Five indicted for murdering ham radio couple

Five people have now been formally charged with murder in the disappearance of a Prescott, Arizona ham radio couple.

Skylar Deleon, his wife Jennifer, along with co-defendants Myron Gardner, John F. Kennedy and Alonso Machain, have been arraigned on two counts each of murder in the deaths of Tom and Jackie Hawks, KD7VWJ, and KD7VWK.
The hearing took place on Friday, April 15th in Santa Ana,
California at which time lawyers for all five asserted their right to a speedy trial.

As previously reported, the Hawkes were reported missing last November after showing their cabin cruiser to prospective buyers off Newport Beach. Skylar Deleon, who had served prison time for burglary, and his wife, a hairdresser, told investigators they bought the boat named the 'Well Deserved' for more than $400,000 in cash.
They said that they watched the pair drive away in their Honda CRV. The car was recovered a month later in Mexico with reports linking its being driven across the border by Skylar Deleon.

Authorities believe the five defendants formed an identity theft conspiracy to kill the Hawks, steal their 55-foot cabin cruiser and loot their bank accounts. Investigators believe the Hawkes were still alive when they were thrown overboard while taking Skylar Deleon and two other
defendants on a test cruise.

The defense could still seek to delay the proceedings but Orange County Deputy District Attorney Matt Murphy said the prosecution would be ready in either situation. In California, felony criminal defendants have the right to a preliminary hearing within 10 days of arraignment and a trial
within 60 days, but they nearly always waive that right to prepare their defense. Most criminal cases often take a year or more to move through the system. In this one the judge has scheduled a preliminary hearing in the case for April 27th.

Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, Amateur Radio Newsline

More can be found on-line at
www.tomandjackiehawks.com

(Published reports)

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