Prominent Lawyer Withdraws From Houston Murder-For-Hire Case

HOUSTON, TX — George Parnham, a storied defense attorney, is no longer representing Leon Phillip Jacob, the man accused, along with his now deceased girlfriend, Dr. Valerie Busick McDaniel, of hiring the services of a hitman to kill their ex-partners. Parnham filed a motion to withdraw on Thursday. McDonald committed suicide on Monday.

On Wednesday, Parnham sought to have a judge grant Jacob bail, but State District Judge Jim Wallace denied the motion.

The Houston Chronicle reported that a rift had apparently developed between Parnham and Paul Morgan, an attorney hired by Jacob. Jacob's family had hired the services of Parnham. After the bail hearing, Judge Wallace was made aware of the dispute and asked Jacob whom he wanted in charge of his defense. Jacob replied that he wanted both men to represent him as a team, the Chronicle reported.

"I don't want to say anything that negatively impacts the desired representation of the defendant," Parnham said after he filed his motion to withdraw. "Best of luck to both of them."

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