hello i'm andrea canning and this is dateline >> they said you need to get i the car with us tied my ar tied my legs take my hair ther is no words i'm sitting ther just hysterical terrifying she thought he was mr. wright, a confident handsome surgeon i till the good doctor seeme

turned sinister he had put i >> a put his hands over my fac and say go and try to leave. i don't know where else to g >> she just broke down, sh looked afraid. taunts, threats than something deadly they said that he had hire somebody to get rid of me. a doctor plotting a murder >> he's giving a way to kill someone. >> very detailed precise instructions >> >> investigators will launch plot of their own and arriva not one murder scheme but to >> so now you have a man and a woman who both want thei excess dead? is that beyond his re >> shocking >> it was just unreal. i couldn't believe this wa happening. >> and unthinkable crime and a unbelievable twist these detectives had a plan. >> anywhere big part of. it is >> just mind-boggling to most people please tell me it' the worst worst day of my life

hello >> and welcome t dateline it look like an hardly much meeting. except nothing was as it seeme and, what was being discusse would eventually be at the center of a court battle but to understand how a nice looking couple ended up at the table talking with two peopl with our hitman, we need to go back to the beginning when meghan barrack has just met charming doctor named here's twisted in texas >> at the beginning it was handy >> he's very charmin she was swept away >> don't think i've ever had anybody i'm death beautiful at much

>> but without warning i turned >> relentless in. mommy he >> doesn't carry. if >> access like out of a movie. >> a thriller. >> iran across the stree yelling leave her alone, wit secret recordings a fake death and another death that was all too real >> never should've happened. none of it >> >> megan vargas is a pittsburg earl born and raised stealer games tight-knit friends a solid family >> i grew up with my parents who've been married for 35 years. >> megan's own love life wasn' so simple she got married in her twenties but her and her husband drifted apart. so, she threw herself into wor managing a busy hotel downtown so >> it's a fun job in a lo

of different people. >> one of those people was a local doctor who checked i during a winter of 2014. his name is leon jacob >> what's your first impression? >> he was arrogant i'm a doctor, give me whatever suite you have >> what did you make that? did you think? >> exactly but he wears tanya >> leon cam from a well-to-do family and a boarding school. now he told me he was transplant surgeon >> i think that anybody is enamored by someone who ca save lives >> megan, leon was unlucky i love he told her he was going through a divorce. more meghan got to know him, the more approachable he seemed. >> he's very charming >> soo enough a romance blossomed and wenliang with back to hi hometown of houston asked mega

to join. >> he had made me feel lik something else >> used in this good for meghan and she got job and hotel sales inside alisyn aquilino prime. and >> leon moved. and >> that's when he's really scary. >> i'm very independent an open a fake account with you name on. it >> that was quick >> i said oh he really cares >> leon's family welcomed mega like one of their own. >> did you start to envision the possibility marriage with? tim >> yeah. it's 30 years old, you don't spend time with someone yo don't want to be serious with us not who i am >> megan settled in. she got a dog and made any friends through work, real washington >> we really quick just bein from out a town called transitioning into houston w are both steelers fans >> leon was a loving couple bu

there was a trouble spot, leon didn't have a texas medica license yet >> so sad when you work as a surgical assistant he says you don't understand what it's like to be a doctor. you can't just take any. job >> megan anticipator herself and lyon >> just didn't seem like a normal relationship but then everything changed >> meghan expressed her frustration at front of the leon's high chevening family i don't understand why's working the sabrina talk about this when we get home. and it just tore my entire closet and throw myself on the balcony. >> what did you say? don't >> i was shocked, and yo know what to say here i am olivia thi person >> that night started downward spiral according to megan sun every day, leo seemed to find a new reason to get angry. eventually she said his ange turned into abuse. >> was always something, almos like clockwork

he's to chew tobacco and i don't know what i did, or what had happened, he took the thin of spit and threw it across th room at me who was constant >> humiliating. >> yeah. he just didn't think it was big deal even though he woul call me these horrible names and demeaning and awful. >> then she said he would be forgiveness. >> i'm sorry, i love you, i've so many things going on, i nee you in my world, you the onl thing it keeps me happy. >> would you forgive him whe he said sorry? >> of course >> she says leon alway promised to change but never did. >> did you ask yourself how di i -- >> exactly, don't expect to be in a relationship like that. >> then came january 12th, 201 making got home late after a long day work. >> he started throwing stuff out of the dishwasher. >> he's throwing it and then h

