TONIGHT ON "DATELINE" -- YOUNG, ACCOMPLISHED, AND IN
LOVE, SHE HAD A WHOLE CITY AT
HER FEET AND A MURDERER OUTSIDE
HER DOOR
>> I HEARD A SHOT, POW
THERE'S A GUY RUNNING WITH A
MASK RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME.
>> DALLAS 911, WHERE IS YOUR
EMERGENCY?
>> THERE WAS A CALL OF A FEMALE
IN A PARKING GARAGE.
THEY BELIEVED THAT SHE WAS SHOT.
>> THE CAR DOOR WAS OPEN, AND I
SAW HER JUST LAYING THERE.
>> Reporter: AND SHE WASN'T
MOVING
>> NO, NOT AT ALL.
>> IT WAS DEVASTATING.
I DIDN'T SEE HOW THAT COULD EVEN
BE POSSIBLE.
PEOPLE LIKE KENDRA DON'T GET
SHOT
>> YOU'RE LIKE, "WHO IS THIS
PERSON THAT JUST EXECUTED MY
SISTER?"
>> ON THE NIGHT THAT WE RELEASED
THE STILL PHOTO, HE TOLD ME, "I
THINK THIS IS MY EX-GIRLFRIEND."
>> SHE WAS A MASTER MANIPULATOR.
>> THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE INVOLVED
IN THIS CRIME SHOCKED ME
>> THESE AREN'T SANE INDIVIDUALS
THAT CAN COMMIT A MURDER AND
THEN MAKE A HEART OUT OF THE
BLOOD MONEY.
>> Reporter: HOW MUCH MONEY WAS
IT
>> $500.
>> Reporter: TO KILL SOMEBODY.
>> TO KILL SOMEBODY.
♪ >> HERE'S KEITH MORRISON WITH
"TEN MINUTES TO SUNSET."
>> Reporter: AT THE END OF A
LAZY DAY, AS SUMMER SHIFTED INTO
SEPTEMBER AND A SINKING SUN
THREW LONG DARK SHADOWS ACROSS
THE CENTER OF DALLAS, A YOUNG
MAN NAMED HASHEM SAAD HAD JUST
SPENT THE DAY, HIS DAY OFF, AT
HOME IN HIS FATHER'S PLACE, THIS
GLEAMING APARTMENT BUILDING
CALLED GABLES PARK 17.
>> NO WORK, NO NOTHING, SO IT
WAS JUST -
>> Reporter: HANGING AROUND.
>> AT THE HOUSE ALL DAY.
>> Reporter: AND FROM HERE, TO
16-YEAR-OLD EYES, THE WORLD
AROUND LOOKED FINE, INDEED
DALLAS "UPTOWN," HIP, YOUNG,
PROFESSIONAL, SAFE
THAT'S A PRETTY NICE BUILDING,
HUH?
>> UH-HUH.
I WOULD AGREE WITH YOU ON THAT
ONE.
>> Reporter: JUST THEN, TEN
MINUTES TO SUNSET, A WHITE CAMRY
MADE ITS WAY INTO THE
NEIGHBORHOOD
YOUNG WOMAN AT THE WHEEL
SHE SLOWED DOWN, TURNED IN AT
THE ENTRANCE TO HER PARKING
GARAGE, GABLES PARK 17
AT PRECISELY THE MOMENT HASHEM
AND A FRIEND WERE RIDING DOWN
THE ELEVATOR
>> SO WE GO DOWNSTAIRS
YOU KNOW, ONCE WE GET
DOWNSTAIRS, WE OPEN UP THE
DOORS.
>> Reporter: AND FROZE
>> YOU COULD HEAR JUST
SCREAMING.
>> Reporter: SCREAMING
>> JUST STRAIGHT -- STRAIGHT UP
SCREAMING.
>> Reporter: FOLLOWED, SAID
HASHEM, BY THE BARK OF SOME KIND
OF GUN
WAS IT OBVIOUS THAT WAS
GUNSHOTS
>> YEAH, YEAH.
I KNEW THAT, LIKE, RIGHT AWAY.
RIGHT AWAY
RIGHT WHEN THEY DID -- IT WAS --
I WAS LIKE, "REALLY?
AND THEN TIRE SCREECHES.
>> Reporter: ADRENALINE PUMPING,
HASHEM RACED FOR HIS CAR
PULLED OUT HIS PHONE
911.
>> HI, SOMEONE JUST GOT SHOT IN
THE PARKING LOT OF THE GABLES
PARK 17.
ALL I HEARD WAS SCREAMING AND
THEN A LOUD POP AND THEN I SAW
HER LAYING ON THE FLOOR.
>> Reporter: AND THEN SLAMMING
DOOR AND SCREECHING TIRES.
>> I SAW A BLACK JEEP CHEROKEE
RIDE OUT, AND WHEN I PASSED THEM
IN THE GARAGE, THEY HAD LIKE
MASKS ON, AND THEY TOOK IT OFF
>> COULD YOU TELL IF THEY WERE
MEN OR WOMEN IN THE CAR?
>> UH, I THINK A MAN
LIKE, I'M PRETTY SURE A MAN.
LIKE HE LOOKED LIKE, UH --
>> DID HE LOOK LIKE HE WAS
BLACK, WHITE, OR HISPANIC?
>> HE WAS -- HE WAS WHITE.
>> THEY HAD TINTED WINDOWS
I COULDN'T SEE EXACTLY WHO THEY
WERE
>> Reporter: DIDN'T SEE ANYBODY
IN IT?
>> NO.
I SAW TWO PEOPLE
>> Reporter: POLICE ARRIVED.
THIS IS THEIR BODY CAM VIDEO
>> THEY GOT CAMERAS THAT COME IN
AND OUT OF THIS PLACE?
>> YEAH, THEY'RE CHECKING ON IT
RIGHT NOW.
>> OKAY.
>> Reporter: THE VICTIM WAS ON
THE FIRST FLOOR LEVEL BEHIND A
ROW OF CARS.
>> THEY'RE DOWN THERE.
>> OKAY.
>> Reporter: SHE WAS LYING ON
THE COLD, GREY CONCRETE OF THE
STARKLY LIT GARAGE
YOUNG, DARK HAIR, DRESSED IN
WHAT LOOKED LIKE DOCTOR'S
>> THERE'S ONE HOMICIDE
DETECTIVE FOR THE ENTIRE CITY
TONIGHT.
>> Reporter: THE MAN HE WAS
REFERRING TO WAS DALLAS P.D.
DETECTIVE ERIC BARNES.
HE GOT THE CALL AT HOME.
>> I HAD JUST TAKEN A BITE OF
SUPPER WHEN THE PHONE RANG
IT WAS ONE OF THOSE THINGS
TAKE A BITE OF YOUR FOOD, PUT IT
BACK DOWN, GIVE EVERYBODY A HUG
AND A KISS, AND I'M BACK IN THE
CAR JUMPING INTO DETECTIVE MODE.
>> Reporter: DETECTIVE BARNES
MADE HIS WAY TO THE UPTOWN
BUILDING AND IMMEDIATELY
WONDERED HOW THE KILLER GOT INTO
THAT GARAGE.
>> Reporter: THIS ACTIVITY
DIDN'T HAPPEN OUT ON THE STREET
LIKE RANDOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM.
IT WAS SOMEBODY WENT INSIDE TO
MAKE THIS HAPPEN
>> YES, THIS PARKING GARAGE IS
DESIGNED FOR RESIDENTS OR
VISITORS OF THE APARTMENT
COMPLEX, SO IT WAS GATED AND
SHIELDED FROM THE OUTSIDE STREET
AND THE OUTSIDE COMMUNITY.
>> Reporter: THE YOUNG WOMAN HAD
BEEN SHOT AT CLOSE RANGE, IN THE
HEAD LIKE A PRO MIGHT DO IT
EXCEPT -
>> ONE OF HER CAR DOORS WAS OPEN
AND THERE WAS A MAGAZINE TO A
FIREARM LAYING NEXT TO HER BODY.
>> Reporter: THAT'S PRETTY
UNUSUAL IN A SHOOTING, ISN'T IT?
>> IT IS
>> Reporter: THAT SOMEBODY GOT
OUT OF THERE TOO FAST AND LEFT
SOMETHING BEHIND
>> YES
I ASSUMED THAT POSSIBLY IT WAS A
ROBBERY AND DURING THE EXIT, THE
ROBBER GOT A LITTLE ANXIOUS AND
RELEASED THE MAGAZINE.
>> Reporter: WHAT WAS MISSING
THAT MADE IT LOOK LIKE A
ROBBERY?
>> THE VICTIM'S PURSE WAS TAKEN.
>> Reporter: AS DETECTIVE BARNES
WAS GETTING A GOOD LOOK AROUND,
THE DUTY PROSECUTOR SHOWED UP,
JUSTIN LORD.
>> I STARTED THINKING, "WELL,
THIS IS AN ODD PLACE FOR A
ROBBERY TO TAKE PLACE BEHIND A
SECURED GATE IN A PARKING
GARAGE."
>> Reporter: IT WAS -- ALMOST
LOOKED LIKE A MOB HIT OR
SOMETHING.
>> IT LOOKED LIKE AN EXECUTION
>> Reporter: AND THEN THEY
FIGURED OUT WHO SHE WAS, AND IT
MADE NO SENSE AT ALL
>> WE RAN THE LICENSE PLATE OF
THE VEHICLE THAT THE VICTIM WAS
LAYING NEXT TO
CAME BACK TO KENDRA HATCHER.
KENDRA HATCHER WAS A PEDIATRIC
DENTIST IN THE DALLAS AREA, AND
SHE LIVED IN THE APARTMENT
BUILDING
>> Reporter: 35-YEAR-OLD KENDRA
KAY HATCHER, THEY DISCOVERED,
WAS POPULAR, ACCOMPLISHED,
RESPECTED.
SHE HAD A REPUTATION FOR DOING
VOLUNTEER WORK WITH POOR
CHILDREN
WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT TO KILL
HER?
>> SHE WAS GOING ON VACATION THE
VERY NEXT DAY.
>> Reporter: HOW DID YOU FIND
THAT OUT
>> WELL, WE SPOKE WITH HER -
HER BOYFRIEND.
>> Reporter: KENDRA'S BOYFRIEND
WAS A DOCTOR, A DERMATOLOGIST,
RICKY PANIAGUA
HE TOLD DETECTIVE BARNES HE'D
JUST BEEN IN HER APARTMENT,
TEXTING HER, LEFT FOR A WHILE
THEN CAME BACK, SHOWED UP AFTER
THE SHOOTING
>> HE WAS WAITING FOR HER TO
ARRIVE, AND HE ACTUALLY WENT TO
A TACO SHOP IN THE AREA WHILE HE
WAS WAITING ON KENDRA TO TEXT
HIM BACK
>> Reporter: WHEN RICKY RETURNED
TO THE APARTMENT COMPLEX, HE WAS
STOPPED FROM GOING INSIDE BY THE
DOORMAN.
DETECTIVES MET HIM AND BROKE THE
NEWS
RICKY SEEMED GENUINELY UPSET,
DISTRAUGHT, SAID DETECTIVE
BARNES, BUT HE'D BEEN CLOSE BY
VERY CLOSE TO THE MURDER OF HIS
GIRLFRIEND
>> Reporter: DID THAT SEEM
CURIOUS TO YOU
>> THERE WAS NOTHING THAT I
WANTED TO RULE OUT IN THE
BEGINNING.
>> Reporter: INCLUDING, ALSO, OF
COURSE, THAT JEEP HASHEM SAW
SPEEDING AWAY OUT OF THE PARKING
GARAGE
WHO WAS IN IT?
WHO MADE A KIND-HEARTED
PEDIATRIC DENTIST A TARGET FOR
MURDER
>>> NO ONE CLOSE TO KENDRA HAD A
CLUE
WHEN WE COME BACK --
>> PEOPLE LIKE KENDRA DON'T GET
SHOT
I DIDN'T SEE HOW THAT COULD EVEN
BE POSSIBLE.
>> POLICE PRESSING FOR ANY
LEADS.
>> IF I KNEW ANYBODY WHO COULD
DO THIS, POSSIBLY SOMEONE FROM
HER PAST
>> Reporter: IN A PARKING GARAGE
IN AN UPSCALE DALLAS APARTMENT
BUILDING, CRIME SCENE
INVESTIGATORS SURROUNDED THE
PROSTRATE BODY
KENDRA KAY HATCHER, PEDIATRIC
DENTIST AND ALL AROUND GOOD
PERSON
>> AUTHORITIES SAY THE
35-YEAR-OLD DENTIST WAS GUNNED
DOWN
>> Reporter: ALREADY THE NEWS
WAS FLASHING AROUND THE COUNTRY.
KENDRA'S BROTHER, NEIL, WAS IN
CALIFORNIA ON BUSINESS WHEN THE
CALL CAME.
>> THE CALL CAME IN AROUND
10:30 PACIFIC.
I DIDN'T SLEEP THAT NIGHT, AND
THE RIDE HOME WAS LONG AND
TEARFUL.
>> RIDE HOME TO?
>> VEGAS
FIVE HOURS
KENDRA'S FRIEND, DR. TAMI
PANTANO, WAS WITH A PATIENT WHEN
SHE WAS CALLED TO THE PHONE.
THEY'D BEEN FAST FRIENDS, ALMOST
LIKE SISTERS, THESE TWO, SINCE
THEIR DAYS IN DENTAL SCHOOL.
>> OF ALL THE BAD NEWS YOU
MIGHT'VE RECEIVED, THAT WOULD
PROBABLY BE THE LAST THING YOU'D
THINK OF
>> I PICKED UP MY PHONE, AND I
JUST KEPT PRESSING HER NAME AND
PRESSING HER NAME AND HEARING
THE VOICEMAIL OVER AND OVER
AGAIN.
JUST PRAYING FOR HER TO PICK UP,
THAT THIS WAS SOME KIND OF
HORRIBLE MISTAKE
>> Reporter: IT WASN'T
>> I DIDN'T SEE HOW THAT COULD
EVEN BE POSSIBLE. LIKE, PEOPLE
LIKE KENDRA DON'T GET SHOT
THEY DON'T
THEY'RE NOT MURDERED
IT WAS DEVASTATING
>> Reporter: A DALLAS FRIEND,
KIM BAHN, HEARD SOME BAD THING
HAD HAPPENED, RACED TO KENDRA'S
APARTMENT AND FOUND OUT THERE
THAT SHE WAS DEAD.
>> I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO THINK
OR WHAT TO DO.
ALL I COULD DO WAS SIT ON THE
FLOOR AND CRY.
>> Reporter: KENDRA'S LIFE HAD
SEEMED SO, GOOD.
HER CAREER AS A PEDIATRIC
DENTIST, HER PROMISING NEW
RELATIONSHIP WITH A HANDSOME
YOUNG DOCTOR, THE CITY SHE HAD
FALLEN IN LOVE WITH.
