If you are a married person living in the Philippines, you have likely heard the proverb that marriage is not like rice porridge that you can spit out if it burns you.

For religious individuals, marriage is not merely a lifetime commitment; it is also a sacred union of two people, often referred to as a holy covenant, especially in the Philippines, a predominantly Roman Catholic country.

In recent years, several lawmakers have continuously pushed for a Divorce Bill, which would grant men and women the legal freedom to separate from their spouses.

Public reaction to the issue is divided. Those who wish to legally leave abusive partners support the proposed bill, while others believe that couples must endure even severe marital problems, hoping their partner’s character will eventually change.

One individual who deeply believed in the sanctity of marriage was the Filipina, Roda Fontanilla.

The Simple Life and The American Dream

Little information is available about Roda’s childhood, but she hailed from a simple family in the province of Abra. She was described as friendly and cheerful.

Looking at her social media, one could theorize that her belief in the sacredness of marriage stemmed from her religious faith, as she was a member of the Jehovah’s Witnesses and had the opportunity to visit Bethel, an important location for her faith.

Like most Filipinos, when Roda came of age, she sought employment. She was not only described as a good daughter but was also naturally spirited and funny.

If you are from a small province, you are likely familiar with the simplicity of life there. Roda’s straightforward life changed the day she met the American, Jeffrey “Jeff” Leal.

Jeff was from Woodinville, located in the state of Washington.

A Whirlwind Romance

Like many people in interracial relationships, the two met on the internet. It is unclear when they started dating or for how long they corresponded, but Roda’s good nature won Jeff over quickly.

Jeff wasted no time and immediately bought a plane ticket to the Philippines to see his girlfriend in person. As anticipated, when they met at the airport, they instantly fell deeper in love.

They spent a few days in Manila before deciding to travel to Roda’s province, where she introduced Jeff not only to her immediate family but to her entire clan.

Jeff’s arrival brought joy to the community, and people happily welcomed the American. Unlike many other foreigners, Jeff was not picky; he slept where they slept and ate the food they prepared.

Photos showed that Jeff was warmly embraced by the Fontanilla family. They went to restaurants, enjoyed the beach, sang karaoke, danced, and even the children enjoyed his company.

Jeff’s parents in the US supported his trip to the Philippines, not because of his Filipina girlfriend, but because Roda made him happy.

While in the Philippines, Jeff got to know Roda better. She was kind, playful, friendly, and loved children—all qualities he adored.

Roda did not hesitate to show him their simple provincial life. One photo showed Roda cooking using firewood. Jeff also took pictures of their main source of livelihood: corn farming and raising goats.

This lifestyle was a world away from Jeff’s fast-paced, work-driven life in the US. His visit only strengthened his feelings for Roda; he felt she was not just an ideal wife but a necessity in his life.

The Wedding and The Move

No one was surprised when Jeff proposed in 2010. Their wedding took place in 2011, a celebration filled with people genuinely happy for the couple.

Once Jeff returned to the US, he swiftly processed the paperwork to bring Roda to Washington. While they waited for the visa approval, Jeff used modern technology to make his wife feel special, sending her money and flowers, which Roda truly appreciated.

After almost a year, the couple’s wait was over. Roda safely arrived in the United States in November 2011.

Jeff immediately took his wife on tours of various attractions, from major tourist spots to simple places like the mall and retail giants like Costco and Walmart. He also cooked American food for Roda.

In December of the same year, the Filipina experienced the chill of the snow-covered environment.

Besides giving Roda a comfortable life in the US, Jeff’s family testified that he remained a loving and sweet husband, a fact they truly appreciated.

Despite frequently sharing sweet moments on social media, Roda still felt lonely. To ease her homesickness, she did everything to find Filipinas nearby, warmly welcoming any Pinay she met into their home.

With the help of her husband, Roda managed to adjust and learn to drive.

Jasmine’s Arrival

After almost a year, their marriage became even happier when Roda announced she was pregnant.

When their baby was born in 2012, they named her Jasmine. Raising a child in America was different from the Philippines, but Roda remained resilient.

Working together, the couple raised Jasmine well and provided for her needs. Roda also ensured Jasmine was familiar with Filipino culture.

Her family and friends were overjoyed, believing all of Roda’s dreams had finally come true.

However, in 2017, after their seemingly romantic seventh wedding anniversary, Roda’s family in the Philippines were shocked to learn that authorities had arrested Jeff.

He was charged with multiple serious counts, and a judge set his bail at a staggering one million dollars.

Americans who quickly learned what happened immediately checked Jeff’s social media, leaving numerous angry comments.

Because Filipinos in the Philippines had no information about the situation, some began to speculate based on the comments.

One commenter suggested the couple might have had problems because Jeff might not have been Jasmine’s father, as the child reportedly did not resemble or inherit any features from her American father.

Rumors and The Real Secret

In this theory, the poster suggested two possibilities: first, Jeff might have gone blind with rage and possibly harmed or killed the Filipina; second, Roda might have been seeing another man, which could have led to a fight.

Whatever the real reason, the comment section was filled with people expressing intense anger toward Jeff, a sure sign that the alleged crime was serious.

When the news finally reached the Philippines, advice poured in from people who had married or were currently married to foreigners.

Some warned others to be cautious of foreigners, while a few cautioned that foreign spouses might treat them merely as maids or house helpers overseas.

Others blamed Roda, questioning her real motive for marrying the American.

To understand the whole story, we must return to 2010, the year they married. In the photos shown earlier, Jeff did everything to give his bride a decent and proper wedding.

In the eyes of people from the province, an American like Jeff was wealthy and financially superior.

