ABC 20/20 investigates an alleged double murder-for-hire plot in Houston, and reveals the elaborate sting operation police say stopped it. From jail, ABC’s Matt Gutman interviews Leon Jacob, who was charged with solicitation of capital murder. According to prosecutors, Jacob and his girlfriend at the time, veterinarian Valerie McDaniel plotted to get rid of their exes (McDaniel’s ex-husband, and Jacob’s ex-girlfriend who had filed a stalking complaint against him) by hiring a hit man named “Zach” who turned out to be an undercover police officer.
After being released on bail, in March 2017, 48-year-old Valerie McDaniel committed suicide. Before leaping from the seventh floor of her apartment building, McDaniel left a recording which reportedly captured McDaniel saying, “I didn’t want to hurt (him). I never did. It’s (my daughter’s) dad. She loved him so much and I wouldn’t. I’m so sorry about everything.” Jacob, who has pleaded not guilty, is awaiting a trial. He is being held without bond. A judge denied Jacob’s request for bond and Jacob’s request to attend McDaniel’s funeral. 20/20 airs Fridays at 10pm.
FRIDAY: @MattGutmanABC interviews the doctor accused of hiring a hit-man with his girlfriend to kill their exes https://t.co/TBFySKrFKf pic.twitter.com/PMINGHUeOl
— 20/20 (@ABC2020) September 21, 2017
