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Murders of Thomas and Jackie Hawks

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Thomas and Jackie Hawks were a couple from Prescott, Arizona, United States, who were murdered in 2004.

Murders of Thomas and Jackie Hawks
LocationNewport Beach, California, U.S.
DateNovember 15, 2004; 20 years ago (2004-11-15)
Attack type
Double-murder by drowning
VictimsThomas and Jackie Hawks
Perpetrators
  • Skylar Preciosa Deleon
  • Jennifer Lynn Henderson
  • John Fitzgerald Kennedy
  • Alonso Machain
  • Myron Sandora Gardner Sr. (as an accessory)
MotiveFinancial gain
VerdictDeleon, Henderson, Kennedy:
Guilty on all counts
Machain, Gardner:
Pleaded guilty
ConvictionsDeleon, Kennedy
First-degree murder with special circumstances (2 counts)
Henderson:
First-degree murder (2 counts)
Machain: Gardner:
Accessory after-the-fact
SentenceDeleon, Kennedy:
Death (de jure)[a]
Henderson:
Two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole
Machain:
20+1⁄3 years in prison
Gardner:
1 year in jail[b]

In April 2009, Skylar Julius Deleon and Jennifer Henderson were convicted of charges relating to their murders. Deleon was sentenced to death while Henderson was sentenced to two terms of life in prison without parole. Two other people, John Fitzgerald Kennedy and Alonso Machain, were convicted separately of the killings. Kennedy was sentenced to death, and Machain accepted a plea bargain after testifying for the prosecution in the trials of Deleon, Henderson, and Kennedy. He was sentenced to 20 years and four months in prison.[2][3]

Disappearance

Thomas Hawks was a retired probation officer and bodybuilder. He and his second wife Jackie owned a 55-foot yacht, the Well Deserved, which they treated as their permanent home and on which they sailed for two years around the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of California. In 2004, they decided to sell their yacht and set up a home in Newport Harbor to be closer to their grandchild.[2] Jackie (née O'Neill) Hawks had helped raise Tom's sons from his first marriage since adolescence. When the wife of Hawks' older son was expecting their first child, Jackie treated the news as if it would be her natural grandchild.[4]

Their advertisement for the yacht sale was answered in November by Skylar Deleon. The couple was initially cautious of Deleon, but they became more receptive when Deleon's then-pregnant wife Jennifer and their other child came to the meeting.[5] The Hawks were last seen alive on the morning of November 15, 2004, heading out of the harbor. The yacht returned but they did not,[2] and neither body has ever been recovered.[6]

Perpetrators

Skylar Preciosa Deleon
Born
John Julius Jacobson Jr.

(1979-08-12) August 12, 1979 (age 45)
Sun Valley, California, U.S.
Criminal statusIncarcerated
SpouseJennifer Henderson (divorced 2006)

Skylar Preciosa Deleon (born John Julius Jacobson Jr.[7][8][9] a.k.a. Skylar Julius Deleon) is a convicted murderer of three people. Deleon's gender was officially changed to female in 2019 while awaiting execution on death row.[7] Deleon was a child actor who appeared in commercials and in the series Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, as an uncredited extra.[10]

At 20, Deleon joined the United States Marine Corps, but deserted after 15 days ("went on Unauthorized Absence (UA)").[11][12] She was later given an other than honorable discharge.[12][11]

Others involved

  • Jennifer Lynn Henderson (formerly Jennifer Deleon), wife of Skylar Deleon at the time of the murders.[13] She was convicted of two counts of murder and sentenced to two terms of life in prison without the possibility of parole.[14]
  • John Fitzgerald Kennedy, former Insane Crips gang member in Long Beach and former youth pastor, ex-convict for attempted murder, recruited the same day of the murder.[15][16]
  • Myron Sandora Gardner Sr., former Insane Crips gang member and ex-convict for involuntary manslaughter, who met Deleon at work after Deleon's release from prison, declined to participate in the crime but introduced Deleon to Kennedy.[17][18][19]

Investigation

Police inquired into the couple's disappearance and on November 26, 2004, it was discovered that an attempt was made to access the Hawks' bank account from Mexico. The family was notified and filed a missing-persons report with the Carlsbad, California police department.[2]

On November 29, the police interviewed Skylar Deleon. Deleon told them that he bought the boat from the Hawks and provided proof-of-purchase documents. He told police that the Hawks left in their car with the purchase money and named Alonso Machain as a witness to the purchase. Deleon claimed to have purchased the boat with the intent of laundering money related to an armed burglary in 2002 for which he had been convicted.[20][6]