The Hidden Debt

Unknown to Roda and her family, Jeff put all the expenses he incurred in the Philippines on his credit card. Everything—from the plane ticket and food to the provincial trip—was debt.

While using a credit card is normal in the US, Jeff was one of those who overspent, leading him to file for bankruptcy in 2003.

Filing for bankruptcy meant he would struggle to borrow money from banks and would have to pay higher interest rates.

It was not reported if his credit score was good when he met Roda, but for Jeff, meeting a woman like Roda was priceless.

So, despite the financial risk, he blindly used his credit card for expenses in the Philippines.

While Roda and her relatives happily enjoyed the outings and meals Jeff paid for, they did not know it was all debt.

Upon returning to America, Jeff had to work double shifts or take a second job just to repay the borrowed money.

Jeff reportedly lived a normal life in the US. His job in 2017 was unknown, but his social media showed he had previously worked as a welder.

Although a welder’s salary is decent in Washington, reports indicated he did not save much. When Roda arrived in the US, they lived in an apartment.

Financial Strain and A Disturbed Plan

When Roda became pregnant, the couple moved to this duplex, a house with a division in the middle, meaning they shared the building with others.

Their co-tenants were the family of German Elano, whose wife had been Roda’s best friend for five years. They lived peacefully in that house.

When Jasmine grew older, Roda decided to work to help with expenses. During their free time, they made sure to vacation in different places.

The photos showed that while their life was not luxurious, Roda and Jeff were happy and content with their simple life.

On February 10, 2017, Roda, who was working her shift at Walmart, was approached by an American man who introduced himself as her husband’s former boss.

The conversation left Roda confused, as he was accompanied by detectives. To clarify the situation, the authorities spoke to Roda.

Concurrently, the police rushed to their house and arrested Jeff.

The Text Message

According to reports and court documents, the enormous bail amount was because Jeff was proven to have plotted to murder his wife and daughter.

Jeff was charged with two counts of criminal solicitation for murder in the first degree and two counts of domestic violence.

It turned out that while Roda was at work, Jeff sent a text message to a man named Shane.

In the message, Jeff asked Shane to carry out their plan to kill Roda and their daughter. He mentioned that if they succeeded, he was willing to split the money from Roda’s life insurance policy.

Records showed Jeff would receive one million dollars upon Roda’s death and $500,000 upon Jasmine’s death. If both died suddenly, Jeff would collect $1.5 million, which he could use for retirement and debt repayment.

In the text, Jeff shared their schedule: he left for work at 5:00 AM, and Roda came home at 11:00 PM after starting her shift at 2:00 PM.

He even suggested making the incident look like an accident, such as a robbery gone wrong. He reiterated the 50/50 split of the life insurance payout and asked Shane to call or text him if he was willing to carry out the murder.

The Mistake

However, Jeff’s planning went wrong. Instead of sending the text message to Shane, Jeff accidentally sent it to his former boss.

The deeply concerned boss immediately contacted the authorities, who rushed to Roda’s house and arrested Jeff.

German Elano, the Leals’ roommate, said he was not home when the American was arrested but was deeply troubled by the text message. He wondered what would have happened to his family if Shane had carried out the plan and robbed the house.

German shared in an interview that he couldn’t believe what Jeff had done, saying Jeff was a good person. “Jeff is a good guy, you know. We just see him outside the house and the daughter is outside the house, and he loves him very much. He’s not going to do something like that.”

When Roda was interviewed, she was also shocked that her husband had planned not only her life but also their only daughter’s life for money.

She told detectives that like any married couple, she and Jeff had arguments, but they always resolved them after a serious talk.

Roda admitted their arguments had become more frequent recently because Jeff was unemployed. She explained that his lack of income was the main reason for their fights, as her salary was insufficient to cover rent, food, car, and other necessities.

The Filipina explained that they were going through a difficult time, but it never crossed her mind that Jeff would harm them. She denied any physical abuse.

Jeff’s Defense and The Dismissal

A news article stated that when authorities first spoke to Jeff, he denied sending the text. However, after a prolonged interview, he eventually admitted to creating the text message.

He claimed he was the author but denied sending it. He meant that he wrote the texts about killing his wife and daughter but allegedly only saved it in the draft message inbox on his cellphone.

His reason for not sending the text was that he was merely letting out steam because he and Roda often fought about money.

He explained that while other people might go to therapy or write their feelings in a diary, he used the text message as a dramatic release. He even blamed his young daughter, Jasmine, then four years old, for his feelings.

Because Jeff’s reason and explanation for the alarming text messages were bizarre, the authorities still pursued the four charges against him.

When the authorities released Jeff’s actual text message, people immediately flocked to his Facebook page, leaving messages like “may he rot in jail” or calling him a “demon.” Others sympathized with Roda and wished her luck in finding a new man.

However, that wish would not come true.

In a report released in April 2020, the reporter confirmed that the prosecutor had dismissed the charges against Jeff.

The first reason was that his wife, Roda, testified that she was “100 percent sure” that Jeff would never harm or kill her. She also testified that she had no friends or acquaintances named Shane and denied any physical abuse.

The second reason the prosecutor was forced to dismiss the charges was that despite repeatedly searching the Leals’ house, they could not find any strong evidence to prove Jeff seriously intended to kill his wife and daughter.

Authorities checked his phone, called everyone in his phone book, but could not locate anyone named Shane. They concluded that “Shane” might only exist in Jeff’s mind.

Roda’s testimony, coupled with the lack of evidence of a real person named Shane, forced the prosecutor to dismiss the case.

As of this recording, Roda and Jeff remain married, and their small family continues to live in Monroe, Washington.