>> IF YOU KNEW KENDRA, DALLAS
WOULD HAVE BEEN HER SCENE.
>> SHE LIKED THE CITY LIFE
>> YEP, AND WHAT A GOOD CHANGE
FROM BEING RURAL
>> Reporter: RURAL AND HAPPY, IN
A BIG ACTIVE FAMILY JUST OUTSIDE
A LITTLE TOWN CALLED PLEASANT
PLAINS, ILLINOIS
>> THE SCHOOL WE WENT TO WAS A
SMALL FARM SCHOOL, AND KENDRA
WOULD SIT THERE WITH A PILLOW
AND AND ROCK WHILE SHE'D STUDY,
AND SHE'D STUDY ALL THE TIME
>> Reporter: EXCEPT WHEN SHE WAS
CHEERLEADING AND PLAYING
VOLLEYBALL AND GOING ON MISSIONS
TO BUILD CHURCHES AND
VOLUNTEERING FOR ALL KINDS OF
THINGS
>> HOW'D SHE FIND TIME TO DO ALL
THAT STUFF
>> I DON'T KNOW.
SHE DID IT
SHE MANAGED IT
I COULDN'T
SHE WAS ON A DIFFERENT LEVEL
WHEN IT CAME TO JUST BEING
AWESOME.
>> Reporter: AND SHE WANTED TO
BE A DENTIST
>> KENDRA WAS SUCH A HAPPY
PERSON
SO MUCH LIFE
YOU COULDN'T EVEN BE IN THE SAME
ROOM WITH KENDRA WHEN SHE
LAUGHED AND NOT LAUGH YOURSELF
BECAUSE IT WAS SO CONTAGIOUS
>> Reporter: DURING SCHOOL
BREAKS, KENDRA WENT TO ECUADOR
TO PERFORM DENTAL WORK FOR THE
POOR
SHE INTERNED IN A PRACTICE THAT
HELPED POOR KIDS IN KENTUCKY
>> THAT'S WHAT REALLY KIND OF
HIT HOME, HER DESIRE TO WORK ON
KIDS
>> Reporter: WHICH IS JUST WHAT
SHE WAS DOING IN HER ADOPTED
CITY DALLAS.
>> SHE LOVED WHAT SHE DID.
SHE WAS GREAT WITH KIDS, AND
THAT TAKES A SPECIAL KIND OF
PATIENCE THAT NOT EVERYBODY HAS.
>> Reporter: SO IT DOES.
HER NIECES AND NEPHEWS CERTAINLY
KNEW THAT.
AT JUST 9, NEIL'S DAUGHTER,
JOSIE, BRAVED THE FIRST
ALL-BY-HERSELF FLIGHT OF HER
LIFE TO SPEND A WEEK IN DALLAS
WITH HER AUNT KK
>> I WAS, LIKE, "I DON'T KNOW IF
I WANNA GO."
AND THEN I WAS, LIKE, "NO, I
WANNA SEE AUNT KK.
>> Reporter: AUNT K.K., KENDRA
KAY.
>> WHAT DID YOU GUYS DO TOGETHER
THAT TRIP?
>> WE IMMEDIATELY GOT ICE CREAM.
WE GOT OUR NAILS DID AND, UM,
WENT SHOPPING A LOT.
>> WHAT WAS THAT LIKE SPENDING
THAT WEEKEND WITH HER?
>> VERY, VERY FUN.
WE WENT TO LEGOLAND, AND WE WENT
TO THE POOL EVERY SINGLE NIGHT
AND GOT SNACKS
>> Reporter: AND SHE MET
KENDRA'S BOYFRIEND, RICKY.
>> WHAT WERE YOUR IMPRESSIONS OF
HIM, RICKY
>> HE WAS VERY, VERY NICE, AND
HE WAS QUIET
THEY CUDDLED A LOT, LIKE, THEY
WOULD WATCH MOVIES, AND THEY'D
ALWAYS BE NEXT TO EACH OTHER
>> Reporter: AS THEY WERE
SUPPOSED TO BE THE NIGHT OF THE
MURDER
INSTEAD, RICKY AND KENDRA'S
FRIEND, KIM, WERE LISTENING TO
DETECTIVE BARNES ASK HIS
QUESTIONS.
>> IF I KNEW ANYBODY WHO COULD
DO THIS, POSSIBLY SOMEBODY FROM
HER PAST OR SOMEONE SHE'S DATED.
>> DID YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS AT
ALL?
>> I HAD NO IDEA AT ALL.
>> DID HE TELL YOU ANYTHING
ELSE
>> HE DIDN'T GIVE ME A LOT OF
DETAILS, 'CAUSE I THINK THEY
WERE STILL COLLECTING EVIDENCE
AT THE CRIME SCENE
>> Reporter: INCLUDING THE ONE
PIECE OF EVIDENCE BARNES NEEDED
RIGHT AWAY
>> THEY GOT CAMERAS THAT COME IN
AND OUT OF THIS PLACE?
>> YEAH, THEY'RE CHECKING ON 'EM
RIGHT NOW.
>> Reporter: SURVEILLANCE TAPES.
HE HAD THEM NEXT DAY
AND THERE IT WAS, HIS FIRST REAL
LEAD
>> I THINK IT WAS A BLACK JEEP
CHEROKEE
>> Reporter: SURE ENOUGH, A JEEP
CHEROKEE SPEEDING OUT OF THE
GARAGE AROUND 7:45 P.M
HASHEM HAD SAID HE SAW TWO MEN
INSIDE, BOTH WEARING MASKS
BUT A GRAINY STILL PHOTO FROM
THE VIDEO SHOWED SOMETHING ELSE.
THE DRIVER WAS A WOMAN
>>> COMING UP --
THE OWNER OF THE JEEP COMES
FORWARD.
>> I JUST WANT TO HELP YOU GUYS
OUT TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT
>> DID HE HAVE ANY IDEA WHY HIS
CAR MIGHT BE INVOLVED IN A CRIME
LIKE THAT?
>> WHAT HE TOLD ME WAS HE LOANED
HIS VEHICLE TO HIS FRIEND BRENDA
DELGADO.
>> A MURDER INVESTIGATION ABOUT
TO GO IN A WHOLE NEW DIRECTION,
>> Reporter: THE DAY AFTER THE
COLD-BLOODED MURDER OF KENDRA
HATCHER, DALLAS POLICE DETECTIVE
ERIC BARNES TOOK STOCK
HE HAD ONE BIG LEAD.
THAT WAS THE VIDEO FROM THE
GARAGE SHOWING A JEEP CHEROKEE
LEAVING THE CRIME SCENE.
BUT HE HAD NOTHING ELSE.
MOTIVE, UNKNOWN.
DRIVER OF THE JEEP, UNKNOWN.
AND THE SHOOTER WHO APPARENTLY
DROPPED A MAGAZINE OF BULLETS
NEAR KENDRA'S BODY
NOT A CLUE
>> WE WEREN'T ABLE TO ACTUALLY
RECOVER ANY PRINTS OFF OF IT
SO, WE'RE BACK TO SQUARE ONE
AGAIN.
>> Reporter: SQUARE ONE MEANT
GOING FRAME BY FRAME THROUGH THE
VIDEO CAPTURED BY MULTIPLE
CAMERAS IN THE GARAGE.
ONE OF THEM SHOWED HOW THE JEEP
GOT IN
>> THEY WAITED FOR A RESIDENT TO
COME TO GAIN ACCESS, AND THEY
FOLLOWED 'EM INTO THE PARKING
GARAGE
>> Reporter: ANOTHER SECURITY
CAMERA CAPTURED THE HAZY IMAGE
OF AN UNKNOWN PERSON APPROACHING
KENDRA'S CAR
>> Reporter: MALE?
FEMALE
>> IT WAS HARD TO TELL -
>> Reporter: COULDN'T TELL
>> -- AT THE TIME.
IT WAS JUST A DARK-COLORED
SILHOUETTE
THEN YOU SEE THE BLACK JEEP
REVERSE OUT OF THE PARKING
SPACE, AND THE SILHOUETTE RUNS
BACK TO THE BLACK VEHICLE IN A
HURRY.
>> Reporter: GETS IN AND THEY
TAKE OFF
>> GETS IN AND THEY TAKE OFF
>> Reporter: THE CLOSEST THING
THE DETECTIVE HAD TO AN IMAGE OF
A SUSPECT WAS AN UNIDENTIFIED
WOMAN DRIVING A JEEP
>> SO WE FELT LIKE IN ORDER TO
GET THE PUBLIC'S HELP IN GETTING
EITHER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFIED,
OR THE DRIVER IDENTIFIED, WE
NEEDED THE MEDIA TO HELP US OUT
BY GETTING THESE STILL SHOTS OUT
TO THE COMMUNITY
>> Reporter: SO DALLAS POLICE
CALLED A PRESS CONFERENCE.
>> IF THEY SEE THIS VEHICLE,
WE'D LIKE THEM TO CALL 911
REPORT IT TO DALLAS POLICE
>> Reporter: ALL POLICE COULD
REALLY, THAT AND THEN WAIT AND
HOPE THAT IN A CITY OF MILLIONS
OF VEHICLES, SOMEBODY RECOGNIZED
THIS ONE
FAT CHANCE
BUT THEN SOMEONE DID
THIS SOMEONE, HE TOLD THEM HIS
NAME WAS LUIS ORTIZ AND THAT HE
WAS HE WAS A MECHANIC, OWNED HIS
OWN SHOP AND THAT HE RECOGNIZED
THE JEEP, RECOGNIZED IT BECAUSE
THAT JEEP WAS HIS.
>> I JUST WANT TO HELP YOU GUYS
OUT TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT
>> Reporter: WERE YOU SURPRISED?
>> I WAS A LITTLE SURPRISED.
I DIDN'T REALLY KNOW WHAT WAS
HIS MOTIVATION FOR COMING IN,
INVOLVED
>> YOU DIDN'T KILL THIS YOUNG
LADY, RIGHT?
>> NO, SIR
I HAVE NO REASON TO.
>> OKAY.
>> Reporter: BUT IF HE DIDN'T
KILL KENDRA, IF HE WASN'T
INVOLVED, WHAT WAS HIS JEEP
DOING IN THAT PARKING GARAGE
AS TO THAT, SAID LUIS, HE WAS AS
MUCH IN THE DARK AS THE
DETECTIVE WAS.
SAID THE EVENING IT HAPPENED, IN
FACT, THE VERY MOMENT IT
HAPPENED, HE WAS SITTING IN A
RESTAURANT MILES AWAY HAVING
DINNER WITH A FRIEND
AND HIS JEEP
DID HE HAVE ANY IDEA WHY HIS CAR
MIGHT BE INVOLVED IN A CRIME
LIKE THAT?
>> WHAT HE TOLD ME WAS HE LOANED
HIS VEHICLE TO HIS FRIEND BRENDA
DELGADO.
>> Reporter: BRENDA DELGADO,
SAID LUIS, WAS A LONG-TIME
FAMILY FRIEND. GOOD PERSON,
PROFESSIONAL, TRUSTWORTHY.
SHE WAS ALSO THE PERSON HE WAS
HAVING DINNER WITH
>> THAT'S WHY I'M VERY UPSET AT
BRENDA
>> Reporter: LUIS SAID HE DIDN'T
KNOW WHETHER BRENDA LOST IT OR
LENT IT OR WHAT.
BUT HE WAS SURE, HAVING SEEN
THAT PHOTO, THAT THE CAR FLEEING
THE CRIME SCENE WAS HIS.
>> HE KNEW THAT HE NEEDED TO
COME IN AND TALK TO HELP CLEAR
HIS NAME
>> Reporter: DID YOU TAKE HIM
OFF YOUR SUSPECT LIST ONCE HE
WAS FINISHED TALKING TO YOU?
>> NO, NO.
>> Reporter: BUT HE CERTAINLY
DID NEED TO TALK TO THIS BRENDA
DELGADO.
SO, THEY CALLED HER.
>> I SAID I APPRECIATE YOU
COMING DOWN.
>> Reporter: SHE CAME.
NO COMPLAINTS.
>> OF COURSE, I'M WORKING A
MURDER INVESTIGATION
>> YES
>> YOUR NAME CAME UP IN THE
INVESTIGATION, SO I WANTED TO
SIT DOWN AND TALK WITH YOU
>> YEAH, YEAH.
>> Reporter: THE DETECTIVE TOLD
BRENDA WHAT LUIS SAID ABOUT THE
JEEP
>> HE SAID THAT YOU DROPPED YOUR
CAR OFF AT HIS SHOP, AND THAT
YOU BORROWED A VEHICLE OF HIS.
>> NO, IT WASN'T ME.
IT WAS CRYSTAL
>> Reporter: WHAT?
LUIS MUST HAVE BEEN CONFUSED,
SAID BRENDA.
NO, IT WAS HER FRIEND CRYSTAL
CORTES WHO BORROWED LUIS' JEEP
WASN'T HER AT ALL.
SHE'D KNOWN CRYSTAL JUST A MONTH
OR SO, SAID BRENDA
SHE SEEMED A BIT OF A LOST SOUL.
SINGLE MOTHER, STRUGGLING TO
MAKE IT, BUT NICE.
SO, SAID BRENDA, SHE TOOK THE
GIRL UNDER HER WING.
AND, YES, CRYSTAL BORROWED THE
CAR.
>> WHAT KIND OF CAR DID SHE
BORROW
>> IT WAS THAT CAR
>> CRYSTAL BORROWED HIS JEEP
>> UH-HUH.
>> OKAY.
>> Reporter: WEIRD
WAS IT CONFUSION, A MIX-UP
OR WAS SOMEBODY LYING?
THE DETECTIVE ASKED BRENDA, CALL
CRYSTAL.
ASK HER TO COME DOWN TO THE
POLICE STATION
AND NOT LONG AFTER, HERE SHE
WAS.
>> MY NAME IS DETECTIVE BARNES,
THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN TO
TALK TO ME
>> NICE TO MEET YOU.
NO PROBLEM, NO PROBLEM
>> Reporter: HELPFULLY BRENDA
WAS STILL THERE.
LUIS, TOO.
SO, NOW THERE WERE THREE PEOPLE
IN THREE DIFFERENT INTERVIEW
ROOMS WITH THREE DIFFERENT
STORIES.
>> WE DON'T NORMALLY GET THAT
LUCKY.
BUT THAT NIGHT, I WAS FORTUNATE
TO BE ABLE TO GO AND BRENDA SAID
THIS AND THEN GO TO CRYSTAL.
CRYSTAL SAID THIS.
>> I'M COMING RIGHT BACK IN.
>> Reporter: LITERALLY WALK BACK
AND FORTH BETWEEN THE TWO
INTERVIEW ROOMS.
