXAN’s time at the toy store, Linsalata knew every customer who walked in. She says the reason why is simple.
“Love. Bottom line. Friendliness, ready to greet you and be happy to see you and make you happy. I mean when you go into a toy store it’s a good thing to walk out happy,” she laughed.
It’s how Linsalata met the Shaughnessy family.
“They were a wonderful family, absolutely wonderful. Ted and his wife used to come in when their son was real little,” she said, adding Ted and Nick bonded over racing.
“Ted was pretty proud of Nick, he was pretty proud,” she said.
A picture of innocence, meeting in a toy store, years later, rattled by the unimaginable.
“When you know someone and the family has been so positive and loving and for something like that to happen, it’s hard to comprehend. It really is,” Linsalata said.
Investigators say Shaughnessy’s son approached three different people about killing his parents.
“I don’t want to believe that he would come to that place within his life,” Linsalata said.
“It’s extremely sad to think that — you know what is hurting my heart right now is that his mother not only lost her husband and pets, but now she’s lost her son too,” Linsalata said, with tears welling in her eyes.”
She added, “And I just can’t imagine the pain that must be. You know? I can’t imagine it. My heart goes out to her and everyone involved in their family.”
Nick Shaughnessy and Jaclyn Edison’s first court date is scheduled for June 19.
Solicitation of capital murder is a first-degree felony. It’s punishable by 5 to 99 years in prison and includes a fine of up to $10,000.
