Two Murder Sentencings: Pasqual Gets Life, McCullagh Jailed 31 Years

Two high-profile murder cases reached their sentencing conclusions on June 3, 2026, in separate courts. In Los Angeles County Superior Court, actor Nick Pasqual — who appeared in a 2011 episode of How I Met Your Mother — was sentenced to life in prison for the attempted murder of Hollywood make-up artist Allie Shehorn. Pasqual stabbed Shehorn more than 20 times at her Sunland, California home in May 2024 before being captured at a Texas border checkpoint while attempting to flee the country. He was convicted on multiple felony counts including attempted murder, rape, burglary, and domestic violence. Judge Hayden Zackey noted Pasqual narrowly avoided the death penalty only because of Shehorn's determination to survive. Shehorn, who had obtained a restraining order against Pasqual prior to the attack, spent nearly a week in intensive care. Pasqual is appealing the ruling. In a separate case at Belfast Crown Court, Stephen McCullagh was sentenced to a minimum of 31 years in prison for murdering his pregnant girlfriend Natalie McNally and their unborn child on December 18, 2022, at her home in Lurgan, County Armagh. McCullagh orchestrated an elaborate alibi by filming a six-hour gaming livestream titled "Violent Night" four days prior, which Natalie — 15 weeks pregnant at the time — tuned into unaware it was pre-recorded while McCullagh made his way to her home. The court heard she suffered 48 separate injuries. Judge Mr Justice Kinney described the murder as brutal and senseless with extensive planning. The jury reached a guilty verdict after just two hours of deliberation. McCullagh has been placed in the hospital wing at Maghaberry Prison for his own safety after fellow prisoners placed him on a hit list.