Who Is Dolores Delgado & Where Is She Now? 2025 Update & Background
Dolores Delgado was a former Army soldier who served in Iraq and had an on-again, off-again romantic relationship with Army Sergeant Maliek Kearney dating back to their time deployed together in 2008. After leaving the military, Delgado moved to Florida. Despite Kearney’s subsequent marriage to Karlyn Ramirez, Delgado and Kearney remained in frequent contact and continued a secret relationship.
Their bond would ultimately evolve into a deadly alliance. Delgado became a central figure in the murder of Kearney’s estranged wife, playing a direct and critical role in the planning and cover-up of the crime. Her involvement began months before the murder and included providing logistical support that helped Kearney carry out the killing.
- “The Alibi”: Dateline Reports on Karlyn Ramirez Homicide December 27 2025
- Who Was Karlyn Ramirez & What Happened to Her? 2025 Update & Background
- Who Is Maliek Kearney & Where Is He Now? 2025 Update & Background
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Role in the Murder Plot
In August 2015, as Karlyn Ramirez prepared to separate from Kearney, Delgado helped him plan the murder. She purchased a .357 caliber revolver and ammunition, which were later identified as the weapon and rounds used in the crime. Delgado also lent Kearney her car so he could travel undetected from South Carolina to Maryland. To ensure he wouldn’t have to stop at gas stations along the way and risk being seen, she purchased and prepared gas cans.
While Kearney made the more than seven-hour drive to commit the murder, Delgado remained at his apartment in South Carolina, using his phone and streaming services to establish a false digital footprint and create an alibi. After the murder, she followed Kearney’s instructions to dispose of key evidence—including the firearm, shell casings, and his clothing—in a Florida waterway. Delgado also attempted to erase the weapon’s serial number.
Ultimately, it was her cooperation with law enforcement that helped break the case. When confronted with the evidence, Delgado confessed and agreed to testify against Kearney. She provided detailed insight into the planning, execution, and cover-up of the murder.
Arrest, Conviction, and Sentencing
In October 2016, Delgado was arrested in San Antonio, Texas, alongside Kearney. She was charged federally with interstate travel to commit domestic violence resulting in death. Delgado entered a guilty plea in 2018, acknowledging her direct involvement in helping Kearney plan and conceal the murder of Karlyn Ramirez.
On September 7, 2018, U.S. District Judge George L. Russell III sentenced her to 204 months in federal prison—17 years—followed by five years of supervised release. In court, Delgado’s cooperation with prosecutors and her testimony against Kearney were taken into consideration during sentencing, resulting in a lighter penalty than her co-conspirator.
Where She Is Now
As of the latest available information, Dolores Delgado remains in the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), serving her sentence at a federal correctional facility. Given her sentencing in 2018 and assuming no early release or sentence reduction, she is scheduled to be released in 2031. Her exact prison location may change over time due to BOP transfers, but she is serving out her sentence in a medium or low-security federal facility.
Delgado is not eligible for parole, as the federal prison system does not offer parole for crimes committed after 1987. After completing her sentence, she will serve an additional five years under supervised release, with conditions determined by the court.
A Cautionary Figure in a Tragic Case
Dolores Delgado’s involvement in the murder of Karlyn Ramirez was both direct and essential. Though she did not pull the trigger, her actions enabled the crime and complicated the investigation. Her eventual cooperation helped secure a conviction against Kearney, but her role left a lasting impact.
Her story underscores the dangers of unchecked loyalty, manipulation, and enabling behavior in the context of abusive and controlling relationships. Delgado’s case stands as a sobering example of how aiding a violent plan—even without committing the act—can lead to long-term imprisonment and permanent consequences.
