When successful Houston veterinarian Valerie McDaniel began dating Leon Jacob, they bonded over the problems they believed their former partners were causing them. Leon presented himself as a brilliant surgeon, but the reality was a trail of failed residencies, massive debt, and a history of stalking and abuse. Within weeks of their relationship starting, those private grievances escalated into a shocking murder-for-hire plot.

In this episode, we dive into how Leon and Valerie arranged to have both of their exes killed, the undercover sting operation at an Olive Garden that brought them down, and the tragic aftermath of their arrests.

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Sources:

1. Leon Jacob’s Wealth Shielded His Abuse. Then He Hired a Hit Man. | The Marshall Project

2. Leon Jacob Harris County Stalking 8

3. Leon Phillip Jacob v. The State of Texas Appeal from 263rd District Court of Harris County (opinion)

4. Leon Jacob Trial Penalty Phase Part 2 Annie Morrison Testifies

5. Former girlfriend testifies against Leon Jacob in Houston murder-for-hire trial

6. Leon Jacob Trial Day 2 Par 1 Ex Girlfriend Meghan Verikas Testifies

7. 'I didn't want to hurt him,' Valerie McDaniel says in message she shared

8. Valerie McDaniel Dies By Suicide After Arrest In Murder-For-Hire Plot With Leon Jacob

9. What happened in bizarre murder-for-hire plot that led to veterinarian's suicide, her boyfriend in prison - ABC News

10. JACOB v. STATE (2019) | FindLaw

11. Houston murder-for-hire plot: Leon Jacob's troubled past

12. https://media.click2houston.com/document_dev/2017/03/21/Leon%20Jacob%20Youngstown%20Hospital%201_9189482_ver1.0.pdf

13. https://media.click2houston.com/document_dev/2017/03/21/Leon%20Jacob%20Ohio%20appeal%20termination%202_9189480_ver1.0.pdf

14. https://media.click2houston.com/document_dev/2017/03/21/Leon%20Jacob%20Ohio%20Burglary%203_9189481_ver1.0.pdf

15. https://media.click2houston.com/document_dev/2017/03/21/Leon%20Jacob%20Divorce%204_9189477_ver1.0.pdf

16. https://media.click2houston.com/document_dev/2017/03/21/Leon%20Jacob%20Illinois%20Stalking%20Intimidation%205_9189479_ver1.0.pdf

17. https://media.click2houston.com/document_dev/2017/03/21/Leon%20Jacob%20Bankruptcy%206_9189476_ver1.0.pdf

18. Leon Jacob Harris County Assault Case 7

19. https://media.click2houston.com/document_dev/2017/03/21/Leon%20Jacob%20Harris%20County%20Stalking%208_9189779_ver1.0.pdf

20. https://media.click2houston.com/document_dev/2017/03/21/Valerie%20McDaniel%20Divorce%209_9189780_ver1.0.pdf

21. Leon Jacob Trial Day 1 Part 2 Paralegal Laura Thurlow Testifies

22. Leon Jacob Trial Defense Opening Statements

23. Couple Meets ‘Hitman’ At Olive Garden To Put Hits Out On Their Respective Exes: ‘We’re Taking Care Of Both Problems’ | Oxygen

24. Dr Valarie Ann Busick McDaniel (1969-2017) - Find a Grave Memorial

25. Texas veterinarian charged with murder for hire ends own life | American Veterinary Medical Association

26. Staged photos pretending to show torture, murder shown in murder-for-hire trial | Fox News

27. Leon Jacob Trial Day 1 Part 1 Hired Hitman Moataz Azzeh Testifies

28. Leon Jacob Trial Penalty Phase Part 2 Annie Morrison Testifies

29. Leon Jacob Penalty Phase Part 1 Leslie Jacob Testifies

30. Leon Jacob Trial Prosecution Opening Statement

31. Leon Jacob sentenced to life in prison at murder-for hire trial

32. Leon Jacob Trial Day 4 Part 1 Leon Jacob Testifies

33. Leon Jacob Trial Day 4 Part 2 Leon Jacob Testifies

34. Operation Murder | Full Episode

35. https://inmate.tdcj.texas.gov/InmateSearch/viewDetail.action?sid=16560147

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