Dallas

Duo Behind Killing of Dentist in Murder-for-Hire Plot May Be Linked to Drug Cartel: Police

Kendra Hatcher, 35, was living in Dallas when she was fatally shot Sept. 2 in the parking garage of her Uptown apartment complex

Authorities have indicted two people in the murder-for-hire plot that left a dentist dead in a parking garage, and police said the duo may be linked to a drug cartel.

Kendra Hatcher, 35, from Central Illinois was living and working in Dallas when she was fatally shot Sept. 2 in the parking garage of her Uptown apartment complex.

Police say the woman responsible for her death Brenda Delgado, 33, remains on the run and is considered a fugitive, but a grand jury has indicted her for capital murder. Investigators believe Delgado, who allegedly dated Hatcher's boyfriend, planned Hatcher's murder and hired people to carry it out.

Hatcher's family said she went to college at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana before going to dental school in Kentucky and settled in Dallas. Funeral services were held in Farmingdale, Illinois.

According to an FBI affidavit, one of the people who carried out Hatcher's murder was Crystal Cortes, who  told detectives Delgado was upset her ex-boyfriend was dating Hatcher and had recently taken her to San Francisco to meet his parents. Hatcher and Delgado’s ex-boyfriend were also scheduled to leave for Mexico the day after Hatcher's murder, according to the affidavit.

In her indictment, prosecutors allege Delgado promised to pay a hitman with money and drugs from a drug cartel. She also allegedly used an iPhone to track Hatcher's location, the FBI affidavit reveals.

Kristopher Love, man police believe pulled the trigger, has been indicted as well for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. According to an arrest affidavit, Love admitted to his role in the robbery that resulted in Hatcher's death.

Dallas police said 23-year-old Cortes has already admitted her involvement in the murder. According to an arrest warrant affidavit, Cortes told detectives she was behind the wheel of the getaway vehicle on the the night Hatcher was shot and killed. Cortes told detectives she was paid $500 to drive the shooter to the parking garage to commit a robbery.

In the affidavit, Cortes told police Love waited for Hatcher to drive into the garage and park her car. Cortes said Love got out of the Jeep and she heard a gunshot, then Love returned with two purses, according to the affidavit. After the shooting, Cortes said Love threatened that she and her 6-year-old son "would be next" if she talked to police.

Cortes was arrested Sept. 4 and also faces a capital murder charge.

"She was an intelligent, hardworking, fun-loving daughter, sister, and aunt," her family said in a statement. "We want people to know that Kendra was not only beautiful on the outside, beauty also flowed from Kendra's heart. She helped so many ... Kendra had so much to give, and we are so thankful her 35 years were lived to the fullest."

 
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Delgado Indictment (Text)
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