>> ABOUT SIX TO EIGHT FEET
APART.
>> Reporter: BARNES KNEW BRENDA
COULD NOT HAVE SHOT KENDRA IN
THAT PARKING LOT BECAUSE AT THAT
VERY TIME SHE AND LUIS WERE
HAVING DINNER.
BUT CRYSTAL, HER STORY MADE THE
DETECTIVE SIT UP IN HIS CHAIR.
YES, SHE SAID, SHE DID HAVE
LUIS' JEEP
IN FACT, SHE SAID SHE HAD HER
6-YEAR-OLD LITTLE BOY IN THE CAR
WITH HER ASLEEP IN THE BACKSEAT
AND --
>> I DID GO IN THE PARKING LOT
>> Reporter: BUT NOT TO COMMIT
MURDER, SAID CRYSTAL
OH, NO
SHE AND HER SON WERE JUST LUCKY
TO GET OUT OF THERE ALIVE.
>>> COMING UP, A TALE OF TERROR.
>> I HEARD A SHOT, "POW.
I HAVE MY SON IN THE BACK.
THERE'S A GUY RUNNING WITH A
MASK RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME.
HE STOPS
HE LOOKS DEAD AT ME.
I WAS SHAKING, LITERALLY, AT
THIS POINT
>> AND THEN, MILES AWAY, POLICE
FIND ANOTHER CAR AND ANOTHER
CLUE
>> TITAN WORKED HIS WAY DOWN ON
THE CENTER CONSOLE, AND AT THAT
POINT HE GAVE ME A POSITIVE
>>> Reporter: CRYSTAL CORTES SAT
WITH DETECTIVE BARNES IN A
DALLAS POLICE INTERVIEW ROOM AND
TOLD A TERRIFYING STORY.
SHE HAD BORROWED LUIS' CAR SO
SHE COULD TAKE HER SON TO A PARK
NOT FAR FROM GABLES PARK 17.
AND, YES, SHE ADMITTED, AS A
NON-RESIDENT, SHE SNEAKED THE
JEEP INTO THE GARAGE INTENDING
TO LEAVE IT THERE WHILE SHE AND
HER BOY WALKED TO THE PARK, AND
THEN SHE HEARD THE UNMISTAKABLE
SOUND.
>> I HEARD A SHOT, "POW.
I HAVE MY SON IN THE BACK.
SO I SAID, "NO, YOU KNOW WHAT?
LET ME GET OUT."
I'M COMING OUT
THERE'S A GUY RUNNING WITH A
MASK RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME.
HE STOPS, HE LOOKS DEAD AT ME.
AND I'M JUST LIKE HORRID
I'M SHAKING, LITERALLY, AT THIS
POINT.
>> Reporter: CRYSTAL SAID THE
MAN WAS HOLDING A GUN AND A
PURSE.
SHE SAID SHE SPED OUT TO GET
AWAY
DETECTIVE BARNES STOPPED HER
>> I KNOW THAT WHAT YOU'RE
TELLING ME IS NOT TRUE
>> Reporter: HE KNEW IT BECAUSE
HE HAD THAT VIDEO, SHOWED THE
JEEP HAD PARKED AND SOMEONE GOT
OUT.
SO THEN CRYSTAL, SITTING CROSS
LEGGED IN HER CHAIR AND GETTING
ANIMATED ADMITTED SHE'D FUDGED A
LITTLE
SAID THE INCIDENT WAS REALLY
EVEN MORE TERRIFYING FOR HER AND
HER LITTLE BOY
THE MAN POINTED A GUN AT HER,
JUMPED IN THE CAR, CARJACKED
THEM
>> HE DID PUT THE GUN TO MY
HEAD, OKAY
I'M SORRY.
HE DID
>> OKAY.
>> I'M FEARFUL FOR MY LIFE
I --
>> WHO PUT A GUN TO YOUR HEAD?
>> I DON'T KNOW HIS NAME
I DON'T KNOW NOTHING ABOUT HIM
I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING.
YOU CAN CHECK MY -- I CAN TAKE A
POLYGRAPH.
I'M WILLING TO, HONESTLY
>> OKAY.
>> Reporter: CRYSTAL SAID THE
MAN TOLD HER TO DRIVE TO THE
BACK OF THE PARKING LOT WHERE HE
GOT OUT AND ROBBED AND SHOT A
WOMAN AND THEN FORCED CRYSTAL TO
DRIVE A FEW MILES AWAY WHERE HE
JUMPED OUT AND DISAPPEARED
>> WHY DIDN'T YOU CALL 911
>> 'CAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS
ON THE NEWS UNTIL YESTERDAY,
THAT I FOUND OUT
>> I MEAN, YOU KNEW SOMEBODY GOT
SHOT
>> I'M SCARED FOR MY LIFE.
>> Reporter: BARNES TOLD HER HE
DIDN'T BUY THAT EITHER
SHE SPENT HOURS IN HERE IN THIS
COLD, ACCUSING LITTLE INTERVIEW
ROOM
AND BIT BY BIT, CRYSTAL CORTES
INCHED TOWARD THE TRUTH.
FINALLY, CONFESSED -- SORT OF.
SHE WASN'T CARJACKED, AND HER
SON WASN'T EVEN IN THE CAR
NO, SHE WAS THERE TO ROB
SOMEBODY WITH A GUY.
>> HE WAS JUST GONNA GO IN AND
TAKE HER PURSE
THAT WAS ALL HE WAS GONNA DO
>> WHEN YOU ASK THE GUY WHY DID
HE SHOOT HER, WHAT'D HE SAY?
>> SHE WAS BEING STUBBORN,
DIDN'T WANNA GIVE HIM THE PURSE.
AND HE SAID, "WELL, YOU BETTER
NOT SAY ANYTHING BECAUSE I'M
GONNA KILL YOU AND YOUR SON.
>> Reporter: AND NOW, SHE JUST
WANTED TO GO HOME TO HER LITTLE
BOY.
SHE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THAT HER
MOTHERING DAYS WERE OVER
CRYSTAL WAS ARRESTED AND CHARGED
WITH CAPITAL MURDER.
AND THE GUY, THE GUNMAN?
CRYSTAL DIDN'T HAVE MUCH TO SAY
ABOUT HIM BEYOND BEING
AFRICAN-AMERICAN, SKINNY, WITH
DREADLOCKS, AND SHE OFFERED A
NAME
>> SHE SAID LAMAR.
>> Reporter: SHE SAID LAMAR.
SO WHAT DID YOU DO WITH THAT
>> WE JUST KEPT HITTING AT
DETAILS.
"TELL ME WHAT LAMAR LOOKED LIKE.
WHERE DOES LAMAR LIVE AT
WHAT DOES LAMAR DRIVE?
>> Reporter: SHE SAID SHE DIDN'T
KNOW HIS LAST NAME OR WHERE HE
LIVED BUT SHE HELPED A POLICE
ARTIST COME UP WITH A SKETCH OF
THIS LAMAR
>> THIS IS KIND OF A NO-STRESS
DEAL
YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA DRAW A
PICTURE.
>> Reporter: SO, HERE'S WHAT
BARNES HAD -- A DRAWING, A
NAME -- WHETHER REAL OR NOT --
AND WHATEVER CRYSTAL'S PHONE
RECORDS MIGHT TELL HIM
OH, AND ONE MORE THING
SHE KNEW HIS CAR, A BLUE
CHRYSLER SEBRING
BY NOW, DALLAS POLICE HAD CALLED
IN THE FBI AND ASKED AGENTS TO
TRACE A CELL PHONE NUMBER
CRYSTAL HAD USED TO CALL THIS
LAMAR.
SPECIAL AGENT JASON IBRAHIM.
>> WE OBTAINED A FEDERAL
TRACKING WARRANT
>> Reporter: JUST SO HAPPENS,
THE DAY CRYSTAL REVEALED THE
INFORMATION ABOUT THE CAR, FBI
AGENTS HAD FOLLOWED THAT PHONE,
LAMAR'S PHONE, TO THIS DALLAS
APARTMENT COMPLEX WHERE, WHAT DO
YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A BLUE
SEBRING SITTING IN THE PARKING
LOT.
SO THEY WATCHED THE CAR, AND A
MAN APPROACHED
THE MAN CRYSTAL DESCRIBED?
COULD BE
BINGO.
HIS NAME WASN'T LAMAR, BY THE
WAY.
IT WAS LOVE, OF ALL THINGS
KRISTOPHER LOVE.
>> YOU SEE SOME CRAZY --
>> Reporter: NOT LONG AFTER,
MR. LOVE WAS SITTING WITH
DETECTIVE BARNES
APPARENTLY, UNFAZED.
DID YOU LEAD WITH, "WE'VE GOT
YOU HERE ON A MURDER RAP, SO
TELL US EVERYTHING?"
>> NO, I DIDN'T.
I STARTED OFF VERY SLOW AND JUST
BUILDING RAPPORT
HE WAS VERY DETACHED
>> Reporter: PLAYING MR. COOL.
>> PLAYING MR. COOL.
>> Reporter: SO A LITTLE SMALL
TALK, BIT OF THIS AND THAT, AND
THEN THE DETECTIVE GOT DOWN TO
BUSINESS
ASKED LOVE STRAIGHT OUT, WAS HE
INVOLVED IN KENDRA'S MURDER?
>> I KNOW I DIDN'T MURDER
NOBODY, ESPECIALLY NO WHITE
DENTIST.
>> Reporter: LOVE WAS IN THIS
ROOM FOR MANY HOURS.
HE DIDN'T BREAK.
AND THOUGH THEY SEARCHED HIS
APARTMENT AND THAT BLUE SEBRING,
HIGH AND LOW, THEY COULD NOT
FIND A GUN
SO BARNES WAS STUCK.
AND THEN, ODD THING.
THE DAY THE SEBRING WAS IN THE
POLICE IMPOUND LOT, PURE
COINCIDENCE, AN ATF SPECIAL
AGENT NAMED DAN KAASE PAID A
VISIT TO DEMONSTRATE THE UNIQUE
TALENTS OF HIS DOG
>> THIS IS K-9 TITAN
HE IS A LABRADOR RETRIEVER
>> Reporter: TITAN, SAID KAASE,
IS A WALKING EXPLOSIVES
DETECTOR
AND, YES, GOOD AT FINDING HIDDEN
GUNS
>> AFTER THE DEMONSTRATION, I
WAS APPROACHED BY A COUPLE
HOMICIDE DETECTIVES.
AND THEY SAID, "COULD YOU ASSIST
US WITH A SEARCH WARRANT?"
>> Reporter: TO SHOW WHAT HE DID
NEXT, AGENT KAASE GAVE US A
DEMONSTRATION.
HE HID A TRAINING DEVICE IN THIS
CAR, ONE THAT MIMICS THE SMELL
OF GUNPOWDER AND GAVE TITAN THE
COMMAND.
>> SHOW ME, SHOW ME, SHOW ME
SHOW ME, SHOW ME
SHOW ME.
>> Reporter: SURE ENOUGH, TITAN
FOUND IT
AND ON THAT DAY WITH
DETECTIVES -
>> I GAVE HIM THE COMMAND TO
SEARCH
>> Reporter: TITAN JUMPED INTO
THE SEBRING.
AND IN A MATTER OF SECONDS -
>> TITAN WORKED HIS WAY DOWN TO
THE ASHTRAY AREA ON THE CENTER
CONSOLE.
AND AT THAT POINT, HE GAVE ME A
POSITIVE ALERT, WHICH IS HE
SITS
>> Reporter: THE DETECTIVES
WOULD GO WHERE TITAN'S NOSE HAD
POINTED.
AFTER ALL, IT WAS THEIR CASE,
AND KAASE AND TITAN HAD TO GO.
>> AS I'M DRIVING AWAY, I SEE
ONE OF THE DETECTIVES RUNNING
AFTER ME YELLING AT ME THAT MY
DOG HAD FOUND A GUN.
>> Reporter: DEEP UNDER THE
DASHBOARD, SQUIRRELED AWAY UNDER
LAYERS OF METAL AND PLASTIC WAS
A .40 CALIBER SMITH AND WESSON
SEMI-AUTOMATIC
BALLISTICS WOULD MATCH IT TO THE
GUN USED TO KILL KENDRA.
STARS ALIGNED.
>> DIVINE INTERVENTION
>> Reporter: AT THAT MOMENT,
LOVE WAS STILL WITH DETECTIVE
BARNES IN A COLD POLICE
INTERVIEW ROOM WRAPPED IN A PINK
BLANKET.
RATHER THAN CONFRONT LOVE RIGHT
AWAY, BARNES ORDERED LUNCH AND
THEN JUST IN TIME TO GIVE HIM
INDIGESTION --
>> WE DID A SEARCH WARRANT ON
YOUR CAR
>> Reporter: -- HE BROKE THE
NEWS
>> AND WE FOUND A GUN IN YOUR
CAR.
>> WHERE Y'ALL FOUND A GUN IN MY
CAR?
>> UNDER THE CENTER CONSOLE.
THIS GUN RIGHT HERE.
YOU EVER SEEN THAT GUN BEFORE?
>> YEAH.
>> YOU HAVE?
WHOSE GUN IS THAT?
>> IT'S MINE
>> Reporter: AND THEN LOVE'S
STORY CHANGED.
AT FIRST HE DENIED KNOWING
CRYSTAL.
NOW, HE USED HER TO EXPLAIN
WHERE HE GOT THE GUN
>> TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH, I
BOUGHT THAT GUN FROM THAT GIRL
>> FROM WHAT GIRL?
>> CRYSTAL
>> YOU BOUGHT IT FROM CRYSTAL?
>> UH-HUH.
>> Reporter: BUT HE DIDN'T USE
IT TO SHOOT KENDRA, HE SAID.
NO, THAT WAS CRYSTAL
MUTUAL FINGER-POINTING
BUT LOVE WASN'T GOING ANYWHERE
EITHER
HE, TOO, WAS CHARGED WITH
CAPITAL MURDER, WHICH LEFT ONE
HUGE MYSTERY TO SOLVE.
AND THAT LED HIM BACK TO
KENDRA'S BOYFRIEND RICKY
IT WAS PERHAPS THE KEY TO IT
ALL.
>>> COMING UP --
>> Reporter: BOYFRIENDS, AS YOU
AND I KNOW, ARE FREQUENTLY
EXACTLY THE PERSON YOU WANT TO
LOOK AT AS A POTENTIAL PERSON OF
INTEREST, RIGHT?
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
>> AND THIS ONE SEEMED RELUCTANT
TO TURN OVER HIS CELL PHONE.
>> I MEAN, HONESTLY, I DON'T
KNOW WHAT THE RIGHT THING FOR ME
>> Reporter: IN A COMPLEX MURDER INVESTIGATION, PROGRESS COMES IN
FITS AND STARTS.
