Woman arrested in connection with murder-for-hire plot in El Centro

El Centro Police speak out after the arrest of the victim's former girlfriend - News 11's Wiley Jawhary reports

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) - The El Centro Police Department (ECPD) says Kimberly Vega organized the murder of 27-year-old Pablo Dominguez at the Crown Motel in El Centro on June 7.

The accidental release of Athan Emmanuel Estrada from Imperial County Jail is part of a much bigger case.

RELATED: ICSO: Inmate mistakenly released from Imperial County Jail

Last month Estrada managed to escape from jail, but deputies were able to place him back in custody after he was captured in Mexicali.

Detective Antonio Hernandez with ECPD says Vega ordered a hit on the victim. Athan Emmanuel Estrada, the same suspect who was mistakenly released from Imperial County Jail, is accused of pulling the trigger.

“There is substantial evidence to support that there was a conspiracy involved here between Kimberly and the shooter that we have in custody," he said.

Both Estrada and Vegas are facing murder charges, but it doesn't stop there.

“It involves drugs, money, guns that have been coming here from another state, there are several agencies involved in this investigation,” Detective Hernandez said.

Police say they're investigating two more suspects part of the case. No other arrests have been made at this time.