In March 2005, after initially fleeing to Mexico and returning, Machain confessed to the crime. He was arrested in connection with the couple's disappearance along with Deleon and Deleon's wife, Jennifer. Skylar Deleon initially maintained innocence, claiming they were not present at the time and speculated that the Hawks were killed over a bad drug deal.[6][21]

Trials

Authorities alleged that during a sea trial of the boat in Newport Beach Harbor a few days after meeting the Hawkses, Deleon and accomplices Machain and Kennedy bound and gagged the couple and threw them overboard, tied to the yacht's anchor.[5][22] Deleon allegedly masterminded the plan to kill the couple for financial gain and enlisted Machain to help.[6][23][24]

Deleon's then-wife, Jennifer (née Henderson), was found guilty on two counts of first-degree murder on November 17, 2006, after four hours of jury deliberation. In October 2007, Henderson was sentenced to two life terms without parole.[25] She is currently housed at Central California Women's Facility in Chowchilla, California.[26]

While awaiting trial in jail, Skylar Deleon was charged with soliciting another inmate to murder his cousin and father. Deleon was also accused of killing John Jarvi, a resident of Anaheim, California, who was found dead in Mexico in 2003. Deleon's father and cousin (who was charged as an accessory to the Jarvi murder) were considered "important witnesses" in both murder cases.[24] On March 13, 2008, Deleon, who had been born male, partially severed his penis with a razor blade while being held in jail.[27] After receiving medical attention, he was returned to jail the following day.[28] In an interview with ABC's 20/20, Deleon indicated that she attempted to cut off his penis because he wanted to be a woman. Defense lawyers claimed that Deleon's need for money to finance sex reassignment surgery was the motivation for the Hawks' murders.[29][30][31] In 2019, Deleon's gender was legally changed to female and Deleon's name is now Skylar Preciosa Deleon.[32]

On September 22, 2008, jury selection began in the case against Deleon.[33] In a consolidated case, Deleon was jointly tried for the murders of Thomas and Jackie Hawks and John Jarvi. Despite Deleon's earlier protestations of innocence, once the trial began, Deleon's attorney conceded that Deleon had indeed committed all three murders. The attorney said she had taken the case to trial only to argue to a jury that Deleon should not be sentenced to death.[34] On October 20, Deleon was convicted of three counts of first-degree murder with special circumstances for financial gain and multiple victims and on November 6, 2008, the jury rendered a death verdict.[35] Sentencing was originally scheduled for January 16, 2009,[36] but was then rescheduled to March 20 on request by Deleon's attorney.[37] On March 13, it was announced that sentencing would again be rescheduled, to April 10, so that the families of the victims could attend.[38] On April 10, 2009, Deleon was sentenced to death by Orange County Superior Court Judge Frank Fasel.[39] She is on death row at San Quentin State Prison.

On February 19, 2009, John Fitzgerald Kennedy was found guilty on two counts of first degree murder after fewer than three hours of jury deliberation.[40] He was sentenced to death on May 1, 2009.[41] Like Deleon, Kennedy is on death row at San Quentin State Prison.

Alonso Machain, after testifying against Deleon, Henderson, and Kennedy, pleaded guilty to two counts each of voluntary manslaughter, kidnapping, and robbery. On June 15, 2009, he was sentenced to 20 years and 4 months. He was first eligible for parole in September 2021. He is currently serving his sentence at Valley State Prison in Chowchilla, California.[26]

In March 2009, after spending four years incarcerated, Myron Gardner pleaded guilty to "accessory after the fact" and the murder charges against him were dropped.[42][1][43]