DETECTIVE ERIC BARNES HAD
STARTED OUT WITH JUST A
SURVEILLANCE CAMERA PHOTO OF A
WOMAN IN A JEEP.
THE JEEP'S OWNER, LUIS ORTIZ,
HAD BEEN CLEARED
NOW HE HAD TWO PEOPLE IN
CUSTODY, CRYSTAL CORTES AND
KRISTOPHER LOVE, BOTH CHARGED
WITH CAPITAL MURDER.
BUT DETECTIVE BARNES KNEW
PERFECTLY WELL THESE TWO WERE
NOT THE WHOLE STORY.
THEY HAD NO CONNECTION TO
KENDRA
THEY HAD TO BE WORKING FOR
SOMEBODY
WHO?
AND WHY?
>> I WAS LOOKING FOR ANYTHING
THAT COULD HAVE POSSIBLY
CONNECTED ME TO A MOTIVE
>> SO DETECTIVE BARNES DOUBLED
BACKED TO SOMEONE WHO WAS
ACTUALLY AT KENDRA'S APARTMENT
COMPLEX THE NIGHT OF THE MURDER,
HER BOYFRIEND,
DR. RICKY PANIAGUA
>> BOYFRIENDS, AS YOU AND I
KNOW, ARE FREQUENTLY EXACTLY THE
PERSON YOU WANT TO LOOK AT AS A
POTENTIAL PERSON OF INTEREST,
RIGHT?
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
>> FROM THE BEGINNING, WHEN THE
DETECTIVE MET RICKY, THE
DOCTOR'S GRIEF AND DISTRESS
SEEMED VERY GENUINE.
BUT THE DETECTIVE WANTED TO
CLARIFY WHAT HE WAS DOING WHEN
KENDRA WAS MURDERED.
KENDRA'S BROTHER, NEIL, ASKED
HIM THAT QUESTION POINT BLANK
THAT VERY NIGHT.
>> YOU YELLED AT RICKY
>> I WAS BEING ACCUSATORY.
>> THEY WERE ON THE PHONE HOURS
AFTER HIS SISTER WAS KILLED.
NEIL WAS BESIDE HIMSELF.
>> SO WHAT DID YOU ACCUSE HIM
OF
>> I SAID A LOT OF THINGS.
BUT MY MAIN PREMISE WAS, "IF YOU
HAD ANYTHING INVOLVED WITH
THIS -- I WAS ON A WAR PATH.
>> Reporter: RICKY PERSUADED
NEIL THAT HE WAS INNOCENT.
BUT LATER WHEN DETECTIVE BARNES
GOT HIS TURN TO ASK THE
QUESTIONS, RIGHT AWAY IT GOT
AWKWARD.
>> AM I BEING RECORDED RIGHT
NOW?
>> YES
>> OKAY.
I SHOULD'VE ASKED THAT UP FRONT.
I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT.
>> Reporter: AND THEN HE ASKED
RICKY FOR HIS PHONE.
AND RICKY SEEMED RELUCTANT
>> IT DOES PIQUE MY CURIOSITY IN
WHAT IT IS THAT YOU DON'T WANT
>> YEAH.
>> TO DISCLOSE
>> NO, I KNOW.
AND THAT'S WHY I'M LIKE -- I
MEAN, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE -- I
MEAN, HONESTLY I DON'T KNOW WHAT
THE RIGHT THING FOR ME TO DO IS
RIGHT NOW.
>> OKAY.
>> I'M NOT SAYING NO AT ALL.
>> Reporter: HE WANTED TO
COOPERATE, HE SAID, BUT FRIENDS
AND FAMILY WERE ADVISING HIM TO
GET LEGAL ADVICE
BARNES TOLD HIM WHAT THE OPTIONS
WERE
>> THERE'S TWO WAYS THAT I CAN
GO ABOUT RETRIEVING A PHONE.
ONE IS THROUGH YOUR CONSENT.
TWO IS WITH A SEARCH WARRANT
>> SO THEN I AM A SUSPECT THEN
>> NO.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A SUSPECT
IN ORDER FOR ME TO WRITE A
SEARCH WARRANT
>> Reporter: RICKY AGREED TO
HAND IT OVER
>> THIS HAS BEEN SO DIFFICULT
ON, LIKE, EVERY --
>> RIGHT
>> EVERY LEVEL IMAGINABLE.
UM, I DON'T WANNA HOLD UP
ANYTHING
>> Reporter: HE TOLD BARNES
THERE WAS SENSITIVE INFORMATION
ON THAT PHONE ABOUT PATIENTS,
AND THAT'S WHY HE HESITATED.
MADE SENSE
ANYWAY, BARNES WAS ALSO HEARING
FROM PEOPLE WHO KNEW RICKY AND
WERE SURE HE HAD NOTHING TO DO
WITH THE MURDER.
>> HE IS SUCH A KIND SOUL, AND
HE DIDN'T -- HE DID NOT DESERVE
TO BE MIXED UP IN THIS
>> RICKY AND KENDRA HAD MET
ONLINE JUST FOUR SHORT MONTHS
BEFORE THE MURDER.
THE FIRST DATE ALMOST DIDN'T
HAPPEN
>> SHE WANTED TO CANCEL.
>> NERVOUS
>> NOT NERVOUS
JUST BECAUSE SHE HAD OTHER
TERRIBLE DATES FROM --
>> OH, OKAY.
>> FROM ONLINE
AND I WAS LIKE, "JUST GO AND SEE
HOW IT GOES.
THE WORSE CASE IS IT'S ANOTHER
FAILED DATE.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> SO SHE WENT
>> SHE WENT.
AND THEN SHE CAME BACK, AND SHE
WAS LAUGHING BECAUSE HE ORDERED
CHOCOLATE CHIP PANCAKES.
AND SHE THOUGHT IT WAS WEIRD
THAT A GUY ORDERED THAT ON A
FIRST DATE
BUT IT WORKED OUT.
>> CERTAINLY DID
SORT OF LOVE YOU MIGHT GET ONCE
IN A LIFETIME.
IF YOU'RE LUCKY.
PHOTOS OF THEM TOGETHER LOOKED
LIKE THEY'D BEEN A COUPLE FOR
YEARS, NOT MONTHS.
IN ONE, KENDRA'S WEARING A
SWEATSHIRT THAT SAID, "I'M WITH
DREAMY."
>> I'M SURE IT WAS INTENTIONAL
THAT SHE WORE THAT SWEATSHIRT
WITH HIM
>> KENDRA TOLD FRIENDS SHE WAS
GOING TO LEAVE DALLAS AND MOVE
TO CALIFORNIA WITH RICKY WHERE
HE'D FOUND A JOB AS A
DERMATOLOGIST.
>> HE COMPLEMENTED KENDRA VERY
WELL
HE HAS THIS KINDNESS ABOUT HIM
AND SHE IMMEDIATELY FELL FOR
RICKY AND FELL HARD.
>> THE NEXT STEP FOR THE TWO
SEEMED A FOREGONE CONCLUSION
>> I WAS, LIKE, "YOU REALLY
THINK THAT YOU'RE GONNA BE
GETTING MARRIED HERE?"
AND SHE WAS, LIKE, "WELL, DON'T
GO GETTING A BRIDESMAID'S DRESS,
BUT THAT'S WHERE -- THAT'S WHERE
WE'RE LOOKING.
>> Reporter: AND EVEN STARTED A
WEDDING FUND
>> THEY WOULD'VE HAD THE HAPPILY
EVER AFTER THAT EVERYONE WANTS
>> ONE THAT RICKY WOULD NEVER
HAVE
AND HERE WITH DETECTIVE BARNES,
AS HE TALKED ABOUT KENDRA,
RICKY'S PROFESSIONAL RESERVE
ABANDONED HIM.
>> BECAUSE OF HOW SIMILAR WE
WERE, FROM A PROFESSIONAL
STANDPOINT, FROM A SPIRITUAL
STANDPOINT, FROM A -- I MEAN -
I MEAN FROM SO MANY LEVELS
>> Reporter: AND THEN RICKY
GRAPPLED WITH GUILT ABOUT
ANOTHER WOMAN.
>> TWO WEEKS AGO, I WOULD'VE
SAID, "NO, I MEAN, SHE'S A -
YOU KNOW, SHE'S A GOOD FRIEND.
YOU KNOW, HONESTLY I -- I -- I
WOULDN'T HAVE THOUGHT THAT -- I
WOULD NEVER IN -- I WOULD'VE NOT
THOUGHT THAT SHE WOULD BE KEY.
>> Reporter: SHE
THE KEY TO WHAT, EXACTLY
>>> COMING UP, A BIG CLUE TO THE
WHY OF THIS MURDER
>> Reporter: WELL, NOW YOU GOT
>> Reporter: THE INVESTIGATION
OF THE MURDER OF
DR. KENDRA HATCHER WAS A PROCESS
OF INCLUSION AND JUST AS
IMPORTANT EXCLUSION OF POSSIBLE
SUSPECTS
DETECTIVE ERIC BARNES HAD NO
DOUBT CRYSTAL CORTES AND
KRISTOPHER LOVE WERE INCLUDED.
BUT KENDRA'S BOYFRIEND,
DR. RICKY PANIAGUA
>> THERE WAS NOTHING THAT LED IN
HIS DIRECTION AS BEING A
SUSPECT.
NOTHING THAT POINTED TO HIM AS
HAVING ANY INVOLVEMENT
>> Reporter: IT ALL CAME DOWN TO
ONE URGENT QUESTION, WHY
WHY KILL DR. KENDRA HATCHER?
THE TWO IN CUSTODY HAD NO
REASON
NO MOTIVE BEYOND SOME KIND OF
PAYMENT, PROBABLY.
POSSIBLY
SO BARNES KNEW SOMEONE ELSE MUST
HAVE WANTED HER DEAD
BUT WHO?
>> YOU NEVER KNOW WHERE YOU'RE
GONNA FIND THAT SMOKING GUN.
>> Reporter: CURIOUS THING
THE DAY AFTER THE MURDER, RICKY
GOT A PHONE CALL FROM AN OLD
FRIEND
>> HE LET HER KNOW THAT, "HEY,
MY GIRLFRIEND HAS BEEN KILLED.
I'M GOING THROUGH A LOT RIGHT
NOW.
>> Reporter: THEN A LITTLE WHILE
LATER, RICKY WAS WATCHING THE
EVENING NEWS
HE SAW THAT PRESS CONFERENCE AND
THE PHOTO OF THE JEEP WITH A
WOMAN DRIVING.
COULD IT BE?
HE CALLED DETECTIVE BARNES
HE TOLD ME THAT, "HEY, I THINK
THIS IS BRENDA DELGADO, MY
EX-GIRLFRIEND IN THE STILL
PHOTO.
>> Reporter: BRENDA DELGADO?
SHE WAS HIS EX-GIRLFRIEND?
IT JUST LOOKED LIKE HER, SAID
RICKY.
THING WAS SHE WAS THE OLD FRIEND
HE HAD JUST BEEN TALKING TO ON
THE PHONE TELLING HER ABOUT THE
MURDER AND THEN THAT PHOTO
BUT IN TIMES OF STRESS THE MIND
PLAYS TRICKS, HE WAS WRONG
THAT WAS NOT BRENDA IN THE
SURVEILLANCE VIDEO
IT WAS CRYSTAL
AND NOTHING IN BRENDA'S
BACKGROUND SEEMED TO SUGGEST SHE
WOULD BE INVOLVED IN A MURDER.
>> WHAT DID YOU FIND OUT ABOUT
HER?
>> I FOUND OUT THAT SHE WAS IN
DENTAL HYGIENIST SCHOOL.
>> Reporter: UNLIKE KENDRA WHO
GREW UP IN SMALL TOWN PLEASANT
PLAINS, BRENDA HAD GROWN UP POOR
IN A ROUGH PART OF DALLAS KNOWN
AS PLEASANT GROVE.
SHE WAS A CHILD OF IMMIGRANTS,
MAKING SOMETHING OF HERSELF.
AT THE TIME OF THE MURDER BRENDA
WAS ON THE VERGE OF BECOMING A
CERTIFIED DENTAL HYGIENIST
FRIENDS FROM DENTAL SCHOOL LIKE
TERESA CONTRERAS REMEMBER
MEETING BRENDA WHEN THE TWO WERE
NEW STUDENTS TOGETHER.
THEY'D BEEN ASKED TO GIVE
PRESENTATIONS TO INTRODUCE
THEMSELVES TO THE CLASS.
>> WHAT STOOD OUT TO YOU ABOUT
HER PRESENTATION
>> WELL, SHE KIND OF STRAIGHT
OUT THE BAT INTRODUCED US TO
RICKY.
>> Reporter: DR. RICKY PANIAGUA.
>> SHE KIND OF, TO ME, FELT LIKE
SHE WAS SHOWING OFF, "OH, LOOK,
I HAVE A BOYFRIEND THAT'S A
DERMATOLOGIST, AND WE'RE GONNA
GET MARRIED.
>> Reporter: SHE SHOWED OFF A
PROMISE RING
BUT AT SOME POINT, BRENDA BEGAN
TO STRUGGLE IN HER CLASSES AND
FAILED ONE, PUTTING HER BEHIND
IT WAS RIGHT WHEN RICKY HAD
BROKEN IT OFF.
>> SHE KINDA TOLD ME, YOU KNOW,
HE'S DATING SOMEONE ELSE, BUT
IT'S NOT A BIG DEAL.
>> Reporter: IN FACT, RICKY HAD
STAYED IN TOUCH WITH HER, STAYED
FRIENDS AFTER THEY BROKE UP.
GOOD FRIENDS HE THOUGHT.
>> SHE HAD A VERY TOUGH TIME
AFTER HER BREAKUP WITH RICARDO
>> HOW LONG DID THEY GO OUT
TOGETHER
>> A COUPLE OF YEARS
THEY LIVED TOGETHER FOR -- FOR A
WHILE.
SHE HELPED HIM WHILE HE WAS
GOING THROUGH SCHOOL
THEY HAD A VERY, VERY CLOSE
RELATIONSHIP
>> SO SHE WAS INVESTING IN HIM,
'CAUSE SHE THOUGHT THIS WAS HER
MAN FOR LIFE
>> YES
YES, SHE DID
>> WELL, NOW YOU GOT YOUR
MOTIVE
>> YES
IT'S STARTING TO COME TOGETHER
>> Reporter: BUT REMEMBER, THE
NIGHT KENDRA WAS MURDERED BRENDA
WAS OUT TO DINNER WITH HER
FRIEND LUIS.
IN FACT, WHEN BARNES ASKED ABOUT
HER ALIBI, SHE HAD A RECEIPT
READY, PULLED IT OUT RIGHT AWAY.
>> IT WAS AT THE TOP OF HER
PURSE, AND IT WAS IN PRETTY
PRISTINE CONDITION
NOT A LOT OF FOLDS OR WRINKLES
IN IT.
