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Brenda Delgado Captured In Mexico Just Days After Being Placed On FBI’s Most Wanted List

By John Houck

From the archive: published Apr 9, 2016, 10 years ago. Details may have changed since.

Brenda Delgado was captured in Mexico on Friday by Mexican authorities. The 33-year-old woman was wanted for coordinating a murder-for-hire plot to kill Dallas, Texas, dentist Dr. Kendra Hatcher.

Prior to her murder, Hatcher was dating Delgado’s ex-boyfriend. On September 2, the dentist was fatally shot inside a parking garage in Dallas and Delgado escaped to Mexico shortly thereafter.

As previously reported by the Inquisitr, Delgado was placed on the FBI’s list of 10 Most Wanted Fugitives earlier this week. After being on the run for seven months, she was captured without incident by Mexican police about 280 miles from the U.S. border in the city of Torreón, in northern Coahuila state.

Delgado is currently facing charges of capital murder and unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. According to the FBI, she had been carefully planning the murder of Kendra Hatcher over several months.

“Brenda Delgado was able to effectively manipulate everyone she involved in her calculated scheme,” said Thomas Class Sr. of the FBI’s Dallas division. “Although she didn’t pull the trigger herself, she is still responsible for the murder.”

The jilted lover convinced two other individuals to kill the 35-year-old dentist in exchange for money and a regular supply of drugs from other disreputable contacts. Hatcher was killed while fetching items from her car in the parking garage of a Dallas apartment complex.

Authorities said Delgado wanted Hatcher dead because she was jealous the dentist was dating her former boyfriend, Ricky Paniagua. Delgado was also apparently upset over Hatcher being introduced to Paniagua’s parents in San Francisco. Delgado and her former lover were together for about two years before he began a relationship with Hatcher.

Police caught and arrested the accomplices, but Delgado quickly left the U.S. after investigators began questioning her about the murder. Co-conspirator Kristopher Love, the alleged gunman, is also facing capital murder charges. Also charged is Crystal Cortes for driving Love to the parking garage.

A warrant for the fugitive’s arrest was issued and the FBI offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to her capture. As of now, it is unclear what information was received that led to the capture of Delgado and if the reward will be paid.

Mexico’s Agency of Criminal Investigation began looking for Delgado in several areas of the country where she had family that could have helped her. According to the Texas Attorney General’s Office, the woman was found in a private home on a narrow residential street.

“The FBI is extremely appreciative of our law enforcement partners in Mexico, as well as our local, state, and federal partners, for their tremendous cooperation and collaboration in the capture of Top Ten Fugitive Brenda Delgado,” Class said.

With the jealous ex-girlfriend in custody, authorities are working with the Mexican government to bring her back to the states. Delgado will remain imprisoned at Santa Marta Acatitla prison in Mexico City until the extradition process is complete.

“We’re trying to get her extradited back here,” said Dallas County District Attorney Susan Hawk. “In order for us to do that, one of the conditions was the death penalty had to be off the table. She’s still charged with capital murder, which carries a life sentence.”

Since the FBI began the Most Wanted Fugitives list in 1950, over 500 people have had their names added. Delgado is the ninth woman to ever make the list.

Although Delgado lived in the Dallas area, she is a Mexican citizen. Her full name is Brenda Berenice Delgado Reynaga and she was born June 18, 1982.

Brenda Delgado’s capture in Mexico means she will not face the death penalty, but could be sentenced to life in prison if convicted. The Mexican government is adamantly opposed to the death penalty and will not extradite suspected criminals unless the U.S. promises to remove the death sentence option.

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