In the media

  • This case was investigated on TV by Aphrodite Jones in her Investigation Discovery documentary TV series True Crime with Aphrodite Jones (Season 1, Episode 9) and was explored on the same network on two other programs: Wicked Attraction (episode "Calm Before the Storm") and Deadly Sins (episode "I'd Kill For A Sex Change").
  • This case is referred to in a segment of the "Caffeine-Induced Aneurysm" episode of Robot Chicken.
  • This case was investigated on TV on Oxygen on the TV show Snapped: Killer Couples, a spin-off of Snapped.
  • The 48 Hours episode "Dark Voyage" covers this crime.
  • The Demons in the City of Angels episode Child Actor Killer covers the case.
  • This case is also covered in the podcast "Killafornia Dreaming: True Crime Tales from the Golden State; Episode 14, The Tale of Lost at Sea" - Google Play Podcasts.
  • This case is briefly mentioned in the Podcast "Raised by TV" hosted by comedians Lauren Lapkus and Jon Gabrus in the episode "Mt. Crushmore."
  • This case is covered on the TV show Crime Watch Daily with Chris Hansen, Season 2, Episode 165, "The Final Voyage."
  • This case is mentioned in the podcast "My Favorite Murder" in Episode 169, "This Old Sandwich."
  • This case was investigated on ABC 20/20 episode "Overboard."
  • The case was the subject of an episode of HLN's How it Really Happened, "The Yacht Murder Mystery: Unspeakable Cruelty" (season 7, episode 5).
  • The case was focused on in The Real Murders of Orange County episode "Love Lost At Sea", which aired on Oxygen on November 15, 2020.

