Court documents: Dentist murder mastermind had drug cartel ties

DALLAS, Texas - Court documents say a woman accused of ordering a hit on a Dallas dentist promised money and drugs to her alleged accomplices.

FBI agents returned 34-year old Brenda Delgado back to Dallas from Mexico Thursday afternoon. She's charged with capital murder in the shooting death of Dallas dentist Kendra Hatcher.

Investigators believe Delgado was jealous and arranged for Crystal Cortez and Kristopher Love to shoot and rob Hatcher as she pulled into her upscale Dallas apartment last September. Hatcher was dating Delgado's ex-boyfriend.

"She just doesn't look like the person that did what she's accused of,” said Delgado’s attorney, George Milner.

The capital murder indictment says Delgado did "knowingly cause the death of Kendra Hatcher... by employing Kristopher Love to murder deceased... for drugs and United States currency from defendant and a drug cartel...."

"That's what's in the indictment. Of course, the indictments are drafted by the prosecutor,” Milner explained. “I believe that is factually inaccurate. I've seen no evidence of that."

Defense Attorney Toby Shook, who is not involved in the case, says alleged ties to a drug cartel can be difficult for a jury to overlook.  

"I've never seen that in an indictment before,” he said. “It's the kind of thing that will be highly prejudicial, obviously. But if it's relevant and they have the evidence, then obviously the state is going to put it on for those reasons."

Delgado's attorney plans to file a motion to have the cartel reference removed from the indictment. He also acknowledges that Delgado fleeing to Mexico will be another challenge in defending his client.

"Flight is going to be a big part of this case because under the law if a person flees a jurisdiction, especially before they've been arrested, that can be viewed of evidence of guilt,” Shook said.

Delgado’s initial court appearance is set for next Tuesday. She is not expected in the courtroom, but that is the next move in the case.

Delgado is being held in the Lew Sterrett Jail on a $1 million bond.