>> "OH, I HAVE AN ALIBI.
HERE IT IS."
>> THERE YOU GO.
>> Reporter: BUT THEN THERE WAS
STILL THE ISSUE OF THE JEEP.
LUIS SAID HE LOANED IT TO
BRENDA
NOT CRYSTAL.
MEANING -- MEANING SOMETHING
SO BARNES TRIED TO GET SOME MORE
INFORMATION FROM THE TWO PEOPLE
WHO WERE IN THE JEEP TO SEE IF
THEY WOULD IMPLICATE BRENDA.
BUNDLED UP IN A PINK BLANKET IN
THE COLD INTERVIEW ROOM,
KRISTOPHER LOVE CLAMMED UP
TIGHT.
>> WHEN DID YOU MEET BRENDA?
>> I AIN'T NEVER MET BRENDA.
>> Reporter: SO HE KEPT AFTER
LOVE FOR HOURS
AND, SURE ENOUGH, EVENTUALLY
LOVE LEAKED.
HE SAID BRENDA PROMISED HIM A
BIG PAYOFF
TO ROB KENDRA, NOT KILL HER,
JUST TAKE HER PURSE.
BRENDA SOUGHT HIM OUT, HE SAID,
AND CONVINCED HIM SHE WAS -- GET
THIS -- NOT A DENTAL HYGIENIST,
BUT A COCAINE COWGIRL -- A
MEMBER OF A MEXICAN DRUG CARTEL.
>> SHE TOLD YOU SHE WAS FROM THE
CARTEL
SHE SAID SHE WOULD GET YOU
WHATEVER YOU WANT?
>> YEAH.
>> Reporter: BARNES WAS HEARING
LOVE ASPIRED TO BE A BIG-TIME
DRUG DEALER.
BUT BRENDA WAS NO CARTEL MEMBER.
SHE WASN'T EVEN QUITE A DENTAL
HYGIENIST YET.
SO NATURALLY, DETECTIVE BARNES
CONFRONTED BRENDA.
AND STRAIGHT OUT DENIAL.
>> I HAVE NO MOTIVE.
I HAVE NO MOTIVE
>> YOU HAVE PLENTY OF MOTIVE
MOTIVE IS WHAT DRIVES SOMETHING.
WHAT DRIVES YOU?
SOMETIMES IT'S HATE.
SOMETIMES IT'S LOVE.
SOMETIMES IT'S GREED
IN THIS SITUATION, I DON'T THINK
IT WAS GREED
I THINK IT WAS HATE.
>> Reporter: AND NO PINK BLANKET
WOULD COMFORT A FREEZING COLD
BRENDA AS BARNES TRIED TO FIND
HER SOFT SPOT.
>> MAYBE HE DIDN'T WANT A DENTAL
HYGIENIST ANYMORE.
MAYBE HE WANTED A DENTIST.
BUT FOR WHATEVER REASON, YOU
WEREN'T GOOD ENOUGH FOR HIM.
AND THAT'S -- THAT'S A HARD PILL
TO SWALLOW
IT'S VERY HARD TO SWALLOW.
FOR YOU TO BE ABLE TO LOOK IN
THE MIRROR AND SAY, "WHAT IS IT
THAT SHE HAS THAT I DON'T HAVE?"
>> I MEAN, I DON'T HAVE ANY
FEELINGS LIKE -- LIKE YOU WERE
SAYING
I REALLY DON'T HAVE ANY -- LIKE,
I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHO THE GIRL
WAS.
>> Reporter: NO, SAID BRENDA, IT
WASN'T HER
IT MUST HAVE BEEN CRYSTAL.
BUT WHEN BARNES TOLD CRYSTAL
WHAT BRENDA SAID, HE GOT THE
CONFIRMATION HE WAS LOOKING FOR.
>> I FINALLY CONFRONTED HER
WITH, "BRENDA TOLD ME YOU WERE
INVOLVED."
AND THAT WAS THE BREAKING POINT
FOR HER WHERE SHE ACTUALLY
ADMITTED THAT, YOU KNOW, SHE
WENT THERE FOR BRENDA.
>> BRENDA PRETTY MUCH SET
EVERYTHING UP.
>> THAT HAD TO FEEL PRETTY GOOD
TO GET THAT.
>> YES
IT DID
>> Reporter: SO NOW THE ALLEGED
SHOOTER AND THE GETAWAY DRIVER
HAD BOTH FINGERED BRENDA
BUT THEY WEREN'T EXACTLY
SALT-OF-THE-EARTH RELIABLE
ACCUSERS, SO - >> WE DIDN'T HAVE
THE EVIDENCE THAT WE NEEDED TO
CHARGE HER
>> Reporter: HE WAS CONVINCED
BRENDA WAS BEHIND IT ALL
LEAVING BARNES TO TRACK DOWN
EVERYTHING HE'D NEED FOR A SOLID
CASE
IT ALL TAKES TIME.
HE'D SEE HER AGAIN AT SOME LATER
DATE WHEN HE WAS READY, AND THEN
HE'D PUT HER IN HANDCUFFS.
AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT HE THOUGHT.
>>> COMING UP, HOW WRONG HE WAS.
>> BRENDA LEFT THE COUNTRY
>> Reporter: HOW SOON?
>> I BELIEVE A DAY OR TWO AFTER
THE INTERVIEW SHE WAS-
>> Reporter: SHE'S GONE --
>> SHE'S GONE.
>> GONE.
>> AND LATER, REVELATIONS OF A
PLOT WAY BIGGER THAN ANYONE
KNEW
>> IT'S PRETTY DISTURBING TO ME
THAT PEOPLE KNEW A
>> Reporter: ERIC BARNES HAD
SEEN JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING IN
HIS YEARS WITH THE DALLAS
POLICE
AFTER INTERVIEWING BRENDA
DELGADO, ALL HIS EXPERIENCE TOLD
HIM SHE ORCHESTRATED THE MURDER
OF KENDRA HATCHER.
AS FOR HER EX-BOYFRIEND, RICKY
NOW, THE SCALES HAD FALLEN FROM
HIS EYES
RICKY WAS VERY BLUNT
>> THERE'S NO DOUBT IN MY MIND
THAT BRENDA DID IT
>> RIGHT
>> LIKE, I HAVE ZERO DOUBT ABOUT
THAT
>> RIGHT
>> Reporter: BUT UNLIKE CRYSTAL
CORTES, BRENDA HADN'T BROKEN IN
THE INTERVIEW ROOM
>> I HAVE NO MOTIVE.
I HAVE NO MOTIVE
>> Reporter: WITHOUT SOMETHING
MORE, SOME MORE SOLID EVIDENCE,
BARNES FELT HE COULDN'T ARREST
HER FOR KENDRA'S MURDER.
>> WE DETERMINED THAT IT JUST
WASN'T THE RIGHT TIME TO CHARGE
HER WITH THE MURDER.
>> Reporter: A MISTAKE OR A
LEGAL NECESSITY?
EITHER WAY, THE RESULT WAS THE
SAME BECAUSE AFTER SHE WALKED
OUT OF THE POLICE STATION,
BRENDA DID WHAT EVERY HOMICIDE
DETECTIVE DREADS
>> BRENDA LEFT THE COUNTRY
>> Reporter: HOW SOON?
>> I BELIEVE A DAY OR TWO AFTER
THE --
>> Reporter: WOW
>> -- INTERVIEW, SHE'S GONE.
>> Reporter: SHE'S GONE.
>> GONE.
>> Reporter: WHAT'D YOU THINK
WHEN YOU HEARD THAT?
>> I CAN'T SAY THAT I WAS
EXTREMELY SURPRISED BY IT.
>> Reporter: DESPITE HER
ABSENCE, THE INVESTIGATION
CONTINUED AND BRENDA DELGADO WAS
FORMALLY INDICTED FOR MURDER
SEVEN WEEKS AFTER KENDRA WAS
KILLED
>> INVESTIGATORS SAY THIS WOMAN,
BRENDA DELGADO, HIRED LOVE TO
KILL HATCHER
A WARRANT IS OUT FOR HER ARREST.
>> SHE IS A FUGITIVE WANTED AT
THIS POINT FOR CAPITAL MURDER.
>> Reporter: SO WHERE COULD SHE
BE
AGAIN, DALLAS POLICE CALLED IN
THE FBI.
SPECIAL AGENT JASON IBRAHIM.
>> HER FATHER INDICATED TO THE
DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT
SHE GOT ON A BUS AND FLED TO
MEXICO
♪
>> Reporter: MEXICO WHERE SHE
HAD A BIG EXTENDED FAMILY ALL
OVER THE COUNTRY
AND PRETTY SOON IT WAS OBVIOUS
SHE WASN'T STAYING IN ANY ONE
PLACE FOR VERY LONG.
>> WE WOULD RECEIVE INFORMATION
ABOUT, KIND OF, WHERE SHE WAS AT
OR WHERE SHE HAD BEEN, BUT WE
ALWAYS SEEMED TO BE A FEW CITIES
BEHIND
>> Reporter: IT HAD TO BE
FRUSTRATING, I WOULD THINK
>> IT IS
IT'S FRUSTRATING
>> Reporter: AND THEN THEY HEARD
ABOUT A SIGHTING
A WOMAN WHO CERTAINLY LOOKED
LIKE BRENDA IN MEXICO CITY
FOR ONCE SHE SEEMED TO BE
STAYING PUT.
>> THIS INDIVIDUAL WOULD COME
OUT PERIODICALLY TO HANG LAUNDRY
OR TAKE OUT THE TRASH, BUT WAS
ALWAYS WEARING A HAT,
SUNGLASSES, A HOODED SWEATSHIRT.
AND, AT THE TIME, THE WEATHER
WASN'T SUCH THAT YOU WOULD BE
WEARING A HOODED SWEATSHIRT.
SO IT WAS VERY SUSPICIOUS.
>> Reporter: AND THEN?
WAS SHE TIPPED OFF
QUITE SUDDENLY -
>> SHE JUST DISAPPEARED.
>> Reporter: WHERE DID SHE GET
THE MONEY TO DO THIS
>> WE BELIEVE HER FAMILY MEMBERS
WERE SENDING MONEY VIA WESTERN
UNION.
>> Reporter: SO BACK IN DALLAS
DETECTIVE BARNES WORKED ON THE
FAMILY, TRIED TO GET THEM TO
COOPERATE BUT --
>> THEY HAD A HARD TIME
ACCEPTING THAT SHE COULD DO
SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
>> Reporter: DID THEY PUT
THEMSELVES IN A POSITION WHERE
YOU CONTEMPLATED CHARGING THEM
>> YES, WE DID
>> Reporter: BUT THEY HELD OFF
ALLOWING THE MONEY TO KEEP
FLOWING GAVE SPECIAL AGENT
IBRAHIM A TRAIL TO FOLLOW.
>> WE WERE MORE INTERESTED IN
TRYING TO TRACK THE MONEY TO THE
TOWN WHERE SHE WAS STAYING AT
THE TIME
>> Reporter: SO MONTHS WENT BY
>> I DIDN'T KNOW IF SHE WOULD BE
BROUGHT TO JUSTICE HERE SINCE
SHE FLED TO A DIFFERENT COUNTRY.
>> Reporter: KENDRA'S BROTHER,
NEIL, HAD LOST HOPE.
DID YOU THINK THEY'D EVER CATCH
HER?
>> NO.
>> Reporter: AND THEN SEVEN
MONTHS AFTER BRENDA FLED, THE
FBI ELECTED TO PULL OUT THE BIG
GUN.
>> TODAY, WE ARE ANNOUNCING THE
ADDITION OF CAPITAL MURDER
SUSPECT BRENDA DELGADO TO THE
FBI'S TEN MOST WANTED FUGITIVES
LIST
>> BRENDA BECAME ONLY THE NINTH
WOMAN EVER ON THAT LIST.
>> IT WASN'T LONG AFTER WE HAD
THE PRESS CONFERENCE AND
ANNOUNCED THAT SHE WAS ON THE
LIST AND THAT THERE WAS A REWARD
FOR HER BEING CAUGHT, THAT WE
BEGAN GETTING TIPS
>> OH, YES, THE REWARD
$100,000 FOR INFORMATION LEADING
TO HER CAPTURE
>> THAT'S WHEN I WAS LIKE,
"WELL, THAT'S QUITE A LARGE SUM
OF MONEY
>> Reporter: OH, IT GOT
SOMEONE'S ATTENTION, ALL RIGHT
THINGS STARTED HAPPENING THEN.
>> Reporter: COMING UP -
AN AGREEMENT COULD BRING BRENDA
HOME
>> IT WAS ARRANGED THAT SHE WAS
TO HAVE WALKED ACROSS THE BRIDGE
AT LAREDO, TEXAS
>> BUT YET AGAIN THINGS DON'T GO
AS PLANNED
>> Reporter: YOUR WHOLE DEAL
BLEW UP.
>> Reporter: AMAZING WHAT AN
APPEARANCE ON THE FBI'S MOST
WANTED LIST WILL ACCOMPLISH.
THAT AND A LITTLE ADDED PRESSURE
FROM DALLAS POLICE DETECTIVE
ERIC BARNES ON A FAMILY THAT
SEEMED DETERMINED TO KEEP BRENDA
DELGADO OUT OF THE ARMS OF THE
LAW.
>> Reporter: HOW CLOSE DID YOU
COME TO ACTUALLY ARRESTING
MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY?
>> WELL, WE ACTUALLY WERE INTO
THE PLANNING STAGES OF DRAFTING
UP THE PROPER PAPERWORK.
>> Reporter: AND THAT WAS WHEN
THINGS BEGAN TO HAPPEN
FOR ONE THING, DEFENSE ATTORNEY
GEORGE MILLNER JOINED THE STORY.
>> I MADE CONTACT WITH THE
D.A.'S OFFICE.
THEY GOT THE FBI IN.
WE HAD THESE LATE NIGHT
CONFERENCE CALLS
>> Reporter: TO NEGOTIATE BRENDA
VOLUNTARILY COMING OUT OF HIDING
AND RETURNING TO TEXAS
>> I WAS MAKING CONTACT THROUGH
THE FAMILY TO TRY TO GET HER
BACK
IT WAS ARRANGED THAT SHE WAS TO
HAVE WALKED ACROSS THE BRIDGE AT
LAREDO, TEXAS.
>> Reporter: THAT WOULD LOOK
BETTER FOR HER
>> WELL, THAT WAS THE MOTIVE I
HAD.
I MEAN I WANT TO BE ABLE TO SAY,
"AND HERE IS VIDEO OF HER
VOLUNTARILY COMING RIGHT BACK TO
TEXAS.
>> Reporter: BUT DETECTIVE
BARNES HAD VERY LITTLE FAITH
BRENDA WOULD ACTUALLY WALK
ACROSS THAT BRIDGE
>> I NEVER REALLY BELIEVED THAT
SHE WAS JUST GONNA WILLINGLY
SAY, "HERE I AM, COME GET ME."