threw glass of wine. on >> the meghan and to ge out. >> and as i'm done leaving, >> she rushed to pack a bag >> he got his hand over my fac and, he said he try to leave the dumb - >> making main run for, but yo got a dog and got in the car she said leon chased her dow the driveway >> it's pulling in the car door. and he says he's like if you don't give me the dog, and punch the effing window out. >> megan leon got the, dog meghan got away, she was fou years so she thought >> coming up >> i had he was right behind may >> she looked afraid >> was megan in danger >> she thought he's got to b out of the picture he hired somebody to d something. who knows what they're gonna do? when >> when datelin continues. with flonase, allergies don't have to be scary. spray flonase sensimist daily for non-drowsy, long lasting relief in a scent-free, gentle mist.

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every morning around 8:30 er washington heights sales meeting with her friend mega vera kass. but this morning was different >> i was like good morning, an the next word out of my mout was what's wrong her face was blocked, she mark on her >> it was the morning afte meghan's desperate flight from her boyfriend lyon >> she started crying. i closed the door. >> until that moment aeria knew very little about meghan' troubles with leon >> she was afraid and in disbelief that something lik this happened to her >> >> as the woman talke meghan cell beat incessantly it was just >> was just nonstop, email, phone calls all >> from lyon erratic messages from an account called leon love meghan >> i love you, here's this wedding ring i was going to bu you. then annexed email would be, how you are so done, i wan nothing to do with you >> meghan texted leon to leave

her alone they were over >> bu there was more to come, and it was infuriating. meghan found out that lyon had withdrawn most of the mone from their joint bank account. when she went to her apartment to get her belongings she wa shocked by what she saw. >> i had no furniture left nothing. luckily i'd gotten there i time before he took my clothes >> megan went to the police an swore out a complaint agains leon >> i just sat in this filthy office just crying and writing down everything i coul remember >> she told police lyon ha assaulted her. she applied for a protective order but it didn't come through immediately. a few days later - >> i had pulled out of my work and it was right behind me >> meghan said she sped throug downtown but she couldn't shak her ex that leon cut her off with thi car. >> it jumped in front of m vehicle telling me i'm making huge mistake, that he loves me >> meghan said she managed t

swerve around leon and escape. but he kept showing up at th hotel where she worked askin to see her >> his demeanor was very cal but very persistent. that's actually scarier becaus you don't know what's going on in the back of their head. >> the hotel banned leon fro the property the coworker still saw him looking. >> we'd walk outside and see him standing there behind bush like you're invisible i just remember the first word coming out of my mouth were do you know we can see? you >> furious, aerial so sh ran across the street yelling. >> go away get away from us leave her alone! >> police arrested lyon fo assault. >> that was very short-lived because he was out, i want t say within the next day. >> two weeks later, leon and megan appeared in court. the judge granted that protective order he then ordered leon to be arrested again on the spot this time for stocking

as officers read leon's writes meghan was surprised to see familiar face in the gallery >> i noticed valerie was sitting in the stands which thought was of >> valerie mcdaniel, a successful veterinarian into recently divorce from he husband of 19 years, mac meghan met valerie, mac an their daughter when th marriage was falling apart >> she would come over and hav martinis, she would be over lot. we went to a couple of nightclubs things like that. she seemed like a nice person. >> how did ian leon act around valerie? >> like it was anybody else >> but that was then on this day in court, meghan thought leon and valeri looked like a couple she learned later that valerie even posted lyon's bond with this man, a bail bondsmen name michael who bought, who couple of days later got a unsettling visit from leon >> he shut the door behind him >> with that our >> very. on he says i, want to know one

thing. >> leon asked a bail bondsme for help finding another clien of his leon said the client's name wa zach >> and i said i don't know exactly, you're talking? about >> he says you know, o these ex military, ecstasies middle eastern >> leon studied hired zac to d a job for him, but now couldn' find him >> then he tells me that he' spending a lot of money to tak care of this >> take care of? what >> he says she's got to g either back to pittsburgh, she's got to be out of the picture i'm a doctor i can't have her come to this court in testify against me >> cuba found leon's words frightening. >> felt like it was much mor sinister than just wanting her to go to pittsburgh. >> to what extent were you thinking >> i didn't know if he hired somebody to do something, who knows what to gonna do >> turns out, the bail bondsme also happened to be a city councilman and a friend of the houston police chief so he gave the chief a call an said they should take a closer

