A Houston veterinarian charged with attempting to orchestrate the murder of her ex-husband has leapt to her death the day before she was scheduled to appear in court, authorities confirmed on Tuesday.
Valerie Busick McDaniel jumped Monday morning from her seventh-floor condo, according to the Harris County district attorney's office and Houston police.
"A note detailing instructions concerning her final wishes, as well as sealed letters addressed to family members, were found inside her apartment," Houston police said in a statement.
A court hearing had been scheduled for Tuesday for the 48-year-old McDaniel, who was charged earlier this month with solicitation of capital murder. She had earlier posted bail.
The case against McDaniel would be dismissed when the district attorney's office receives an official death certificate, according to prosecutors.
Authorities said McDaniel and her boyfriend hired an undercover police officer posing as a hit man to kill their former partners. Both were charged with solicitation of capital murder.
Her boyfriend, 39-year-old Leon Philip Jacob, remains in the Harris County jail, held without bond. Before his arrest, Jacob was already facing charges of stalking and assaulting his ex-girlfriend.
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George Parnham, an attorney for Jacob, said his client was "devastated" by the news of McDaniel's death. A bond hearing in Jacob's case was set for Wednesday.
A request by Jacob to attend McDaniel's funeral was denied by a judge on Tuesday.
Prosecutors say McDaniel wanted her ex-husband killed, while Jacob sought to have his ex-girlfriend kidnapped and later killed to prevent her from testifying against him in the assault case.
