Brenda Delgado convicted in Uptown Dallas murder-for-hire case
DALLAS - The woman accused of planning the murder of her romantic rival was found guilty of capital murder.
Prosecutors said Brenda Delgado masterminded the 2015 murder of Dallas dentist Kendra Hatcher. She gave two people drugs and money to kill Hatcher, who was dating her ex-boyfriend. Then she fled to Mexico.
On Thursday, both the prosecution and defense rested their cases. They gave closing statements Friday morning and jurors deliberated for less than 30 minutes before reaching the unanimous guilty verdict.
Hatcher’s family members gave victim impact statements immediately after the verdict was read.
“Just so you know, Brenda Delgado, Kendra was never rich and she was never wealthy. Kendra was blessed by a loving God and a family that loved her. Kendra worked hard to earn her beautiful place on this Earth,” said Bonnie Jameson, Hatcher’s mother. “We take comfort in knowing our God has given our Kendra the ultimate spot in Heaven. A spot in which you will never see. You, Brenda Delgado, have earned your spot on this Earth behind cold steel bars for the rest of your miserable pathetic life. And if justice could have handed you a death sentence, make no mistake, I would have been there front and center.”
Hatcher’s sister also told Delgado she is the root of all evil. She hopes Delgado rots in hell.
“No matter how envious you were of any human being, does not give you the right to destroy lives,” said Ashley Turner, Kendra Hatcher’s sister. “Many lives, your own family’s lives, our lives, Kendra’s life, my children’s lives. Who the hell do you think you are Brenda?”
Delgado, who showed no emotion as the verdict was read in court, was automatically sentenced to life in prison without parole. She was not eligible for the death penalty because of an extradition agreement with Mexico.
Delgado’s guilty verdict and life sentence was the final link to a four-year saga.
The two other people involved in the murder are also behind bars.
Hitman Kristopher Love was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to the death penalty.
Crystal Cortes, who helped plan the murder and acted as the getaway driver, was sentenced Friday to 35 years in prison. She accepted a plea deal in exchange for her testimony against the others.
Defense attorneys tried to convince the jury Cortes couldn’t be trusted, and would’ve said anything for mercy.
“She will walk out of prison to go live her life, so she got the deal of a century. So what would she do? What are you willing to do?” asked George Milner, Delgado’s defense attorney.
But other evidence led to the final unanimous verdict. That evidence included surveillance video, cell phone data putting Delgado in the same place as her co-conspirators, and other witnesses, including Delgado’s own family and friends, who testified Delgado also approached them about killing Hatcher.
Delgado’s attorneys say they plan to appeal the verdict while speaking for their client, who didn’t say a word in court.
“She understands and she knows through me what the process is going forward,” Miler added. “We will go from here. This is now day one, we’re on a new day one.”