. >>> harris county prosecutor samantha knecht and her co-counsel, cameron calligan, knew they had aly, for solicitation of kidnapping. they also knew they had a potential problem. as you headed to trial, what was going to be the cornerstone of your case? >> the recordings. >> the recordings. there was no way that he was gonna be able to get himself out of all of the things that he said. >> what would you say was the weakest part of your case? >> well, an aspect of the recordings, as well. the defendant is educated, he's intelligent, he was cautious in his approach to talking to the undercover officer. >> reporter: that was the problem. in all those recorded conversations leon never said, "kill meghan.” yet the prosecutors had to prove that's exactly what he meant. >> leon jacobs does not stop until he gets what he wants. >> the trial began on march 20th, 2018. the prosecution called the bail bondsman, michael kubosh, who told the jury he had no doubt leon wanted to hire a hitman to kill meghan. >> i felt like i was talking to the devil himself. >> reporter: the state then called the