>> Reporter: AND THEN, FBI
SPECIAL AGENT IBRAHIM GOT A TIP
AND IT LOOKED GOOD
THE FBI ALERTED THEIR MEXICAN
COUNTERPARTS WHO MOVED IN.
>> THEY APPREHENDED HER IN VERY
SHORT ORDER.
>> Reporter: KENDRA'S BROTHER
NEIL WAS ON AN AIRPLANE.
JUST LANDED.
GOT A TEXT
>> AND I DON'T KNOW WHO THE LADY
WAS NEXT TO ME, BUT I ASKED HER
FOR A HUG.
I NEEDED THAT.
I WAS PRETTY ELATED.
>> Reporter: BRENDA'S ATTORNEY,
NOT SO MUCH.
>> Reporter: YOUR WHOLE DEAL
BLEW UP.
>> WHOLE DEAL BLEW UP.
>> Reporter: INSTEAD, BRENDA SAT
IN A MEXICAN JAIL.
MEXICO WILL NOT EXTRADITE ANYONE
FACING A POSSIBLE DEATH PENALTY.
SO PROSECUTORS CHOSE NOT TO SEEK
IT, AND SIX MONTHS AFTER HER
CAPTURE, BRENDA WAS RETURNED TO
DALLAS TO AWAIT TRIAL FOR
MURDER
NBC STATION KXAS WAS THERE
WAITING FOR HER.
>> BRENDA DELGADO HAD NOTHING TO
SAY AS FBI AGENTS WALKED HER
INTO THE DALLAS COUNTY JAIL.
>> Reporter: BUT BEFORE ANY
TRIALS COULD START, PROSECUTORS
JUSTIN LORD, GLEN FITZMARTIN AND
TEAM LEADER, KEVIN BROOKS, TRIED
TO PERSUADE CRYSTAL CORTES TO
PLEAD GUILTY AND TESTIFY AGAINST
BRENDA AND KRISTOPHER LOVE
NOT SO EASY.
>> WE SAT DOWN WITH HER ONCE
IT WAS OBVIOUS SHE WASN'T BEING
TRUTHFUL WITH US
>> Reporter: SO THEY WAITED.
LET HER THINK.
PERHAPS SHE CONSIDERED HER
POTENTIAL SENTENCE
>> SHE WAS ELIGIBLE FOR THE
DEATH PENALTY, BUT -
>> Reporter: AND THEN --
>> ABOUT A MONTH BEFORE
KRISTOPHER LOVE'S TRIAL, SHE
FINALLY OWNED UP AND GAVE US
EVERYTHING THAT WE NEEDED.
>> Reporter: CRYSTAL PLEADED
GUILTY AND FLIPPED, AVOIDING THE
DEATH PENALTY.
THE STATE NOW HAD SOMEONE WHO
KNEW IT ALL.
BRENDA'S PLOT TO KILL KENDRA
THE PLANNING AND STALKING AND
THE EXECUTION TO DO WITH
KRISTOPHER LOVE.
SO WHEN LOVE'S TRIAL BEGAN IN
OCTOBER 2018, PROSECUTOR KEVIN
BROOKS TOLD THE JURY
>> AT THEIR VERY FIRST MEETING,
BRENDA ASKS KRISTOPHER LOVE IF
HE'D BE WILLING TO KILL KENDRA
HATCHER, AND WITHOUT ANY
HESITATION, HE SAYS YES IN
EXCHANGE FOR A COMBINATION OF
DRUGS AND MONEY.
>> Reporter: PHOTOS OF KENDRA
HUNG NEXT TO THE WITNESS BOX,
KEPT A SILENT WATCH ON THE
PROCEEDINGS.
CRYSTAL CORTES, THE STATE'S STAR
WITNESS, TOLD THE JURY WHAT LOVE
DID.
>> HE GETS THE PISTOL AND EXITS
THE VEHICLE.
AND I HEAR KENDRA SCREAM, "HELP,
HELP, HELP, ME" AND THEN I HEARD
THE SHOTS FIRED.
>> Reporter: THEN PROSECUTORS
CALLED THAT ATF AGENT WHOSE DOG
TITAN SNIFFED OUT THE GUN IN
LOVE'S CAR
AND A FORENSICS EXPERT WHO
MATCHED THE GUN TO THE MURDER.
AND SPEAKING OF THAT GUN,
LITERALLY, WAS KRISTOPHER LOVE
HIMSELF.
THE JURY HEARD A RECORDING OF A
PHONE CALL HE MADE TO HIS
GIRLFRIEND FROM JAIL
>> IF YOU SHOT THAT GIRL WITH
THAT GUN, YOU SHOULD HAVE GOT A
NEW -- PROBABLY THREW IT AWAY OR
SOMETHING.
>> I KNOW.
TOO LATE NOW THOUGH.
>> Reporter: TOO LATE, INDEED.
TO THE PROSECUTORS IT AMOUNTED
TO A CONFESSION.
THEY HOPED THE JURY WOULD SEE IT
THAT WAY
AND THAT THEY WOULD ALSO SEE
WHAT THE REAL-LIFE CONSEQUENCES
OF MURDER CAN BE
>> I'M SORRY
>> Reporter: THIS WAS KENDRA'S
MOTHER, BONNIE, TELLING THE JURY
HOW SHE HEARD FROM KENDRA'S
SISTER
>> SHE SAID, "MOM, IT'S KENDRA."
AND I SAID, "NO, NO.
NOT KENDRA."
AND THEY SAID SHE WAS SHOT, AND
I'M LIKE "WHAT -- WHAT DO YOU
MEAN SHE WAS SHOT?
I JUST RAN OUTSIDE AND SCREAMED.
>> Reporter: IT TOOK THE JURY
THREE HOURS.
>> WE, THE JURY, UNANIMOUSLY
FIND THE DEFENDANT GUILTY OF
CAPITAL MURDER AS CHARGED IN THE
INDICTMENT
>> Reporter: LOVE WOULD GET THE
DEATH PENALTY.
NOW THE ALLEGED MASTERMIND
BRENDA DELGADO
HER TURN IN THE DOCK
AND THAT WOULD BE QUITE A STORY
INDEED
>>> COMING UP, WOULD A JURY
BELIEVE THAT BRENDA HAD
CONVINCED A PAIR OF
NEAR-STRANGERS TO COMMIT MURDER?
>> THE FACT THAT THESE THREE
CAME TOGETHER IN SUCH A SHORT
AMOUNT OF TIME IN SUCH A VIOLENT
WAY.
REASONABLE PEOPLE HAVE A HARD
TIME, I THINK, PUTTING THAT ALL
TOGETHER
>> Reporter: PROSECUTORS HAD
SUCCESSFULLY CONVICTED THE MAN
WHO SHOT DR. KENDRA HATCHER BUT
BRENDA DELGADO, THE ALLEGED
MASTERMIND, HER CASE WAS MUCH
MORE CIRCUMSTANTIAL.
THE STATE HAD NO PHYSICAL
EVIDENCE LINKING HER TO THE
MURDER, AND SHE HAD AN ALIBI
AND THEY'D HAVE TO GET A JURY TO
BELIEVE THAT BRENDA, A DENTAL
HYGIENIST-TO-BE WITH NO CRIMINAL
HISTORY RECRUITED TWO PEOPLE SHE
BARELY KNEW TO COMMIT MURDER
>> THE FACT THAT THESE THREE
CAME TOGETHER IN SUCH A SHORT
AMOUNT OF TIME IN SUCH A VIOLENT
WAY, REASONABLE PEOPLE HAVE A
HARD TIME, I THINK, PUTTING THAT
ALL TOGETHER
>> Reporter: IN JUNE 2019,
KENDRA'S FAMILY AND FRIENDS WERE
BACK TO RELIVE EACH AWFUL DETAIL
FOR A SECOND TIME IN THIS DALLAS
COUNTY COURTROOM
>> ONCE YOU GET OVER ONE, THEN
IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S ANOTHER
ONE TO DO, SO GETTING THE TRIALS
BEHIND US WAS AN IMPORTANT PART
FOR US TO MOVE ON.
>> Reporter: FOR HER FRIENDS,
TOO.
TAMI PANTANO AND KIM BAHN WERE
THERE EVERY DAY.
>> Reporter: WHY WAS IT
IMPORTANT TO BE THERE?
>> TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GOT
JUSTICE FOR KENDRA
>> Reporter: THE BRENDA DELGADO
WHO ENTERED THE COURTROOM, DARK
BUSINESS SUIT, GLASSES, DID NOT
LOOK AT ALL LIKE THE STYLISH
YOUNG WOMAN SHE ONCE WAS
>> Reporter: ANY CONCERN THAT A
JURY WOULD LOOK AT HER AND SAY,
"OH, SHE WAS NOT CAPABLE OF THAT
SORT OF THING.
>> I THOUGHT THAT AFTER THEY
HEARD THE DETAILS, THERE'S NO
AMOUNT OF MAKEUP THAT YOU CAN
PUT ON TO COVER UP THAT MONSTER.
ADDED UP TO A STORY ABOUT AN
OBSESSION.
HOW OBSESSED WAS SHE WITH THIS
GUY?
I MEAN HOW -
>> COMPLETELY.
COMPLETELY OBSESSED.
>> Reporter: AND THE GUY
WAS SIMPLY OBLIVIOUS
>> MY NAME IS
DR. RICARDO PANIAGUA
>> Reporter: BUT NOW HE WOULD
TESTIFY THROUGH UNDENIABLE GRIEF
AND GUILT.
>> I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT HE'S
CARRYING A LOT OF GUILT, AND HE
PROBABLY WILL, I IMAGINE, THE
REST OF HIS LIFE
YOU KNOW, KENDRA'S DEAD BECAUSE
OF SOMEONE THAT HE AT ONE POINT
IN TIME WAS IN A VERY CLOSE
RELATIONSHIP
>> Reporter: AS HE TESTIFIED,
RICKY AVOIDED LOOKING AT BRENDA
WHILE SHE APPEARED LASER FOCUSED
ON HIM
>> AND HOW LONG DO YOU SAY THAT
Y'ALL DATED?
>> APPROXIMATELY 2 1/2 YEARS
>> DID IT TURN INTO A SOMEWHAT
SERIOUS RELATIONSHIP
>> YES, SIR.
>> Reporter: THEN AFTER THEY
BROKE UP, BRENDA HAD A WAY OF
JUST SHOWING UP LIKE WHEN RICKY
ENROLLED IN SALSA CLASS.
>> Reporter: APPARENTLY HER
EFFORTS SUCCEEDED.
>> THEN AFTER CLASS WE STARTED
TO PRACTICE, AND THAT KIND OF
REINTRODUCED EACH OTHER INTO OUR
LIVES, AND EVENTUALLY WE DECIDED
TO GIVE THE RELATIONSHIP ANOTHER
TRY.
>> Reporter: THEY GOT BACK
TOGETHER FOR A WHILE BEFORE
BREAKING UP FOR GOOD, A COUPLE
OF MONTHS BEFORE RICKY MET
KENDRA
BUT THEY STAYED FRIENDS, SAID
RICKY.
HE HELPED BRENDA FINANCIALLY
HE EVEN LET HER STAY ON HIS
PHONE PLAN
>> IN HIS MIND, HE WAS TRYING TO
MAINTAIN A PLATONIC
RELATIONSHIP
EVEN THOUGH WE'RE NOT IN A
RELATIONSHIP ANYMORE, WE CAN BE
FRIENDS.
>> Reporter: NO IDEA, SAID THE
PROSECUTORS, THAT SHE WAS
WATCHING HIM, STALKING HIM, EVEN
ON THE JOGGING TRAIL SHE'D JUST
APPEAR
>> AT THE TIME, I THOUGHT IT WAS
JUST COINCIDENCE
>> Reporter: COINCIDENCE
NO
BRENDA WAS ACTUALLY TRACKING
RICKY USING THE FIND MY iPHONE
APP, ALWAYS KNEW JUST WHERE HE
WAS.
REMEMBER, HE'D KEPT HER ON HIS
PHONE PLAN
ALSO ON HER PHONE?
THIS PHOTO OF RICKY AND KENDRA
TOGETHER
>> SHE WAS STALKING HIM ONLINE,
HAD ACCESS TO HIS EMAIL, HIS
PASSWORDS, TRACKING HIS FACEBOOK
ACCOUNT.
>> Reporter: AND DURING ALL THE
TIME HE WAS DATING KENDRA,
BRENDA STILL HAD, AND APPARENTLY
USED, A KEY TO RICKY'S
APARTMENT.
>> SHE WOULD KNOW WHEN HE'S NOT
AT THE APARTMENT
WE BELIEVE THAT'S WHEN SHE'S
SHOWING UP, GATHERING
INFORMATION.
>> Reporter: KIND OF CREEPY.
>> YEAH.
>> Reporter: RICKY HAD NO IDEA
HE WAS FOCUSED ON KENDRA, AND HE
SHARED THE GOOD NEWS WITH
BRENDA, HIS FRIEND
>> I SENT AN EMAIL TO BRENDA
SPECIFYING THAT I WAS IN A
RELATIONSHIP THAT WAS GOING VERY
GOOD
>> Reporter: WHICH WAS ABOUT THE
WORST THING BRENDA COULD HEAR.
>> I THINK THAT'S WHEN THE BALL
STARTED REALLY ROLLING THAT
THINGS HAD TO HAPPEN TO GET RID
OF KENDRA HATCHER.
>> Reporter: WITH KENDRA IN HIS
LIFE NOW, RICKY ASKED BRENDA TO
REMOVE HER STUFF FROM HIS
APARTMENT, AND HE DROPPED HER
FROM HIS PHONE PLAN.
THAT WAS AUGUST 31st
TWO DAYS LATER, KENDRA WAS DEAD.
>> DO YOU SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR
AFFIRM
>> Reporter: LUIS ORTIZ TOLD THE
JURY HE LOANED BRENDA HIS JEEP,
BUT HE HAD NO IDEA WHAT IT WAS
BEING USED FOR UNTIL HE SAW IT
ON THE TV NEWS AND CONFRONTED
BRENDA WHO ASKED HIM, STRAIGHT
OUT, TO BECOME PART OF A
COVER-UP
>> IT'S BEST FOR YOU TO JUST
HIDE IT, AND MAYBE PAINT IT
ANOTHER COLOR IF YOU WANT.
I'LL HELP YOU PAY FOR THAT PAINT
JOB.
>> Reporter: INSTEAD, LUIS
CALLED THE POLICE, AND THE PLAN
BEGAN TO UNRAVEL
SO, JUST ONE TERRIBLE IDEA THAT
WENT FURTHER THAN BRENDA MAY
HAVE INTENDED?