look at leon and the mysteriou zach >> coming up an undercover mission to learn about lyon's really up to. >> he's giving you a way t kill someone >> very detailed, precis instructions >> and a real job dropper? meghan wasn't the only target. >> we're taking care of both problems >> both of th individuals that we're talking about >> when dateline continues. cuh-congestion? better. cough? fever? better. mucinex all in one relieves 9 symptoms in 1 dose. it's not cold and flu season. it's always comeback season. (vo) the fully electric audi e-tron family is here. it'with models that fit anyn. lifestyle.

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leon jacob had been arrested two days before. megan varicose had a protectiv order against him. so for the first time in weeks she should have felt safe. but that evening her phone rang who was a police officer >> and he basically said tha there was a credible threat to my life. >> police came to meet megha next morning her friend ariana remembered meghan was so afraid she wore disguise >> she had this wig and she pu a hat on, jeans t-shirt so she could be is in the conspicuous as possible. >> meghan an aerial check th officers i.d.s one by one. then officers shared the tip that they got the tip they got from the bail bondsmen michael who bought >> i think that my ex-boyfrien may have hired somebody someon

to hire hurt me. and that i need to b surrounded by somebody 24 hour a day not to be left alone >> normally i would say that b shocking we all that? surprised >> i wasn't. >> the police suggested th meghan go back to pittsburgh for a while, so she bought a ticket in flew home. meanwhile at the harris county da special crimes bureau investigators jimmy turpin and mike malden started lookin into leon. >> were you surprised to see a doctor involved in this? >> it was surprising to us normally, we don't deal with professional people looking to have somebody killed >> their first priority. locate the elusive zach, the guy lyon asked the bai bondsmen about the guy who may be in a hi man. they searched places, knocke on doors and they found him. his real name was motel as o does or tazz for short >> and he said we need to talk tara >> has said they had it all wrong. he was no hitmen, but they wer

right about lyon he wanted to get rid of meghan >> meghan wasn't to appear i court, whatever it means tha to require that not to happe it was fine with leon, up to killing her. >> said leon gave him $9,980 i cash in a couple of fanc watches to do the job. but tazz said he had n intention of doing it >> historian was he was playing lyon he wasn't ever going to do the hit >> but tazz told the polic he had no doubt that leon stil wanted it done tazz also said he was willin to work with them to catch lyon so police told tazz to recor phone lyon they recorded the. call >> it as i did >> pretty good >> i'm gonna set up a meeting tomorro so we can finish this okay? >> okay. >> tazz told leon he was bringing a partner >> i'm going to brin with me another guy so we ca

get this done. >> tazz didn't tell leon his partner was really a undercover police officer. that leon said something taz wasn't expecting >> are there a problems >> what problems >> both of th individuals that we are talkin about. >> thomas looked at me and shrugged his shoulders >> a second potential victim has just been added to this? >> yes >> leon agreed to meet an oliv garden restaurant with ties an the undercover officer went by adam we've agreed not to show his face >> what is the goal of this? meeting >> make sure that this really is a murder for hire an to gather evidence, to see i is what they want. also to discuss payment. >> when leon showed up, he wasn't alone >> we followed lyon to the table where we sat down. we were introduced to valerie. >> that's right. valérie mcdaniel, leon's new girlfriend, the woman wh bonded him out of jail here was valérie, meeting two

supposed hitmen. >> nice to meet you. >> when the conversation started, leon didn't sound lik someone trying to hire a hit man. he said he would be happy if meghan just went back to pittsburgh >> i don't want to hurt. >> but as they ate their past, leon's tone changed. >> make it very clear to her that if she doesn't listen this, time there's gonna be some severe consequences. >> during the conversation leon said he wanted adam to tr another tactic plant some drugs on meghan >> she gets pulled over, she has cocaine, she's not a credible witness anymore >> and leon had a more siniste idea which to the undercover officer sounded like a invitation to murder >> give her an injection o potassium chloride and stop or heart. >> it's up to you, do you have that still >> i can get access to area. i have access to a pharmacy. >> valerie owns a pharmacy, sh has a pharmacy at her clinic i'd prefer not to do that.

