Serial Killers & Murderous Minds

Episode: Cyberstalking to Contract Killing Pt. 2 with Annie Elise
Date: February 19, 2026
Hosts: Vanessa Richardson & Dr. Tristan Engels (clinical and forensic psychologist)
Guest Expert: Annie Elise (true crime podcaster & commentator)

Episode Overview

This episode concludes the two-part exploration into the chilling case of Brenda Delgado, an obsessed ex-girlfriend who escalated from cyberstalking to orchestrating the murder-for-hire of her romantic rival, Dr. Kendra Hatcher. The hosts, joined by Annie Elise, analyze the psychological mechanisms that drove Brenda’s transition from fixation to lethal violence, dissect the aftermath, and offer insight into the personalities of all involved—from the manipulative mastermind to the manipulated accomplices.

Key Discussion Points & Analysis

1. Recap of the Crime: Brenda Delgado's Deadly Obsession

• Summary of the Murder Plot:
  • Brenda Delgado, unable to accept her ex-boyfriend Ricky's new relationship with Dr. Kendra Hatcher, orchestrates Kendra's murder by recruiting Crystal Cortez for $500 and Christopher Love with cash/drugs.
  • On Sept. 2, 2015, the plan is executed: Christopher shoots Kendra in her apartment garage while Crystal drives the getaway Jeep (borrowed from a friend, Jose).
• [04:34] Vanessa Richardson:

  "Brenda couldn't stand by and watch the life she'd envisioned with Ricky be taken from her. So she enlisted the help of 23 year old Crystal Cortez and 31 year old Christopher Love in her plot to kill Kendra..."

2. The Psychology of Trophy-Keeping & Compartmentalization

• Brenda Keeps Kendra's Purse: Symbolic or tactical?
  • Annie Elise analyzes Brenda’s motives—suggests it was both to potentially mislead investigators (robbery narrative) and a subconscious assertion of dominance ("claiming a victory").
  • [06:16] Annie Elise:

    "...taking a personal belonging in a dynamic like this can serve as asserting control or even erasing the competition, so to speak. Almost like claiming a victory..."

• Emotional Compartmentalization:
  • Brenda’s capacity to separate the act from emotional reality.
  • [07:16] Annie Elise:

    "...the emotional reality of the harm gets walled off... She separated herself from the human impact of what she did."

3. Policing Missteps and the Power of Forensic Evidence

• Investigative Process:
  • Initial misdirection—police pursue robbery theory due to staged evidence.
  • Surveillance footage exposes the plan: Two suspects, deliberate actions.
  • Ricky, Kendra's boyfriend, recognizes the Jeep and suspects Brenda’s involvement.
• Friends Turn, Misdirection Attempts:
  • Brenda attempts to manipulate Jose, the Jeep’s owner, even threatening him to avoid exposure.
  • [12:28] Annie Elise:

    "...identifying who might become a liability and shaping their version of events before they get to speak to anyone else... values people based on their usefulness, not their loyalty."

• Police Use of K9s:
  • ATF’s canine discovers the murder weapon during an unrelated demo, showcasing how human error and systemic bias (confirmation, shortcutting, institutional trust) can hinder investigations.
  • [27:34] Annie Elise:

    "...cognitive bias can influence where that line gets drawn, making a search feel complete sooner than it might truly be."

4. Interrogations and Confessions: Impression Management

• Brenda's Calculated Calmness:
  • Presents herself as composed, offers receipts, tries to bond with detectives—a classic strategy.
  • [16:42] Annie Elise:

    "This is a classic example of impression management... If they appear calm, polite and pro social, they will be less suspicious."

• Crystal’s Conflicting Stories:
  • At first attempts to minimize her involvement, then shifts as evidence mounts.
  • [22:14] Annie Elise:

    "...partial truths in a confession... not a manipulation tactic here, but rather an attempt to survive the situation by balancing honesty with self protection."

5. The Escalation from Obsession to Action

(Extended Conversation—Starts [36:34])

• Fixation, Fantasy, and Planning:
  • The move from emotional rumination to actual offense characterized by "gathering information," "increasing surveillance," and "practical planning."
  • [37:13] Annie Elise:

    "Early signs often include gathering information about the person's routines, increasing their monitoring or surveillance... the key shift is from emotionally ruminating... to practically planning it out."