Further reading

  • Caitlin Rother (2011). Dead Reckoning. Kensington. ISBN 9780786022175.
  • Frank Mickadeit (August 15, 2005). "Yacht murder case looks like true-crime sequel". Orange County Register Communications. Archived from the original on February 10, 2009.
  • Tina Dirmann (2008). Vanished at Sea. Macmillan. ISBN 9780312941970.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Capital punishment in California has been indefinitely suspended since 2006.
  2. ^ Gardner had spent four years incarcerated until his sentencing, in which he received one year in jail and was immediately released.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b "Murdered couple's yacht to be put up for sale". Los Angeles Times. June 20, 2009. Archived from the original on January 12, 2016. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
  2. ^ a b c d Christine Hanley (October 8, 2008). "Defense in yacht killings says his client did it". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on September 28, 2017. Retrieved March 29, 2017.
  3. ^ Larry Welborn (June 15, 2009). "Final defendant in yacht-murder case pleads guilty". The Orange County Register. Archived from the original on June 20, 2009.
  4. ^ "48 Hours Video". CBS. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
  5. ^ a b Hanley, Christine (October 8, 2008). "Skylar Deleon goes on trial in killing of yacht owners". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on November 9, 2008. Retrieved May 19, 2010.
  6. ^ a b c d Wagner, Dennis (April 15, 2007). "Prescott couple took fatal voyage". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved September 24, 2008.
  7. ^ a b Choiniere, Alyssa (July 23, 2021). "Skylar Deleon now: Where is the yacht murderer today, in 2021?". Heavy. Archived from the original on April 21, 2021. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
  8. ^ Rackauckas, Tony (July 26, 2006). "Long Beach man charged with soliciting the murder of his own father and another witness while in jail on two murder cases" (Press release). Orange County District Attorney. Archived from the original on February 10, 2009. Retrieved October 21, 2008.
  9. ^ "Skylar Deleon 'Power Ranger' yacht killing case underway". International Business Times (au.ibtimes.com). October 8, 2008. Archived from the original on October 24, 2008. Retrieved October 21, 2008.
  10. ^ Silverman, Stephen M. (October 21, 2008). "Former Power Ranger Actor Convicted of Triple Murder". People. Archived from the original on May 2, 2023. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  11. ^ a b Hanley, Christine (May 28, 2007). ""He did it. I know he did it", man says of son". The Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on October 10, 2008. Retrieved October 7, 2008.
  12. ^ a b Gottlieb, Jeff (May 23, 2005). "What Happened to Tom and Jackie Hawks? A couple sold their yacht in November and drove off, says the supposed buyer — and murder suspect. They haven't been seen since". The Los Angeles Times. p. B‑1.
  13. ^ "Defendant: Jennifer Deleon". Orange County Register. October 5, 2008. Archived from the original on July 29, 2021. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
  14. ^ Choiniere, Alyssa (July 23, 2021). "Jennifer Henderson now: Where is Skylar Deleon's ex-wife today in 2021?". Heavy. Archived from the original on November 24, 2021. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
  15. ^ "Long Beach man to be sentenced today in killings of Arizona couple". The Long-Beach Press-Telegram. Long Beach, CA. May 1, 2009. Archived from the original on June 25, 2021. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  16. ^ "Conspirator Kennedy receives death sentence in yacht murders". May 1, 2009. Archived from the original on June 25, 2021. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  17. ^ "Judge orders lethal injection in yacht-murder case". Orange County Register. April 10, 2009. Archived from the original on October 9, 2015. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
  18. ^ "Plot to kill a witness alleged". Daily Pilot. The Los Angeles Times Co. April 23, 2005. Archived from the original on October 9, 2015. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
  19. ^ "Defendant: Myron Gardner". Orange County Register. October 5, 2008. Retrieved September 9, 2015.[permanent dead link‍]
  20. ^ Stuart Pfeifer & Jeff Gottlieb (March 5, 2005). "3 Face Murder Charges in Disappearance of Boat Owners". Los Angeles Times. p. B1. Archived from the original on March 29, 2017. Retrieved March 29, 2017.
  21. ^ Ben Fox (March 4, 2005). "Police arrest two more in deaths of Arizona couple off Newport Beach". Associated Press. Archived from the original on May 11, 2009.
  22. ^ "'Power Ranger' faces death penalty in yacht killings". CNN.com. October 7, 2007. Archived from the original on November 8, 2008.
  23. ^ "Depths of Evil". timespublications.com. November 2006. Archived from the original on February 4, 2013. Retrieved September 25, 2008.
  24. ^ a b Vane, Lauren (August 4, 2006). "Deleon pleads not guilty to murder plot". dailypilot.com. Retrieved September 25, 2008.
  25. ^ "California Mother Convicted in Plot to Kill Couple for Yacht Sentenced to Life Terms". Fox News. October 6, 2007. Archived from the original on October 11, 2008. Retrieved September 24, 2008.
  26. ^ a b "State of California Inmate Locator". California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation. CA.gov. Archived from the original on December 4, 2020. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
  27. ^ "Man awaiting trial tries to 'saw off' his penis". Long Beach Press Telegram. July 2008. Archived from the original on October 10, 2008. Retrieved July 10, 2008.
  28. ^ Reyes, David (July 12, 2008). "Accused killer attempts to sever own penis in O.C. jail". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on October 10, 2008. Retrieved September 24, 2008.
  29. ^ "Power Ranger Skylar DeLeon claims he murdered for a sex change operation". The Inquisitr News. February 6, 2009. Archived from the original on January 12, 2016. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
  30. ^ Jim Avila, Greg Fisher, Christina Caron, and Kimi Culpjim Avila via 20/20 (February 6, 2009). "Yacht Murderer Wanted Sexual Reassignment Surgery". ABC News. Archived from the original on January 12, 2016. Retrieved September 9, 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  31. ^ Anna Glezer, MD, Dale E. McNiel, and Renée L. Binder, MD (2013). "Transgendered and Incarcerated: A Review of the Literature, Current Policies and Laws, and Ethics" (PDF). Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 14, 2014. Retrieved September 9, 2015.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  32. ^ Choiniere, Alyssa (January 17, 2020). "Skylar Deleon Now: Where Is the Yacht Murderer Today in 2020?". Heavy.com. Archived from the original on April 21, 2021. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
  33. ^ Welborn, Larry (September 22, 2008). "Jury selection underway in yacht murder case". Orange County Register. Archived from the original on October 7, 2008. Retrieved September 24, 2008.
  34. ^ "Ex-actor guilty of yacht killings, defense says". CNN.com. October 8, 2008. Archived from the original on October 24, 2008.
  35. ^ Tran, My-Thuan (November 6, 2008). "Death sentence in murder of yacht owners". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on November 10, 2008. Retrieved November 7, 2008.
  36. ^ "Jury recommends death penalty in yacht killings". CNN.com. November 6, 2008. Archived from the original on November 10, 2008. Retrieved November 7, 2008.
  37. ^ Serna, Joseph (January 16, 2009). "Sentencing delayed for area couple's killer". dailypilot.com. Retrieved January 24, 2009.
  38. ^ Serna, Joseph (March 13, 2009). "Deleon to wait for his fate". dailypilot.com. Retrieved March 27, 2009.
  39. ^ "Skylar Deleon gets death sentence in Newport Beach yacht murders". latimes.com. April 10, 2009. Archived from the original on April 13, 2009. Retrieved April 11, 2009.
  40. ^ Welborn, Larry (February 19, 2009). "3rd man convicted in murders of couple on yacht". The Orange County Register. Digital First Media. Archived from the original on January 18, 2017. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
  41. ^ Serna, Joseph. "Second killer given death". Daily Pilot. Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on January 18, 2017. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
  42. ^ "Man Sentenced In Drowning Of Yacht Owners". CBS News. April 11, 2009. Archived from the original on January 12, 2016. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
  43. ^ "Man is freed in plea deal". Daily Pilot. Archived from the original on October 5, 2015. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
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