'How I Met Your Mother' star learns fate as he's given decades in prison for stabbing makeup artist ex-girlfriend

By JAMES GORDON, US NEWS REPORTER Published: 23:11, 2 June 2026 | Updated: 23:28, 2 June 2026 Actor Nick Pasqual - who is known for a role in How I Met Your Mother - was sentenced on Tuesday to life behind bars for a brutal attack on his former girlfriend.  Prosecutors said he stabbed Allie Shehorn, an acclaimed special-effects makeup artist, more than 20 times inside her Southern California home. Pasqual, 36, was convicted last month on multiple felony counts, including attempted murder, forcible rape and domestic violence stemming from the May 2024 assault on Shehorn at her residence in Sunland, California. During Tuesday's sentencing hearing, Judge Hayden Zackey imposed a life sentence and delivered a blistering assessment of Pasqual's conduct.  According to reports from the courtroom, spectators applauded as the sentence was announced. The judge described the attack as exceptionally violent and told Pasqual that he represented one of the worst offenders to come before the court.  Zackey also remarked that Pasqual had narrowly avoided a possible death sentence, saying Shehorn's determination to stay alive ultimately spared him from that outcome. 'I've never seen a person more hellbent on terrorizing another person,' Zackey told the defendant, adding, 'To call you a human being is an insult to society.' Former actor Nick Pasqual was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of attempting to murder his ex-girlfriend, award-winning makeup artist Allie Shehorn, during a 2024 attack  Shehorn, pictured in 2024,  told the court how she fought to survive after being stabbed more than 20 times, using a belt to slow the bleeding before paramedics arrived. The scars of the attack can still be seen Before the sentence was handed down, Shehorn addressed the court in an emotional victim impact statement.  Wearing a red dress that exposed the scars left by the assault, the 37-year-old recounted the terrifying moments after she was attacked. She told the court she remembered lying in a pool of blood and wondering whether she would ever have the opportunity to become a mother. Shehorn said she used a belt as a makeshift tourniquet around her neck in an effort to slow the bleeding until emergency responders arrived. Despite the lasting physical reminders of the attack, she said she now views her scars as symbols of survival and referred to Pasqual as 'a coward.' The courtroom reacted audibly when Pasqual requested an opportunity to speak. 'This weighs heavily on me,' he said. 'This is a burden that I will carry the rest of my life.' Pasqual also told the court he was grateful Shehorn survived and said he remained focused on sobriety and remorse. Following the hearing, however, Shehorn told The California Post that she did not believe his statements were sincere. Shehorn said her ex subjected her to 'controlling, coercive, threatening, and physically violent conduct' during their relationship, claiming the abuse had escalated over time She spent over a week in the hospital where she almost died from her stab wounds  Shehorn said she had survived the stabbing after undergoing emergency surgery and intensive medical treatment but was left with permanent injuries, emotional trauma, and ongoing medical expenses  The sentencing came weeks after Shehorn testified about what she described as a pattern of abusive and threatening behavior during their relationship.  She previously obtained a restraining order after a violent altercation led to their breakup. After the May 2024 attack, Shehorn was discovered by a woman she considers a surrogate mother and was rushed to hospital, where doctors performed multiple surgeries. Medical records presented during the case showed she suffered severe wounds to her neck along with injuries to her arms and abdomen.  She spent nearly a week in intensive care as doctors worked to save her life. Authorities said Pasqual fled California following the stabbing and was arrested days later near the US-Mexico border in Sierra Blanca, Texas, while allegedly attempting to leave the country. Court filings also alleged the actor had assaulted Shehorn on multiple occasions before the stabbing. The estranged couple are pictured together Pasqual is seen here on a red carpet in 2009 In documents supporting her restraining order request, Shehorn accused Pasqual of a series of violent acts, including using a belt as a weapon, forcing his way through doors, causing a concussion, and sexually and physically assaulting her. Before the attack changed her life, Shehorn had built a successful career in the film industry.  In 2023, she earned the Best SFX Makeup award at the Hollywood Blood Horror Festival for her work on Incorrigible. Her resume also includes credits on major productions such as Rebel Moon: Part One and Babylon. After a lengthy recovery, Shehorn returned to work and resumed her career in the makeup industry. Since 2025, she has added nine additional credits to her name. The comments below have not been moderated. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. 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