but my survival is mor important. >> he's giving you a way t kill someone >> he's giving very detailed precise instructions on how to kill somebody. >> but it wasn't just meghan whose life was in danger remember, leon and sai something about both individuals. who was the other target >> he really needs to go, don't mind he's one of the worst huma beings ever met in my entire life >> leon clearly hated the guy. so who was >> i've never met a human bein like her ex husband and i me some pretty bad people >> her ex husband. he met meant valerie's ex-husband mac that's right this murder for hire was a double plot, twofer see leon and valerie bot wanted their excess dead leon and tazz left the table for a smoke and valerie talk specifics with adam about he could bump off her ex husband. >> he might have a boating accident no >> none.

>> the undercover office suggested some simpler execution options. >> take his car, leave him o the street make sure he's dead, put another bulletin said. we call that a double top. they felt they'll think it's a robbery. >> but first, adam wanted to know, was she sure >> you need to give me the go-ahead does no going back in this okay >> one other option to? i have he's gonna take my. daughter >> of course explained, adam, a second target will cos extra money. lyon return to the table t negotiate a payment plan >> $5,000? >> we'll take care of. it >> listening in from nearby table with sergeant frank quinn who is in charge o the undercover operation >> so now you have a man and a woman who both want thei excess dead? >> yes >> is that beyond bizarre? >> i hadn't seen anything like it before. it was really shocking >> the meeting broke up. adam and tazz promised to be i touch. investigators thought they had

a case but to make it stick, they needed the money to change hands and they had a wil elaborate plan to make tha happen coming up. >> they said they needed to ge in the car with. this >> undercover sting, se number two >> we zip tied her hand, zip tighter feet, and duck taped around her mouth >> i'm sitting there jus hysterical there is no words >> >> when dateline continues. i lowered my a1c, cv risk, and lost some weight. in studies, the majority of people reached an a1c under 7 and maintained it. ozempic® lowers the risk of major cardiovascular events such as stroke, heart attack, or death in adults also with known heart disease. and you may lose weight. adults lost up to 14 pounds. ozempic® isn't for people with type 1 diabetes. don't share needles or pens, or reuse needles. don't take ozempic® if you or your family ever had medullary thyroid cancer, or have multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2, or if allergic to it. stop ozempic® and get medical help right away

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what's happening a. manhattan grand jury today heard testimony from michael cohen's former legal adviser robert costello. the manhattan da's investigating hush money payments mr. trump denies any wrongdoing. trump? also says he expects to be arrested tuesday and it' called on supporters t protest. he didn't say whether he'd bee informed by law enforcement of a coming indictment. at a press conferenc republican house speaker kevin mccarthy discouraged any

protests now back to dateline welcome back to dateline i'm andrea canning megan varicose had bee attracted to ex-boyfriend leon jacob because in part of the doctor he saved lives. now police officers were telling her he was trying to hire a hitman to potentially take hers. and there was more she wasn't the only target but the police were putting th wheels in motion with a plan o their own. back now to twisted in texas >> after some anxious days i pittsburgh, megan varicose got a call from investigators to come back to houston soon after she arrived, they called again with the surprise >> they said we are outside, w need you to get in the car wit us it's >> like out of a movie? >> it is they take a knee to some lot that looks like a junk yar kind of. there is cars with bullet hole in them. >> just then, another ca

pulled up and a man got out. megan recognized valerie's ex-husband mack and learne that he too was a targeted hit >> he turned to me and says heard about this a day ago i was like, i've been here for sometime >> but neither megan norma could've anticipated the incredible scheme police had i mind for them. sergeant frank quinn and his officers wanted meghan and mac to participate get this, in fake kidnapping and murder >> what a bizarre request of someone who's a victim and a potential murder plot to, he we want you to oppose and look dead >> yes >> quinn's photo was to show photos of the stage seen between back and valerie he wanted hidden make paymen for the hit. mac went first >> was back up for this >> yes definitely >> queens unit used pickup blood to simulate a head wound they knew it they had to mak it look convincing to leon

