A California jury has found actor Nick Pasqual guilty of attempting to murder his estranged girlfriend, Allie Shehorn, in a brutal stabbing attack that left the Hollywood makeup artist fighting for her life and permanently scarred.
Conviction and Charges
Pasqual, 36, who appeared on television shows including How I Met Your Mother, was convicted on Friday of attempted murder, first-degree residential burglary with a person present, and injuring a spouse, cohabitant, fiancé, boyfriend, girlfriend, or child’s parent, according to court records.
Prosecutors stated that Pasqual broke into Shehorn’s Sunland, California, home around 4:30 a.m. on May 23, 2024, and stabbed her more than 20 times before fleeing the state. He was arrested a week later at a U.S.-Mexico border checkpoint in Sierra Blanca, Texas.
Victim's Testimony
Shehorn, 37, appeared in court at the San Fernando Courthouse with visible scars on her neck and arms as she recounted the abuse she said occurred before the stabbing. “I locked the door and he just started punching holes in that door and broke that open,” she told the court, according to ABC7. “I just ran into the bathroom because I thought there’s another lock on that door.”
Authorities reported several abuse incidents prior to the attack. Days before, Shehorn had filed a restraining order against Pasqual, accusing him of prior abuse that allegedly included choking, rape, breaking down doors, and assaulting her with a belt.
Prior Arrest and Release
On May 18, 2024, Pasqual was arrested on a felony domestic violence-related charge against Shehorn and booked into a Los Angeles jail but was released on a $50,000 bond about five hours later, according to PEOPLE. Just five days later, he attacked Shehorn, police said.
The Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office stated that Pasqual “inflicted great bodily injury upon the victim under circumstances involving domestic violence” and “personally used a knife during the commission of the crime.”
Attack and Recovery
Shehorn, stabbed at least 20 times, was discovered by a family member and rushed to a hospital in critical condition. She underwent 14 hours of life-saving and reconstructive surgeries and spent nearly a week in intensive care after suffering deep cuts to her neck, arms, and abdomen.
Before the attack, Shehorn had built a successful career in Hollywood makeup artistry, earning Best SFX Makeup at the Hollywood Blood Horror Festival for her work on Incorrigible. Her credits also include Babylon, Mean Girls, and Rebel Moon. She has since returned to the industry, with nine credits since 2025, including Rainn Wilson’s action-comedy Code 3, as reported by The New York Post.
A GoFundMe campaign created to help with hospital bills detailed her recovery journey. “Allie Shehorn is making positive steps to her recovery,” friend Steven Dornoff wrote in a May 2024 update. “It’s still a very long road but she is facing it with courage and determination.” In a later update, he added: “Allie has an awesome group of family and friends who have helped house her, transport her and give the tlc she’s needed. The main thing is she has been kept safe and happy, which accounts for her awesome healing.”
Pasqual faces the possibility of life in prison when he is sentenced in June.