NO, NOT AT ALL, SAID THE
PROSECUTORS, BRENDA TRIED TO
RECRUIT OTHERS, TOO.
LIKE THIS GUY, A FRIEND OF HERS.
>> WHAT DID SHE ASK YOU IF YOU
COULD GET?
>> FOR A GUN
A HANDGUN, YES
>> Reporter: AND THIS
ACQUAINTANCE FROM HIGH SCHOOL.
>> WHAT DID SHE ASK YOU?
>> IF I KNEW ANYBODY THAT COULD
JUST HURT SOMEONE.
>> Reporter: SHE EVEN ASKED A
COUSIN TO USE THIS BASEBALL BAT
INTRODUCED AS EVIDENCE
>> WHAT SPECIFICALLY WERE YOU
SUPPOSED TO DO WITH THAT
BASEBALL BAT
>> SHE WANTED ME TO HIT HER.
>> Reporter: AND THEN THERE WAS
BRENDA'S FRIEND, WHO LIVED WITH
HER JUST BEFORE THE MURDER
THIS PLOT WAS THE MOST BIZARRE
>> FIRST SHE WANTED RICKY IN A
COMA WITH A BAT.
ALSO, FOR KENDRA HATCHER, UM, AN
INJECTION NEEDLE TO PUT It IN
HER -- BACK OF HER NECK.
SHE JUST WANTED TO ELIMINATE
KENDRA HATCHER OR EVEN BOTH OF
THEM
>> Reporter: THE ROOMMATE LIKE
THE OTHERS SAID, NO, THEY
WOULDN'T DO IT, BUT NONE OF THEM
WENT TO THE POLICE
>> IT'S PRETTY DISTURBING TO ME
THAT PEOPLE KNEW ABOUT THIS, AND
MADE NO EFFORT TO STOP IT.
>> Reporter: ALL THE WHILE
BRENDA WAS STALKING HER VICTIM,
WATCHING HER, EVEN AS KENDRA,
CAREFREE AND UNAWARE ENTERTAINED
HER NIECE JOSIE DURING HER JULY
VISIT.
>> Reporter: IF THAT LITTLE GIRL
HAD BEEN THERE A LITTLE BIT
LATER, THAT COULD HAVE BEEN BAD.
>> YES, I THINK THE -- THE PLAN
WAS ALREADY IN MOTION AT THAT
POINT.
SO, WHOEVER WAS THERE WOULD HAVE
BEEN A VICTIM, AS WELL
>> Reporter: AND THEN ALONG CAME
CRYSTAL, A SINGLE, UNEMPLOYED
MOM WHO ONLY HAD KNOWN BRENDA
FOR A MONTH.
POOR, TROUBLED, EASILY
MANIPULATED.
>> BRENDA IS A MASTER
MANIPULATOR.
SHE WAS ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT
IS IT THAT THIS PERSON IS
SEEKING, AND SHE WAS ABLE TO
PLAY ON THOSE NEEDS.
>> Reporter: NOW HERE IN COURT,
CRYSTAL, IN EXCHANGE FOR A DEAL
AVOIDING THE DEATH PENALTY,
PROMISED TO REVEAL EVERYTHING.
BUT, TRUTH SO APPARENT, CAN
QUICKLY COLLAPSE
EXPOSED AS A SELF-SERVING LIE.
WOULD CRYSTAL TELL THE TRUTH
WOULD A JURY BELIEVE HER
>>> COMING UP, CRYSTAL DETAILS A
STRING OF HEAD-SNAPPING SCHEMES
FOR KILLING KENDRA
FROM DRUGS -
>> ONE WAS TO INJECT HER WITH
HEROIN
ANOTHER ONE WAS TO INJECT HER
WITH A SEDATIVE.
>> -- TO WEAPON SHOPPING ONLINE.
>> A MADE A PHONE CALL TO THIS
PERSON ON SOCIAL MEDIA, AND I
ASKED IF THEY HAD A SILENCER FOR
A .40 SMITH AND WESSON
>> Reporter: HERE SHE WAS,
WEARING A GREEN JUMPSUIT AND THE
PALLOR OF THE COUNTY JAIL, THE
STAR WITNESS AGAINST BRENDA
DELGADO --
>> PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME.
>> CRYSTAL CORTES.
>> Reporter: IT HAD TAKEN SOME
DOING TO GET HERE.
BEFORE SHE PLEADED GUILTY,
CRYSTAL HAD TRIED OUT A WHOLE
CATALOG OF FULL OUT LIES, HALF
LIES SALTED WITH A LITTLE TRUTH,
EXCUSES, PREVARICATIONS, BUT NOW
THE TERMS OF HER PLEA AGREEMENT
WERE VERY CLEAR.
TELL THE WHOLE TRUTH AND NOTHING
BUT OR FACE UNPLEASANT
CONSEQUENCES
PROSECUTOR GLEN FITZMARTIN WOULD
ASK THE QUESTIONS.
>> ARE YOU GUILTY OF THE CAPITAL
MURDER OF KENDRA HATCHER
>> YES, I AM
>> IS KRISTOPHER LOVE GUILTY OF
THE MURDER OF KENDRA HATCHER
>> YES, HE IS.
>> IS BRENDA DELGADO GUILTY OF
THE MURDER OF KENDRA HATCHER
>> YES, SHE IS
>> Reporter: COLD AND DETACHED,
CRYSTAL TALKED ABOUT THE MOTIVE,
A MOTIVE AS OLD AS TIME.
WHY DID SHE WANNA GET RID OF
KENDRA HATCHER
>> BECAUSE SHE WAS ENVIOUS OF
HER.
>> Reporter: IT WAS NEVER A
ROBBERY PLAN GONE AWRY, SHE
SAID
SHE KNEW FROM THE BEGINNING THIS
WAS GOING TO BE A MURDER
SHE AND BRENDA DISCUSSED
METHODS.
>> ONE WAS TO INJECT HER WITH
HEROIN
ANOTHER ONE WAS TO INJECT HER
WITH A SEDATIVE.
AND THE OTHER WAS TO KILL HER
WITH A GUN
>> Reporter: INITIALLY, CRYSTAL
HERSELF AGREED TO DO THE MURDER,
BUT THE TWO THOUGHT IT BETTER TO
GET HELP
AT A NEIGHBORHOOD GATHERING,
THEY FOUND THAT PERSON,
KRISTOPHER LOVE, AND ENLISTED
HIM ON THE SPOT.
>> AND WHAT WAS KRISTOPHER LOVE
SUPPOSED TO GET OUT OF ALL OF
THIS
>> HE WAS SUPPOSED TO GET DRUGS
AND MONEY OUT OF IT.
>> Reporter: SO WITH THE PLAN IN
MOTION, LOVE GOT A .40 CALIBER
SMITH AND WESSON HANDGUN TO BE
USED IN THE MURDER
CRYSTAL SET OUT TO ADD TO IT
>> I MADE A PHONE CALL TO THIS
PERSON ON SOCIAL MEDIA, AND I
ASKED IF THEY HAD A SILENCER FOR
A .40 SMITH AND WESSON
>> Reporter: TO CONFIRM HER
STORY, PROSECUTORS PLAYED AN ODD
CLIP OF VIDEO FOUND ON BRENDA'S
CELL PHONE
SEEMED ACCIDENTAL, THIS
RECORDING.
BRENDA'S DRIVING, HER PASSENGER
CRYSTAL IS DESCRIBING THE
SILENCER SHE WANTS
>> NO, A SILENCER FOR A .40.
>> SO I BELIEVE THAT, AS SHE'S
DRIVING, SHE'S TRYING TO TAKE A
PICTURE OF THIS SUNSET
AND AT THE SAME TIME, CRYSTAL IS
NEXT TO HER ON A PHONE TALKING
TO THIS UNKNOWN INDIVIDUAL ABOUT
BUYING A SILENCER FOR THIS GUN
>> Reporter: CRYSTAL SAID THEY
ULTIMATELY DECIDED AGAINST THE
SILENCER
THEY'D BEEN STALKING KENDRA
ALREADY, FOLLOWING HER TO AND
FROM WORK, FIGURING OUT HOW TO
GET INTO HER LUXURY APARTMENT'S
GARAGE
>> WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE WHO HAD
A PARKING PASS WOULD COME IN, WE
WOULD GO IN.
>> Reporter: THEY WORKED ON
BRENDA'S FIRM DEADLINE, SAID
CRYSTAL.
KENDRA WOULD HAVE TO DIE BEFORE
LABOR DAY.
BRENDA HAD HACKED INTO RICKY'S
PHONE AND KNEW THEY WERE GOING
AWAY
WHEN THEY RETURNED THEY WERE TO
VISIT KENDRA'S FAMILY SO RICKY
COULD MEET THEM FOR THE FIRST
TIME
>> SO YOU ALL KNEW THAT THEY
WERE TAKE -- THEY WERE PLANNING
ON TAKING A TRIP TO MEXICO ON
SEPTEMBER 3rd?
>> YES, LABOR DAY WEEKEND.
>> Reporter: THEY WOULD MURDER
KENDRA IN HER APARTMENT PARKING
GARAGE WHEN SHE ARRIVED HOME
FROM WORK.
THEY DECIDED LOVE WOULD BE THE
SHOOTER.
CRYSTAL WOULD DRIVE.
>> BECAUSE HE DIDN'T KNOW DALLAS
VERY WELL, AND I DID
>> Reporter: THEN, THE MORNING
OF SEPTEMBER 2nd
CRYSTAL SAID SHE AND BRENDA WENT
TO LUIS' SHOP TO BORROW THE
JEEP
THEN SHE DROPPED BRENDA OFF AT A
LIBRARY.
SHE'D BE SEEN STUDYING, PART OF
HER ALIBI.
LATER THAT AFTERNOON, CRYSTAL
AND KRISTOPHER LOVE PARKED NEAR
KENDRA'S DENTAL OFFICE
>> AS SOON AS SHE LEAVES, WE
FOLLOW HER, BUT WE LOSE HER IN
TRAFFIC.
SO WE BEAT HER TO THE APARTMENT
COMPLEX WHERE SHE STAYED
>> Reporter: WITH LOVE CROUCHED
DOWN IN THE BACK SEAT OF THE
JEEP, CRYSTAL FOLLOWED A
RESIDENT'S CAR INTO THE GARAGE,
PARKED THE JEEP, AND THEN THEY
WAITED
>> MISS KENDRA COMES IN AND SHE
PARKS CATTY-CORNER TO WHERE WE
PARK
AND KRISTOPHER LOVE GETS THE -
OUT OF THE VEHICLE, THROUGH THE
DRIVER'S SIDE IN THE BACK.
AND HE APPROACHES KENDRA
AND I DIDN'T SEE HIM KILL HER,
BUT I HEARD THE SHOTS FIRED.
I BACKED OUT
AND WHEN I BACKED OUT, HE RAN
INTO THE JEEP WITH KENDRA'S
BELONGINGS
>> Reporter: AND REMEMBER THAT
INFAMOUS PICTURE FROM THE
SURVEILLANCE CAMERA?
>> IS THAT YOU IN THAT DRIVER'S
SEAT
>> YES
>> Reporter: AND HERE IN THIS
GRAINY VIDEO, SAID THE
PROSECUTORS, THAT'S CRYSTAL
DRIVING UP TO LUIS' PLACE TO
RETURN THE JEEP.
AND BRENDA ARRIVED
AND THEY LOOKED AT THE COACH
PURSE THEY'D STOLEN FROM KENDRA.
THE DAY AFTER THE MURDER, SAID
CRYSTAL, SHE AND BRENDA PAID OFF
KRISTOPHER LOVE IN COCAINE AND
WEED AND CASH.
CRYSTAL GOT A PAYOFF TOO
$500
SHE CURLED THE BILLS AND MADE A
HEART SHAPE AND TOOK A PICTURE
THEN SELFIE TIME WITH BRENDA
THEY'D GOTTEN AWAY WITH IT
HADN'T THEY?
AND THE DAY AFTER THAT, THEY
WERE CALLED DOWNTOWN BY
DETECTIVE BARNES
>> DID YOU TELL 'EM THE TRUTH?
>> NO.
>> DID YOU LIE
>> YES
>> Reporter: BUT NOW, SAID
CRYSTAL, NOW SHE WAS TELLING THE
TRUTH.
SHE'D LIED BEFORE TO PROTECT
BRENDA, SHE SAID
BRENDA, WHO SHE'D KNOWN FOR ONE
MONTH.
>> I FELT LIKE IF I DIDN'T SHOW
MY TRUE FRIENDSHIP TO HER, SHE
WOULD JUST WALK AWAY AND JUST
THROW ME UNDER THE RUG LIKE
EVERYBODY ELSE DID
>> Reporter: SO WAS SHE TELLING
THE TRUTH NOW?
IT WOULDN'T BE SO EASY FOR
CRYSTAL WHEN THE DEFENSE GOT ITS
TURN
IN FACT, THEY HAD SOME SURPRISES
IN STORE TO TRY TO PROVE SHE WAS
STILL LYING.
>>> COMING UP, A PLAN TO EXPOSE
CRYSTAL'S DUPLICITY DURING THE
TRIAL.
>> SHE LIED ABOUT HER CELL
PHONE.
OF COURSE, SHE DOESN'T KNOW THAT
WE'VE GOT THAT
>> Reporter: YOU CAUGHT HER IN A
DEFENSE ATTORNEY GEORGE MILNER
HOW YOU COULD TELL IF CRYSTAL
CORTES WAS LYING, HE'D PROBABLY
USE THE OLD JOKE, IF HER LIPS
WERE MOVING.
HIS DEFENSE WAS AN OFFENSE
ATTACK, ATTACK, ATTACK THE
STATE'S STAR WITNESS
>> SHE LIES WHEN IT MATTERS.
SHE LIES WHEN IT DOESN'T MATTER.
>> Reporter: AND HE HAD A POINT.
CRYSTAL LIED AGAIN AND AGAIN
MILNER'S ARGUMENT WAS ONE OF
THOSE LIES FINALLY CLICKED
BUT THE TRUTH, SUGGESTED MILNER,
WAS THAT CRYSTAL AND KRISTOPHER
LOVE, AND THEY ALONE, FOR
REASONS OF THEIR OWN, MURDERED
KENDRA HATCHER
>> DR. HATCHER IS DEAD, AND SHE
SHOULDN'T BE
BUT SHE IS NOT DEAD BECAUSE OF
BRENDA DELGADO
SHE IS DEAD BECAUSE CRYSTAL
CORTES SAW AN OPPORTUNITY TO ROB
AND THEN THE ROBBERY WENT BAD
AND DR. HATCHER WOUND UP DEAD.
>> Reporter: TRUE, HE AGREED,
THE STATE'S STORY ABOUT A
HOMICIDALLY JEALOUS EX WAS
COMPELLING, BUT IT WAS
CIRCUMSTANTIAL, AND IT DEPENDED
ON THE WORD OF A KNOWN LIAR.
