Darrin Lopez, a Tennessee man, has been sentenced to 62 years in prison along with a $10,000 fine for his involvement in a murder-for-hire plot orchestrated by his girlfriend, Jennifer Faith.
The tale began with a seven-month-long affair between Jennifer Faith and Tennessee man Darrin Lopez, who had been high school sweethearts. (Photo: CBS News)
Tennessee Man’s Affair and Scheme
According to Fox News, the victim of the murder-for-hire plot of the Tennessee man was Jamie Faith, Jennifer’s husband and an American Airlines executive, who was brutally killed in October 2020.
The tale began with a seven-month-long affair between Jennifer Faith and Tennessee man Darrin Lopez, who had been high school sweethearts. Jennifer turned a web of lies claiming that she was a victim of physical and sexual abuse at the hands of her husband, Jamie Faith.
She sent Tennessee man Lopez stock photos to substantiate her falsehoods and even created fake email accounts to pose as concerned friends, further solidifying her false narrative.
In October 2020, Tennessee man Darrin Lopez carried out the chilling act by shooting Jamie Faith to death while he was on a walk with Jennifer in their Dallas, Texas-area neighborhood.
Little did Jamie know that his own wife was involved in a plot to end his life. Jennifer had persuaded Tennessee man Lopez to commit this heinous act as part of an elaborate plan to eliminate her husband and escape the consequences.
Jennifer’s role in the murder-for-hire plot was discovered, leading to her arrest and subsequent conviction. She pleaded guilty to the charges and received a life sentence in 2021, with the presiding judge condemning her actions as “pure evil.”
Throughout the investigation, Jennifer maintained her charade, appearing on news outlets and expressing grief over her husband’s death while secretly orchestrating his murder.
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Tennessee Man’s Defense and Verdict
During the trial, Tennessee man Darrin Lopez argued that he had been deceived and manipulated by Jennifer Faith. He claimed that he believed he was protecting her from an abusive spouse, thinking he was acting as a noble soldier, just as he had been trained to do during his time in the Army.
Tennessee man Lopez’s defense also pointed to his struggles with PTSD and a traumatic brain injury sustained during his military service as factors that influenced his decision-making.
The prosecution, however, argued that Tennessee man Lopez was an active participant in the murder scheme and not a mere victim of manipulation. They contended that he had other options available to him, and if he genuinely believed Jennifer was in danger, he could have sought legal recourse or other means to protect her without resorting to violence.
According to a published article, the jury took less than an hour after the trial to find Tennessee man Darrin Lopez guilty of murder. During the sentencing phase, the jury considered the gravity of his actions and the devastating impact on the victim’s family. Eventually, they handed down a sentence of 62 years in prison, along with a $10,000 fine.
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