Episode 66 - Valerie McDaniel

The Minds of Madness - True Crime Stories

In 2017, Valerie McDaniel was a prominent veterinarian, running a successful practice, while focusing much of her attention on raising her eight-year-old daughter. Although she’d recently left an unhappy marriage of 17 years, she quickly found herself falling in love with another man.
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Music Credits:
The Minds Of Madness Theme Music – Duncan Foster
The Funkoars – Feel The Madness
Used with Permission - http://goldenerarecords.com.au/ge/funkoars/
Research & Writing:
Christine Penhale
https://thetruecrimefiles.com/
Featured Podcast:
Scene Of The Crime - https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/sceneofthecrime?selected=HIM1005356840

Sources:
“Leon Phillip Jacob V. the State of Texas,” Court of Appeal Ruling, August 29, 2019.
https://law.justia.com/cases/texas/fourteenth-court-of-appeals/2019/14-18-00304-cr.html
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https://www.oxygen.com/murder-for-hire/crime-time/woman-suicide-arrested-hire-hitman
“Appellate lawyers argue that Harris County botched murder-for-hire trial.” AP, April 17, 2019.
https://apnews.com/a183cf83c67d4d9488509985981a6546
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https://www.cbsnews.com/news/houston-doctor-leon-jacob-charged-in-murder-for-hire-plot-goes-to-trial/
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https://www.pressreader.com/uk/real-people/20180705/281505046962298
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https://www.9news.com.au/world/leon-jacob-valerie-mcdaniel-trial-hitman-houston-texas/49fa1dfe-1737-415f-8c5b-ab60f4d2869b
“What happened in bizarre murder-for-hire plot that led to veterinarian's suicide, her boyfriend in prison.” ABC News, March 29, 2018.
https://abcnews.go.com/US/happened-bizarre-murder-hire-plot-led-veterinarians-suicide/story?id=54092867
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https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/ex-doctor-gets-life-term-for-murder-plot-against-ex-lover/
“Leon Jacob sentenced to life in prison in murder-for-hire case.” Fox 26 Houston, March 26, 2018.
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https://www.northernstar.com.au/news/staged-photos-pretended-to-show-torture-and-murder/3368699/
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https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/5877035/man-faked-murder-woman-staged-kidnap-hitman-ex-partners/
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“Staged photos of kidnapping revealed at bizarre murder-for-hire trial.” WBTV, March 22, 2018.
https://www.wbtv.com/story/37783950/staged-photos-of-kidnapping-revealed-at-bizarre-murder-for-hire-trial/
“‘I was terrified’: Ex-girlfriend testifies in trial of Leon Jacob who allegedly plotted to kill her.” Law & Crime, March 21, 2018.
https://lawandcrime.com/live-trials/live-trials-current/leon-jacob/i-was-terrified-ex-girlfriend-testifies-in-trial-of-leon-jacob-who-allegedly-plotted-to-kill-her/
“Update: Houston veterinarian charged with hiring hitman is out of jail on bond.” Patch, March 12, 2017.
https://patch.com/texas/midtownhouston/police-charge-houston-veterinarian-her-boyfriend-hired-hitman-kill-their-exes
“Murder trial delayed for Leon Jacob, accused in scheme to hire hitman to kill his ex.” My San Antonio, November 29, 2017.
https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/houston-texas/article/Trial-postponed-for-Leon-Jacob-accused-of-trying-12391869.php#item-85307-tbla-5
“Excerpt: Valerie McDaniel audio diary.” CBS News, October 13, 2017.
https://www.cbsnews.com/video/valerie-mcdaniel-audio-diary-how-it-led-to-this/
“Valerie McDaniel: 5 fast facts you need to know.” Heavy.com, September 22, 2017.
https://heavy.com/news/2017/09/valerie-mcdaniel-obituary-death-houston-daughter-leon-jacob/
“Texas veterinarian charged with murder for hire ends own life.” JAVMA News, April 26, 2017.
https://www.avma.org/News/JAVMANews/Pages/170515k.aspx
“Dr. Valerie McDaniel candlelight vigil: A tribute from Dr. Ali & Dr. Powell.” Goldplaneta.ru, April 1, 2017.
https://goldplaneta.ru/video/PYXrOjy-B_k/dr.-valerie-mcdaniel-candlelight-vigil:-a-tribute-from-dr.-ali-&-dr.-powell/
“Incredible tale of revenge and deception behind mother who left two suicide notes and jumped to her death 24 hours before she was set to appear in court for 'putting a hit on her ex-husband'.” Daily Mail, March 28, 2017.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4357362/Mother-jumps-death-appearance-court.html
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https://ktemnews.com/texas-veterinarian-accused-of-murder-for-hire-plot-jumps-to-her-death/
“Texas woman charged after giving ‘hitman’ $20,000, two Rolex watches found dead day before court date.” National Post, March 28, 2017.
https://nationalpost.com/news/world/texas-woman-charged-after-giving-hitman-20000-two-rolex-watches-found-dead-day-before-court-date
“Things to know about Valerie Busick McDaniel, the late-Houston vet charged with murder for hire.” The San Francisco Chronicle, March 28, 2017.
https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Things-to-know-about-the-vet-charged-wth-murder-11031254.php
“Vet accused in murder plot apparently leaps to her death.” Houston Chronicle, March 28, 2017.
https://www.pressreader.com/usa/houston-chronicle/20170328/281496456118420
“Failed Houston doctor Leon Jacob sentenced to life in prison in murder-for-hire trial.” Houston Chronicle, March 27, 2018.
https://www.chron.com/news/article/Failed-Houston-doctor-Leon-Jacob-sentenced-to-12781963.php
“Police investigate suicide of veterinarian accused in murder-for-hire plot.” KSAT.com, March 27, 2017.
https://www.ksat.com/news/2017/03/28/police-investigate-suicide-of-veterinarian-accused-in-murder-for-hire-plot/
“Veterinarian charged in murder-for-hire plot leaps to death from River Oaks high rise.” True Crime Daily, March 27, 2017.
https://truecrimedaily.com/2017/03/28/veterinarian-charged-in-murder-for-hire-plot-leaps-to-death-from-river-oaks-high-rise/
“Inside alleged murder-for-hire plot that led to Texas veterinarian’s suicide and a man behind bars.” WSGC Elberton, 2017.
http://wsgcradio.com/inside-alleged-murder-for-hire-plot-that-led-to-texas-veterinarians-suicide-and-a-man-behind-bars/
“Husband targeted in veterinarian’s alleged murder plot fears for safety, lawyer says.” Times Union, March 15, 2017.
https://www.timesunion.com/news/houston-texas/article/Husband-targeted-in-veterinarian-s-alleged-11004809.php
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvqzyJKR3Pw&list=PLoW1SIeAWaWZudmEpwMoKvgWCnWvdDBCZ&index=19
“Houston psychologist pleads guilty to 'tampering' with police evaluations.” Houston Chronicle, May 11, 2016.
https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Houston-pscyhologist-pleads-guilty-to-tampering-7461865.php