Police make 5th arrest in suspected murder

Marisa O’Neil

Detectives on Friday arrested the wife of a suspect in the murder of

a Newport Beach couple police now say were likely overpowered,

handcuffed and thrown overboard their yacht while still alive.

Newport Beach Police Department detectives took Jennifer

Henderson-DeLeon, 23, into custody Friday afternoon when she went to

visit her husband, 25-year-old Skylar DeLeon, at the Orange County

Jail. Skylar DeLeon and three other men are already jailed on

suspicion of murdering retired couple Tom and Jackie Hawks for

financial gain.

The couple, who had been living on a 55-foot cabin cruiser, the

Well Deserved, in Newport Harbor went missing in November after

meeting with prospective buyers for their yacht. Skylar DeLeon

initially told police that he had bought the yacht for $400,000 cash,

but authorities say that the money never changed hands and documents

associated with the claimed purchase were forged.

Police would not disclose the roles they believe anyone had in the

disappearance of Tom and Jackie Hawks, who have not been found. But

on Friday, they did say what they think happened when the Hawkses

took one or more of the suspects out to sea on the Well Deserved.

“We can’t discuss how many people we believe were on the boat at

the time,” Newport Beach Lt. Steve Shulman said. “But we believe they

were overpowered, handcuffed, weighted down and thrown in the water

alive.”

Police have declined to release other information about the case,

saying that the investigation is ongoing.

Jackie Hawks’ father, Jack O’Neill, said that he and his family

are still trying to cope with the loss of their daughter.

“My wife and I are just glad these people have been caught, and

they’re going to be punished for what they did,” O’Neill said by

phone from his Ohio home. “It was so senseless. They didn’t gain a

thing. I can’t understand it.”

Detectives arrested Long Beach resident Skylar DeLeon in December,

a day after police found the Hawkses’ SUV in Ensenada, Mexico. He was

originally charged with money laundering, then those charges were

dropped and he was charged with grand theft in connection with unpaid

repairs done on another boat he had owned.

Prosecutors filed double murder charges against Skylar DeLeon last

month. They also arrested 21-year-old Pico Rivera resident Alonso

Machain and Long Beach residents Myron Gardner, 41, and John

Fitzgerald Kennedy, 39. All are charged with murder with special

circumstances that make them eligible for the death penalty.

Jennifer Henderson-DeLeon, who gave birth to the couple’s second

child seven weeks ago, has come to nearly all of her husband’s court

appearances. She retained a lawyer when her husband was arrested in

December and knew she might be considered a suspect, her attorney

Michael Molfetta said Friday.

He said he wasn’t surprised by her arrest. He spoke with her

Friday afternoon, he said, and her first concern was for her

children.

“She was completely unconcerned with herself,” Molfetta said. “She

was more concerned with her kids’ wellbeing.”

Her parents are caring for her children while she is in custody,

Molfetta said.

The case is still under investigation, Shulman said. Prosecutors

have said they intend to pursue murder even without the Hawkses’

bodies.

“We haven’t given up hope, but we don’t know if they will ever be

found,” Shulman said.

Jennifer DeLeon will likely appear in court Tuesday morning,

Molfetta said. The other suspects are scheduled to be arraigned at

Harbor Justice Center on April 15.

* MARISA O’NEIL covers public safety and courts. She may be

reached at (714) 966-4618 or by e-mail at marisa.oneil@ latimes.com.