Skylar Deleon gets death sentence in Newport Beach yacht murders

A Long Beach man was sentenced to death today for lashing Thomas and Jackie Hawks to the anchor of a yacht and throwing them overboard off the coast of Newport Beach in a plot to steal the vessel and plunder the couple’s life savings.

Skylar Deleon showed little reaction as Orange County Superior Court Judge Frank Fasel explained that mitigating factors -- including any abuse Deleon suffered while growing up -- were outweighed by the “horrors” of the 2004 murders of the Hawkses and the earlier 2003 slaying of John Peter Jarvi in a Mexican desert.

Deleon was convicted of all three murders.

“The mental anguish and torment these three people must have anticipated while bound and eventually experiencing their ultimate fates warrants the death penalty instead of life without parole,” Fasel said in his packed courtroom.

A jury has also recommended death for John Fitzgerald Kennedy, a 43-year-old Long Beach gang member convicted of helping Deleon throw the Hawkses off their 55-foot yacht, named the “Well-Deserved.”

Deleon’s ex-wife, Jennifer Deleon, was found guilty by a jury in 2006 of murder and sentenced to life in prison in connection with the yacht murders.

Another man on board the boat when the couple was killed, Alonso Machain, cooperated with the government and awaits trial.

-- Christine Hanley

Photo: Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Zach]

I just seen this story on MSNBC! They oughta throw this Deleon guy overboard, let him down there til he's just about to die, bring him up and revive him... then do it over and over! that way he never knows when he is about to die, but he suffers just as the hawks have!! o he would suffer! poor Hawks family! my god rest their souls!

[snake]

Anyone else notice the irony of the ships name?
That being said, make them walk the plank...

[Brandon]

I was in jail (unrelated) directly under John Kennedy's cell. We would talk everyday. Believe it or not, he was the prayer leader for the blacks. Such a nice man but committed a horrific crime. Skyler on the other hand is just plain sick. First off, he is a hermaphrodite (he has both parts) When I would see him, he looked like a young girl. Anyways, he deserves death for sure!

[Kat]

I've just seen their story for the second time on Wicked Attraction. Still not over it. I tear up every time I hear the account (from Machain himself) of how Tom stroked Jackie's hand as they were bound and gagged and she was crying. I can only imagine the thoughts running in their minds and the things they wanted to say, but couldn't. Bless their souls and their families'.

[Decisis]

liberals will blame it on society and keep him alive for 20 years out of "compassion."