>> when you are dealing with the doctor who's probably seen wounds, then you need to be as realistic as you can >> he's been shot. >> yes shot in the head. >> megan's role was different. she played the victim of a kidnapping >> we zip tied her hands, zi tied her feet, and then duck taped around her mouth this is very clinical, but i megan's case it hitter and tears were flowing and she jus broke down >> there is no words i'm just sitting there hysterical i guess it made the photos loo better because it's real tears real emotion >> meanwhile, adam the another cover policeman posing as hitman exchange texan call with leon. >> i want that taking care o asap to. this is got to be done >> most of the conversations have to do with leon asked m to hurry up and comments wit the murder >> we just want these tw

situations taking care o immediately. >> later that day, armed wit the states voters, the undercover officer adam went over to liana valerie's home and tell them he killed mac an get him to pay >> the male subject is, i' sure you know who i'm talking, about he's gone. >> but leon wanted to talk about meghan and how they ha that match from the. star >> she grew up sort o middle lower middle class. this girl she doesn' understand my world. >> adam returned to th business at hand, said h planned to deal with megan the next day she refused to leave town. he would kill her. >> tomorrow? >> more than likely by tomorro she'll more than likely be dead and that's it. >> i'd rather not. i >> understand you prefer not and i but i can't give you 100 percent guarantee. >> leon showed the undercove officer a pile of cash wrapped in additional, payment for homicidal services rendered.

>> $1,000 in cash, for a promise to pay neither made of the $10,000 at a later time. >> what is a say to you? the skies obviously serious? >> it tell me there is nothing going no going back, he's dead serious about. at >> the next day adam texted lyon the photo of meghan crying, is it tied induct to taped leon didn't respond, so th undercover officer texted hi and tell him he'd had to killer >> there's no reasoning with or she just put too much ris on us, and she doesn't car about leaving. that's pretty much it man. she's dead, she's gone >> she was just like >> in s many words yeah. yeah she's dead. >> you already took care of it >> yeah. >> hours later, continuing the roofs, police arrived at valerie lyon's apartment wit their body cameras rolling we're just coming to inform her, that her husband's has bee killed

her reaction - >> your ex husband's been found, it looks like it a, turned out to be a fatality >> what was their reaction >> they tried to fame some kin of surprise. and then we wanted to get he reaction to. >> we were here all day with her daughter, and we watched movies >> he immediately offers a alibi. he's like oh my gosh, we'v been here all day. >> suspicious? >> very suspicious >> the one thing he's not is a actor. a good actor >> the police caught the reaction they were looking for they had the money to th undercover officer, so the spraying their trap. >> they arrested leon an valerie for solicitation and capital murder and reveale there was no murder and no kidnapping, meghan and mac wer alive and well >> and they had no idea. they believed that their issue

have been taking care of they had no more problems. and, so immediately to go from a death notification to, you are under arrest for solicitation of capital murder >> that's ahead snapper. >> yeah, that'll get you attention. >> was valerie mcdaniel murderous mastermind, or another victim of leon jacob >> coming up >> i couldn't believe that thi was happening, to my sister. >> what could've driven valeri to do this she tells her story, and leo tells his. when dateline continues. i'm calling my doctor. if it's covid, paxlovid. authorized for emergency use, paxlovid is an oral treatment for people 12 and up... who have mild-to-moderate covid-19 and have a high-risk factor for it becoming severe. my symptoms are mild now, but i'm not waiting. if it's covid, paxlovid.

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of brain health. to help keep me sharp. neuriva: think bigger. the headline was just so sensational, the river oak couples take out hits on their access >> murder for hire plot that sent shockwaves through them >> in the days following the arrests, revelations about leon's past, flooded in with every newscast, including nb affiliate kprc >> channel to investigator begin up new details >> court documents showed leon wasn't exactly who he appeared to be. he had been kicked out o residency programs, convicte of cyber stalking and criminal trespassing, and there was another woman from leon's past who accused him of abuse his ex wife. leon was held without bail, an

the judge did set bail for valerie, she was allowed to go home her sister angel was in shock. >> it is just unreal, couldn't believe this was happening, to my sister. it was the most kind, sweet, loving person. >> valerie's best friend, megan, said valerie was scarred by he recent divorce >> it left her extremely vulnerable to a predator likel on to come along, and seeing kids teeth in. >> after the arrest, maggi confronted valerie >> i just think like, you're under some sort of spell right now, this monster has gotten you into some trouble. and, you need to fight lik hell >> what did she say? >> she did not understand what was happening. she just seemed, off terribly, terribly sad >> at home, alone, valerie

