A Texas man who tried to hire a former U.S. Marine to kill his ex-girlfriend because she was dating a black man was caught on hidden cameras arranging the would-be hit.

Keith Cote, 62, was arrested in October last year after the hitman he hired to murder his ex-girlfriend, SanDee Jones, alerted authorities and worked with them to expose his plans.

Joey Sees told police that he was with his wife at Cote's house in Austin last year when the murder-for-hire plan was first mentioned.

Keith Cote, 62, was arrested in October last year in Austin, Texas, for trying to hire former Marine Joey Sees to murder his ex-girlfriend. Cote is pictured above on a secret recording after the hitman worked with police to expose his plans

Cote, who was in a wheelchair after being left paralyzed in 2013, told Sees he needed a 'dirty deed, done dirt cheap', KXAN reports.

He asked him if he could get a silencer and a 9mm handgun before offering him $10,000 cash to kill Jones and an additional $15,000 to 'watch him put a bullet in her head'.

Sees said Cote had initially told him that he would be perfect for the job because he knew he had killed before given his career as a Marine.

'When we're in a warzone, we're just trying to get home and we're just protecting each other. I guess he thought every Marine is a hitman,' Sees said.

'We're not killers. We just do our job, but our job isn't to come home and murder someone because she's dating a black guy.'

The ex-Marine agreed to help Cote because Sees feared he would just hire someone else to carry out the hit.

The 62-year-old (above) was arrested in October last year after the hitman he hired to murder his ex-girlfriend alerted authorities and worked with them to expose his plans. Cote killed himself just one week after being released on bond in September

Jones said Cote was abusive and controlling during their relationship and described him as a racist. She had not see him since 2015. They are pictured above together

Sees alerted authorities and agreed to wear a wire and secretly film his conversations with Cote.

One video shows the pair in Sees' truck as they drive around the area near the murder location - Jones' office.

Sees (above) said Cote had initially told him that he would be perfect for the job because he knew he had killed before given his career as a Marine

Cote was filmed saying that Sees would need to sneak up on Jones after she left work. He also pointed out the location where she parked her car and that there were no surveillance cameras nearby.

'I would say just stay along the perimeter,' Cote said as he explained how Sees should approach. 'It's dark and you're a ninja.'

Sees also told police that Cote had asked if he could ride in the back of the truck on the night of the would-be murder so he could see it unfold.

He told Sees to walk up to his ex-girlfriend's car, tap on the window and then shoot her twice in the head.

In other recorded conversations, Cote said it 'ain't about revenge, it's about the reckoning'.

Cote was eventually arrested but pleaded not guilty criminal solicitation to commit capital murder.

Sees and Jones have since met for the first time so she could thank the former Marine for saving her life. They are pictured above embracing during their first meeting

He was eventually released on bond in September and killed himself a week later.

Sees and Jones have since met for the first time so she could thank the former Marine for saving her life.

'He's a hero, not only for our country, but for me,' Jones said. '

'What Joey did is about nothing except love. That's the greatest and he didn't even know me. Not everyone would do what Joey did.'

Jones said Cote was abusive and controlling during their relationship and described him as a racist. She had not see him since 2015.

Sees told the news outlet that he was glad Cote asked him.

'I'm just glad he asked me. I felt I was the right person to do it. (He) trusted me enough to think that I was that type of individual to murder someone.

'So, I knew that I wanted to handle this myself. I knew I had to do what I had to do and contact the police.'