Maritime Love Affair Cut Brutally Short

Murder in a Mexican Desert

Then Skylar and Jennifer DeLeon entered their lives.

Feigning an interest in purchasing their boat, DeLeon, his wife, Jennifer, and an accomplice named Alonso Machain, 25, persuaded the couple to take them out to sea on Well-Deserved for a test drive.

After overpowering the couple, the trio forced the Hawkses to sign over ownership documents to the yacht and power-of-attorney papers that would give Skylar DeLeon access to the couple's bank accounts, according to opening statements from the prosecutor.

For 90 minutes, Murphy told the jury, Jackie Hawks cried and begged for their lives.

"I am too young to die,'' Murphy quoted the terrified woman as saying. "I have a grandchild! Please don't kill us. I have to see my grandchild!''

A seemingly merciless DeLeon allegedly threatened to assault Jackie with a flashlight if the pair didn't follow his exact instructions.

Blindfolded and tied together, Thomas Hawks sought to soothe his wife's growing anxiety by stroking her hand.

And then DeLeon threw the anchor, with the couple shackled to it, overboard.

"The rope goes taut. The couple goes overboard into the sea," Murphy said.

"That's how Thomas and Jackie Hawks died, begging for their lives."

Missing Persons Report

James Hawks testified Tuesday that he grew suspicious in late November 2004, after repeatedly calling his brother and Jackie and only reaching voice mail.

On Nov. 24, he boarded the boat and "noticed some things out of place, which was unusual."

James Hawks said that his brother and sister-in-law were meticulous about Well- Deserved and that he noticed "Jackie's custom-made nautical quilt was not on the bed."

He left a note on his old business card asking the new owners to call him. James Hawks told jurors that Jennifer called him days later and "appeared to be a bit nervous."

He filed a missing persons report two days later.