DALLAS — The memorial for Dr. Kendra Hatcher was removed Wednesday from outside the Uptown Dallas apartment building where she was killed on September 2.
What remains are many questions about this case.
"It is surprising to me that we are three weeks out and we don't have another arrest," said law enforcement consultant Pete Schulte.
Crystal Cortes remains in jail, charged with capital murder for allegedly driving Hatcher's killer to the dentist's apartment and then driving that person away from the crime scene. Her bond is set at $1 million.
Cortes' family said they saw her with the woman who police suspect actually planned the murder. The two women had been together the night before the shooting at Cortes family's home.
But Dallas police didn't interview Cortes' family until Tuesday.
"Talking to everyone associated with the suspect is Detective 101," Schulte said. "The fact that it's taken three weeks for that to happen just tells me that they are taxed, and they don't have enough resources right now."
The family said police have not searched the home where Cortes lived, and they say they are fearful the shooter and possible mastermind of the plot to kill Hatcher are on the loose.
Family members said their home was shot at three days after Hatcher's murder. According to a police report:
"A person in a dark colored Jeep fired one shot... turned off the headlights and fired one more time."
Sources tell WFAA detectives fear they are losing time and possible critical evidence in this case.
"The further you get away from the actual date of the crime, the less evidence you are going to be able to collect." Schulte said.
Sources say part of the problem is that the department is short of homicide detectives, who are over-worked.
So why hasn't Cortes' friend — who once dated the victim's boyfriend — been arrested? Police say they don't have enough evidence for a warrant.
Cortes' family said they are frustrated at the slow process of this investigation.
WFAA is not identifying the possible other suspect in this case because she has not been charged or identified as a suspect by Dallas police.