• Role of Shame and Humiliation:
  • These emotions fuel the need “to restore dignity or power” by acting against a perceived rival.
  • [38:01] Annie Elise:

    "...when that rejection starts to feel humiliating... the pain becomes about their self worth..."

• Gender Differences in Violent Fixation:
  • Men more likely to target the ex; women often target the rival as a means to restore possibility of reconciliation.
  • [40:49] Annie Elise:

    "...girls are thinking that way, but the men are like, if I can't have you, no one can."

6. Flight, Arrest, and Aftermath

• Brenda Flees to Mexico:
  • Driven by “avoidance, fear, and overconfidence,” she attempts to evade justice but is ultimately captured after added to the FBI Top Ten list.
  • [42:04] Annie Elise:

    "Fleeing... is often driven by avoidance, fear, and overconfidence working together... escape from perceived danger becomes a basic instinct."

• Extradition and Death Penalty Avoidance:
  • Mexican authorities extradite Brenda under condition she cannot face execution.

7. Accomplices’ Psychology: Grief and Moral Compass

• Crystal’s Plea and Testimony:
  • Loss and grief (her mother’s death) become catalysts for owning up and cooperating, motivated by a need to “honor her mother’s wishes.”
  • [46:02] Annie Elise:

    "...grief often intensifies reflection. People will think about legacy, values... that can strengthen motivation to set things right..."

• Delayed Morality:
  • Crystal’s slow reckoning—caught between loyalty, financial pressure, and self-preservation.
  • [46:57] Annie Elise:

    "...people don't usually leap straight to serious violence. The situation unfolds in steps..."

8. Trial and Sentencing

• Strategies and Testimonies:
  • Prosecution portrays Brenda as the obsessive, scorned ex; defense tries to cast doubt but offers little alternative.
  • [51:05] Annie Elise:

    "...envy is definitely a part of this... but it's when envy is mixed with deeper personality patterns and cognitive distortions..."

• Quick Jury Decision:
  • Jury deliberated for only 20 minutes—overwhelming evidence, credible testimony.
  • [53:51] Annie Elise:

    "When juries arrive at a decision quickly, it's often because the evidence felt clear and the narrative made sense..."

• Sentencing:
  • Brenda receives life without parole.
  • Christopher Love sentenced to death (upheld after appeal).
  • Crystal receives 35 years after testifying.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Brenda’s Compartmentalization:
  "[Brenda] separated herself from the human impact of what she did." — Annie Elise [07:16]

• On Impression Management During Interrogation:
  "The belief is if they appear calm, polite, and pro social, they will be less suspicious." — Annie Elise [16:42]

• On the Psychology of Confession:
  "Telling something truthful reduces anxiety and guilt, but avoiding the full story protects them not just legally, but from themselves emotionally." — Annie Elise [22:14]

• On the Leap from Obsession to Action:
  "When rejection starts to feel humiliating... the pain becomes about their self-worth..." — Annie Elise [38:01]

• On Grief and Motivation:
  "Grief often intensifies reflection. People will think about legacy, values... that can strengthen motivation to set things right..." — Annie Elise [46:02]

• On Courtroom Strategies:
  "Trials really are a battle of stories. When one story fits the evidence more cleanly and the other side struggles to establish reasonable doubt, deliberations tend to move more quickly." — Annie Elise [55:34]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [04:34] — Detailed recounting of the murder plot
• [06:16][07:16] — Expert commentary on killer psychology and trophy-keeping
• [12:28–13:34] — Manipulation and damage control after the murder
• [16:42–18:30] — Brenda’s interrogation tactics analyzed
• [22:14] — Insight into Crystal’s partial confession
• [27:34] — Investigative pitfalls and the role of forensic canine units
• [36:34–40:56] — Annie Elise and Dr. Engels discuss fixation, escalation, and gender dynamics of homicidal obsession
• [42:04] — Brenda's escape to Mexico and arrest
• [46:02–48:27] — Grief’s impact on accomplice's moral reckoning
• [51:05–55:34] — Trial strategy, jury dynamics, and final verdict

Conclusion

This episode delivers a layered psychological dissection of a murder plot rooted in obsession, entitlement, and emotional compartmentalization. With Annie Elise’s forensic insight, listeners come to understand not only how Brenda Delgado orchestrated murder, but why. The show artfully blends riveting storytelling, expert clinical explanation, and a nuanced look at the web of personalities involved—leaving listeners with haunting questions about the roots and ripple effects of lethal obsession.