recorded and audio diary on he i've had >> hey, it's valerie >> she recounted how, back whe her marriage to mac wa crumbling, she went to her neighbor's son, leon >> i was completely turn off immediately by his attitude. because you could tell, ho beautiful he was >> but overtime, valerie, like meghan before, her thought she saw something in him and, as of, megan lyon capture their budding romance an selfies. >> i got through that exterior and realized he wasn't a nic person and i was lonely, and he kep me company i felt deeply in love with leon >> but valerie, said she never intended to have her husband killed >> i hate the idea tha everybody thinks i'm a monster >> the audio diary turned ou to be her final recorded words >> i don't want to hurt anyone just me. okay, thank you for listening, by >> a little over two weeks

after her arrest, valeri mcdaniel jumped to her death from the seventh floor balcony of her apartment building. >> it was the worst day of m life >> valerie's friend maggie blamed leon. >> i see it is murder, i reall do, i think he's murder he reputation, and he ultimatel murdered her >> even though she made that choice on her own? >> yes, never, ever, ever, non of this would've ever happened without him. >> leon jacob didn't see i that way at all. we met him at the harris count jail where he was awaiting trial, far removed from the promise o his early years. >> this was a privileged life, top boarding school, fancy vacations, nice house. would you describe it that way >> yeah, i mean, i can't say that i wanted for anything >> and what drew him t medicine >> i think, in a lot of ways as a physician your public servant. >> he said meghan caught his eye at first sight she was beautiful, and revive a,

shift and smart. >> she thought you wer obnoxious when she first met you. >> i don't know, i'm just by myself some people find me obnoxious, we're confident when they firs meet me, after they get me t know me a little bit, i'm just easygoing fun loving kind of person >> after leon was charged with soliciting megan's murder, the old misdemeanor assault charge was dropped. he told us he never physically abused her >> i don't recall yo relationship been like that. >> she said the final straw wa when you grabbed her face in the bathroom, and yo physically assaulted her, an that's when she finally left >> her recollection, of that night, is different in mine. >> tell us what happened, in your eyes. >> we were fighting, i wasn' restraining her in any way, never physically touched her o heard her anyway despite wha she claims >> he did admit he calle meghan repeatedly and followed her around after the break u and said he just wanted to tal

things out >> i went to work a bunch, try to tell i'm sorry. >> she was living in such, fea that she did know she is gonna live to see another day if you found her. >> that's absurd absolutely absurd. >> leon insisted he didn't hir anyone to hurt meghan. he was just trying to help her return to her hometown >> i never asked him to snatch anybody or kidnap anybody, whe i was told, is that what megha wanted to, do was go back to pittsburgh >> why would you want to b nice to this point, though meghan doesn't want anything t do with you, doesn't make an sense. >> i was told what our wishe were >> and what about those tape that sounded so damning? leon said the tapes didn't prove anything >> why go down this road why higher what you think is a hit man, if you don't want mcgahn to. >> i never thought he was a hi man. you have to understand something. i never thought these people were violent criminals at all. >> that's not how it appears o

the tapes. >> listen to what was said i never asked him to hur anybody. i never asked them to kill anybody. >> but remember, he did offer suggestion on how to kill her. >> give her an injection o potassium chloride, and stop her heart, untraceable >> why are you talking to hi about this >> i'll talk about this 1 am o the witness stand. >> so there's nothing not to share? now >> no. >> we also asked how valerie's husband became a target. >> i've nothing to do with wha happened with mac. >> leon told us, if it was t meghan, because it shifted blame to his late lover, eve as he tried to sound sympathetic. >> valerie wasn't a monster. she clearly had reached breaking point, and i can't sa that i condone what she wanted to have done as a doctor, just as a human being, you know, taking some o

life is not okay with me >> so you're saying you tw were not on this together. >> not in on having anybody, killed absolutely not. >> did you mastermind the plan to have mcgahn and mac, killed >> it was never planned to hav anybody killed, so no, i did not mastermind of land hav meghan and or matt killed. >> do you believe valerie wa the mastermind's plan? >> she asked for something t happen that she clearly wanted to have happen - i don't think she masterminded it, thank you progressively go there. >> conveniently for, leo valerie wasn't around to defen yourself and again, he was the one abou to go on trial the doctor takes the stand will he be able to save himself? coming up. >> you need to restate you question >> a suspect, not as clever as he thinks, or just cleve enough to convince a jury? >> i never asked to have anybody hurt, killed, harmed