>> THE ONLY ABSOLUTE DIRECT
PROOF THAT BRENDA HAD ANYTHING
TO DO WITH IT WAS CRYSTAL
CORTES
>> Reporter: HERE'S HOW IT WENT,
WITH CRYSTAL ON THE WITNESS
STAND.
>> AS YOU GET HOPELESSLY CAUGHT
IN ONE LIE, YOU START TELLING
ANOTHER ONE, CORRECT
>> SOMETIMES
WHEN I WAS BEING INTERVIEWED
BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO
SAY AND WHAT NOT TO SAY.
>> YOU CERTAINLY KNEW YOU
WEREN'T TELLING THE TRUTH,
RIGHT?
>> CORRECT
>> Reporter: THEN MILNER GOT
INTO SPECIFICS
>> YOU SPECIFICALLY TOLD
DETECTIVE BARNES THAT YOU NEVER
WENT INTO THAT GARAGE.
>> YES, IT'S TRUE THAT I TOLD
HIM THAT
>> AND THAT WAS A LIE, WASN'T
IT
>> YES, IT WAS
>> Reporter: AND THAT WHOPPER
ABOUT BEING CARJACKED.
>> DID YOU LOOK DETECTIVE BARNES
RIGHT IN THE EYES AND SAY, "I
WAS SCARED FOR MY LIFE AND FOR
MY SON'S LIFE"
>> YES, I DID.
>> Reporter: SHE LIED ABOUT THE
SHOOTER'S NAME TOO
IT CERTAINLY WASN'T LAMAR.
>> SHE EVEN LOOKED AT A PHOTO
LINEUP AND, WHAT, PICKED THE
WRONG GUY?
>> YES
>> Reporter: BUT SHE KNEW.
OF COURSE, SHE KNEW BECAUSE,
MILNER ARGUED, SHE ENLISTED HIM,
NOT BRENDA
>> THERE WAS NO DIRECT
COMMUNICATION OF ANY SORT.
FROM BRENDA'S CELL PHONE, THERE
WAS NEVER A TEXT, THERE WAS
NEVER A CALL OR ANYTHING
DIRECTLY TO KRISTOPHER LOVE.
>> Reporter: AND REMEMBER,
CRYSTAL HAD SAID BRENDA TOLD HER
SHE WAS CONNECTED TO A MEXICAN
DRUG CARTEL.
>> IF SHE HAS EVEN THE MOST
REMOTE CONNECTION TO THE CARTEL,
I NEVER HEARD OF IT.
>> Reporter: ANYWAY, ALL THAT
PLANNING SHE AND BRENDA
SUPPOSEDLY DID, YET THEY NEVER
DISCUSSED WHAT TO TELL POLICE IF
THEY GOT CAUGHT.
>> I DIDN'T HAVE A BACKUP PLAN,
AND SHE TOLD ME SHE WAS GOING TO
MEXICO
>> Reporter: NOT TRUE, SAID
MILNER
THERE WAS NO BACKUP PLAN AND NO
PLOT WITH BRENDA
INSTEAD, HE ARGUED, CRYSTAL AND
LOVE PLANNED TO ROB KENDRA, AND
WHEN IT WENT BAD, THEY KNEW THE
FOCUS WOULD BE ON BRENDA
>> IF ANYTHING EVER HAPPENED TO
DR. HATCHER, IT AIN'T YOU WHO'S
GONNA GET BLAMED
BRENDA DELGADO'S THE ONE THEY'RE
GONNA LOOK AT BECAUSE SHE WANTS
TO STILL BE WITH RICKY
TRUE
>> I WOULD SAY YEAH.
>> FOR CRYSTAL CORTES --
>> Reporter: AND FINALLY, MILNER
PRODUCED HIS OWN CELL PHONE
EXPERT, SAYING HE COULD PROVE
CRYSTAL WAS STILL LYING HERE IN
COURT.
THE EXPERT COMBED THROUGH THE
CELL RECORDS FOR THE PHONE
CRYSTAL TURNED OVER TO
DETECTIVES WHEN THEY QUESTIONED
HER TWO DAYS AFTER THE MURDER.
>> ARE YOU ABLE TO DETERMINE
WHETHER CRYSTAL CORTES GAVE THEM
THE PHYSICAL PHONE THAT SHE WAS
USING ON THE DAY OF THIS MURDER?
>> IT WAS A DIFFERENT PHONE.
>> SHE LIED ABOUT HER OWN CELL
PHONE.
OF COURSE SHE DOESN'T KNOW THAT
WE'VE GOT THAT AND THAT WE HAVE
OUR OWN EXPERT TO SHOW THAT HER
STORY IS A LIE
>> YOU CAUGHT HER IN A LIE
>> CAUGHT HER IN A LIE
>> Reporter: AND EVEN WITH THAT
SAID MILNER, SHE GOT A DEAL THAT
TOOK THE DEATH PENALTY OFF THE
TABLE AND GAVE HER A CHANCE AT
PAROLE SOMEDAY
>> IT GIVES THE MOTIVATION FOR
HER TO SAY ANYTHING TO GET
HERSELF OUT OF THE MESS THAT SHE
IS IN.
>> Reporter: BRENDA DELGADO, THE
WOMAN ACTUALLY ON TRIAL,
DECLINED TO TESTIFY.
AND WITH THAT THE DEFENSE
RESTED
SO, WAS BRENDA REALLY SUCH A
MASTERMIND, OR WAS SHE AN
INNOCENT WOMAN
UP TO THE JURY NOW
>>> COMING UP, KENDRA'S FAMILY
AND INVESTIGATORS ON PINS AND
NEEDLES.
>> I WILL PUT THAT PROSECUTION
TEAM UP AGAINST ANYBODY ELSE IN
THE COUNTRY.
>> Reporter: BUT YOU NEVER KNOW
ABOUT A JURY
TWO TRIALS, YOU COULD SEE THE
PAIN AND EXHAUSTION ON THE FACES
OF KENDRA HATCHER'S FAMILY
NOW IT WAS TO END WITH THE
JURY'S VERDICT IN BRENDA
DELGADO'S TRIAL.
REGARDLESS OF THE OUTCOME, THERE
WOULD BE NO JUSTICE FOR THEM,
KENDRA WAS GONE.
THIS WAS THE ONLY JUSTICE THEY
COULD HOPE FOR
>> ENVY IS BRENDA DELGADO'S
DEADLY SIN
ENVY MAKES YOU WANT TO DESTROY
THAT OTHER THING
THAT'S WHAT WAS IN THE HEART OF
BRENDA DELGADO
>> WHEN YOU COME BACK WITH YOUR
MESSAGE TO THAT WOMAN, THE
MESSAGE NEEDS TO BE, "LADY,
YOU'RE NEVER GOING HOME.
>> SHE'S LYING TO YOU.
>> Reporter: BUT IT WOULD BE A
POOR MESSAGE FOR JUSTICE, SAID
DEFENSE ATTORNEY GEORGE MILNER,
TO RELY ON A LIAR LIKE CRYSTAL
TO CONVICT BRENDA.
>> SHE IS STILL LYING TO YOU
TODAY.
AND HER STORY IS STILL EVOLVING
ALMOST FOUR YEARS AFTER THE
MURDER OF DR. HATCHER.
THE EVIDENCE HERE SHOWS THAT
THERE IS CLEAR REASONABLE DOUBT,
AND UNDER OUR LAW, THAT MEANS
NOT GUILTY
>> Reporter: IT WAS JUST BEFORE
11 WHEN THE JURY WENT OUT.
>> MEMBERS OF THE JURY, WE STAND
IN RECESS UNTIL YOU REACH A
UNANIMOUS VERDICT.
>> ALL RISE.
>> Reporter: KENDRA HATCHER'S
FAMILY STEELED THEMSELVES FOR
THE WAIT
IT HAD TAKEN ONLY THREE HOURS TO
REACH A VERDICT FOR KRISTOPHER
LOVE
KENDRA'S BROTHER, NEIL, THOUGHT
THIS WOULD TAKE MUCH LONGER.
>> Reporter: WHAT MADE YOU THINK
THAT
>> THE SHOOTER, I THOUGHT THAT
WAS PRETTY MUCH IN THE BAG
>> BRENDA'S WAS A LITTLE MORE
WORRISOME IN MY MIND BECAUSE OF
THE EXTREME LENGTHS SHE WENT TO
COVER UP HER TRACKS.
>> Reporter: AT THE END OF HIS
LONG INVESTIGATION, DETECTIVE
BARNES PREPARED TO WAIT, TRIED
TO BE OPTIMISTIC
>> I WILL PUT THAT PROSECUTION
TEAM UP AGAINST ANYBODY ELSE IN
THE COUNTRY.
>> Reporter: BUT YOU NEVER KNOW
ABOUT A JURY
>> YOU DON'T
>> Reporter: JURORS WOULD BE
SENDING OUT FOR LUNCH SOON
KENDRA'S FAMILY MAY NOT HAVE HAD
THE STOMACH FOR IT
SPECTATORS BEGAN DRIFTING AWAY
ATTORNEYS WERE STILL CHATTING IN
THE COURTROOM WHEN A LIGHT CAME
ON FROM THE JURY ROOM.
A SIGNAL
A QUESTION
IT WASN'T.
>> AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN,
PROSECUTION TEAM CAME IN AND
SAID, "THERE'S A VERDICT."
>> Reporter: IT HAD BEEN, WHAT
18, 19 MINUTES
>> I'VE BEEN IN HOMICIDE FOR
SEVEN YEARS, AND THAT'S THE
FASTEST TIME THAT I'VE HAD SO
FAR.
>> Reporter: KENDRA'S FAMILY AND
FRIENDS RUSHED BACK TO THEIR
SEATS.
SHOULDER TO SHOULDER, THEY
STEADIED THEMSELVES.
>> WE, THE JURY, UNANIMOUSLY
FIND THE DEFENDANT GUILTY OF
CAPITAL MURDER AS CHARGED IN THE
INDICTMENT
>> Reporter: GUILTY.
FROM BRENDA DELGADO, NO REACTION
AT ALL
ON THE OPPOSITE END OF THE
COURTROOM, A FLOOD OF EMOTION
FROM KENDRA'S FAMILY
LATER, KENDRA'S BROTHER NEIL MET
SOME OF THE JURORS
>> THE CONVERSATION WASN'T
ANYTHING ABOUT THE CASE.
IT WAS COMPASSION.
>> Reporter: HOW'D THEY SHOW
THAT
>> HUGS.
THEY ALL HAVE A SPECIAL PLACE IN
ALL OF OUR HEARTS.
>> Reporter: DEFENSE ATTORNEY
GEORGE MILNER WAS LEFT WITH ONE
CONCLUSION
>> IT IS NOTHING SHORT OF A
WHOLESALE REJECTION OF YOUR
CASE
I MEAN, 18 MINUTES
>> Reporter: THE JURY HAD
SPOKEN
NOW IT WAS TIME FOR KENDRA'S
FAMILY
HER MOTHER, BONNIE
>> 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
>> BRENDA DELGADO, PLEASE STAND.
>> Reporter: WITH THE DEATH
PENALTY OFF THE TABLE, BRENDA
WAS SENTENCED TO THE MAXIMUM -
LIFE IN PRISON WITHOUT THE
POSSIBILITY OF PAROLE FOR
CAPITAL MURDER
FOR HER COOPERATION, CRYSTAL
CORTES WAS SENTENCED TO 35 YEARS
IN PRISON FOR THE LESSER CHARGE
OF MURDER.
BUT ELIGIBLE FOR PAROLE AFTER
SERVING JUST HALF OF THAT.
KENDRA'S BROTHER, NEIL ADDRESSED
HER.
>> I THINK WHAT YOU DID WAS
INCREDIBLY STUPID.
I DO WANT TO TELL YOU I
APPRECIATE YOUR TESTIMONY.
I CAN'T SAY I FORGIVE YOU BUT
MAYBE OVER TIME THAT'S SOMETHING
THAT I COULD DO.
>> Reporter: FORGIVE, MAYBE.
FORGET, NEVER.
CERTAINLY, TAMI PANTANO, THAT
GREAT FRIEND FROM DENTAL SCHOOL
WILL NOT
>> IT DIDN'T BRING ME THE PEACE
THAT I WAS HOPING FOR.
AND I DON'T KNOW HOW I'LL EVER
GET THAT
I'M GLAD THAT I WAS THERE WITH
KENDRA'S FAMILY.
AND IT GAVE ME A CHANCE TO GET
TO KNOW RICKY.
AND SO THOSE ARE THINGS THAT I
FELT WERE HEALING FOR ME
>> Reporter: AND RICKY
PEOPLE HEARD A LOT ABOUT HIM AND
KENDRA
HOW THEY WERE DESTINED FOR
MARRIAGE, PROBABLY CHILDREN,
THINGS THAT WILL NEVER BE NOW.
>> I KNOW I'M HURTING.
AND I KNOW HE -- I CAN ONLY
IMAGINE HE'S HURTING MORE.
>> Reporter: WITH ALL HE'S BEEN
THROUGH, WE WEREN'T TERRIBLY
SURPRISED THAT RICKY DECLINED
OUR INTERVIEW REQUEST.
BUT HE DID SHARE THIS FROM
KENDRA, A QUOTE SHE'D SENT HIM
DURING THOSE FOUR SHORT, HEADY
MONTHS THEY HAD.
"AND THEN MY SOUL SAW YOU, AND
IT KIND OF WENT 'OH, THERE YOU
ARE.
I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR YOU.
AND THERE SHE WAS.
AND NOW.
>> IT'S BITTERSWEET.
THE MEMORIES ARE GOOD.
BUT THEN THE FACT THAT THERE
WON'T BE ANY MORE OF THOSE
MEMORIES IS HARD
>> Reporter: HARD FOR KENDRA'S
BROTHER TOO.
>> PEOPLE LIKE HER DON'T COME
AROUND VERY OFTEN.
AND IT'S A SHAME THAT SHE ISN'T
HERE BECAUSE SHE HAD A LOT TO
DO
A LOT MORE TO DO
>> Reporter: BUT ASK NEIL'S NOW
14-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER JOSIE ABOUT
HER AUNT K.K
NOT HERE IN PERSON, TRUE, BUT
DOING A LOT EVEN NOW
>> Reporter: HAVE YOU TRIED TO
BE LIKE HER, SOMEHOW, TO KEEP
HER MEMORY ALIVE
>> I MEAN, I FELT LIKE I WAS
ALREADY KIND OF LIKE HER, IN
SOME WAY
>> Reporter: WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY
THAT
>> BY ALWAYS -- ALWAYS TRYING TO
HAVE A SMILE
>> Reporter: JUST LIKE AUNT K.K.
>>> THAT'S ALL FOR NOW
I'M LESTER HOLT.