KANSAS CITY, MO – Authorities are searching for an Indiana man accused of manipulating his girlfriend into fatally shooting another man after she had a sexual encounter with the victim.
Cordero Cervantes, 35, of Indiana, is wanted on a second-degree murder charge in connection with the June 2022 shooting death of Taylor Hawkins, 31. Police say Cervantes coerced his girlfriend, McKayla Archambeau, into killing Hawkins because she had been intimate with him a week before the murder.
Archambeau, 25, was initially arrested alongside Cervantes in July 2022. She pleaded guilty in August 2025 to second-degree murder, armed criminal action and evidence tampering charges and is currently awaiting sentencing.
In statements made after her guilty plea, Archambeau described the horrific circumstances surrounding the killing. According to her account, Cervantes became enraged after learning of her encounter with Hawkins and demanded retribution.
“He made me kill him,” Archambeau told authorities, describing how Cervantes looked at her “with such rage in his eyes” when confronting her about the affair. Under his direction, she shot Hawkins during the initial confrontation.
When Hawkins attempted to flee after being shot, Cervantes allegedly ordered Archambeau to “finish him,” resulting in a second fatal shot to the victim’s back. The brutal execution-style killing demonstrated the extent of Cervantes’ control over his girlfriend, prosecutors contend.
Cervantes originally faced lesser charges of tampering with evidence and tampering with a motor vehicle in connection with the case. He pleaded guilty to those charges and received probation. However, following Archambeau’s confession revealing his role in orchestrating the murder, prosecutors upgraded his charges to include second-degree murder.
The upgraded charges prompted authorities to issue a warrant for Cervantes’ arrest, but his current whereabouts remain unknown. Law enforcement agencies across multiple states are actively searching for the fugitive.
Investigators believe Cervantes may have fled Indiana and could be hiding in another state. His familiarity with both Indiana and Missouri has complicated efforts to track him down.
The Kansas City Police Department is urging anyone with information about Cervantes’ location to contact the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS. Authorities warn that he should be considered potentially dangerous and should not be approached by the public.
The case highlights the deadly consequences of domestic coercion and control. Archambeau’s cooperation with investigators has proven crucial in building the case against Cervantes for his role in Hawkins’ death.
Hawkins’ family continues to seek justice more than three years after his killing. The victim’s relatives have expressed hope that Cervantes will be captured and brought to trial for his alleged role in the murder.