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samantha - and her co-counsel cameron kellyanne, knew they had a strong case against leon and jacob, for solicitation of capital murder and additionally for solicitation of kidnapping

el sendero problem >> as we headed to trial, what was gonna be the cornerstone o her case >> the recordings. >> there is no way he was gonn be able to get himself out o all of the things he said. >> what would you say was th weakest part of the case >> well, an aspect of th recordings as well the defendant is educated, he' intelligent, he was cautious i his approach to talking to the undercover officer >> that was the problem. in all those recorde conversations, leon never said kill meghan. yet, the prosecutors had t prove, that's exactly what h meant. >> jan jacobs does not sto until he gets what he wants. >> the trial began on marc 20th, 2018 >> the prosecution called th bail bondsmen, who told th jury he had no doubt, leon wanted to hire a hitman to kil meghan >> i felt like i was talking t the devil himself. >> the state then called the supposed him an termed informant paths. he testified that he too kne

exactly what leon wanted done. >> asked him for 2500 so serious he was >> prosecutors played the tape where they are discussed i detail, well the tape who work a review >> i'd prefer not to do that my survival is more important. >> he might not have sai murder, you might notice tha kill, but he knew what he wa asking for >> one of the star witnesses was the man who played dead, matt mcdaniel, alive and well, told the jury, that he didn' want, leon manage accused of stalking and assault, anywhere near his daughter. >> did you complain to valerie 's - >> motive, said the prosecutors, for leon have mac killed >> mac, and maybe even megan are gonna make mallory choos between her daughter and the defendant. she's gonna choose her daughter >> back recounted the emotiona

moment when he learned about the murder plot. >> if they had been successful mallory would not have any parents. then, it was megan's turn. no gag orders of ties this time she told the jury, she had n doubt leon wanted her dead >> were you scared >> very scared >> how did that affect how you felt about your safety aroun the defendant. >> i was terrified defense attorney george pern said the prosecution had it al wrong, the engine one any on killed >> was she suggesting that i be done. he argued that leon was just a love lauren ex-boyfriend, wh had gone overboard with bi talk >> he's braggadocious, and the backtracks >> harassed of anybody hurt, killed, harmed and kidnapped we had multiple discussions, o multiple conversations, but no

wanting to harm or hur anybody. >> the state said, that is jus semantics. on cross examination prosecutor samantha connec pointed out that despite lyon' claim, that he had not specifically asked for that to be killed, he didn't exactly shy away from violent talk >> snatch, or put her in, room and tell her if she doesn' believe leave, i'm going t kill her parents right? >> if that's what he said. >> did you say mr. jacobs? >> sure. >> as for the arms claim, he never suggested killing meghan >> did you jump thousand corridor, and stop the heart it would kill them >> yes >> that is a doctor? >> yes >> and when we ask a question, if he didn't feel aggrieve phrased it right, he rephras it for us. i feel like he thought he wa smarter then human eye >> if you just want to smack him? >> yes

>> they, and they argue, didn' care who lived or died in hi wake >> he did nothing to stop this in his mind, his ex girlfriend is sitting by herself, in warehouse somewhere, in th city zip tied, with duck tap around her mouth, he thinks he can just walk away from her. >> he took the jury all of a hour and 15 minutes to decid lands fate >> we the jury find leon phillips guilty solicitation o capital murder >> guilty of all charges, an in texas, the jury can als decide punishment. and a penalty phase, prosecutors called a new witness, leon's ex-wife any, she testified in vivid detail, that leon was abusive. >> one of the defendant lu >> that was my punishment fo calling the police >> this defendant cannot b trusted, to live among us, a without the appropriat

punishment >> it's something you want out of the punishment phase. >> i never want him to be able to do this to somebody els because if it wasn't me, wasn' valerie, if it wasn't any, can be somebody else and then use the stop. >> the jury sentence not t life in prison, afterwards megan addressed him directly >> well you said in jail i hop you think of me, the girl that you called for in an educated, it's because of you that you'l be in prison for life. >> i was really proud of her, think it took incredible courage on her right to se this through >> megan, those in, away she was lucky. >> every day, and so man people, helmy and as i make difference for those who don't have a voice >> that's all for this edition of dateline, i'm andrea canning, thanks for watching.