Police still searching for missing couple

Marisa O’Neil

A retired couple, believed missing since they sold their yacht, have

still not turned up, and now their family is asking the public to

help find them.

Family members reported 57-year-old Thomas Hawks and 47-year-old

Jackie Hawks missing last week when they had not heard from them for

two weeks after they sold their 55-foot yacht, Well Deserved. The

couple, who lived on the boat moored in Newport Harbor, usually kept

in close touch with family but have not been in contact despite

extensive media coverage about their disappearance, police said.

“My biggest concern is their well-being,” said Ryan Hawks, the

28-year-old son of Thomas Hawks. “For them to just disappear like

this is not likely to happen at all. I’ve been through various

scenarios in my head, and I try to picture a good outcome.”

The last time anyone heard from the couple was Nov. 15, when they

were in the process of selling their boat to a local buyer, Newport

Beach Police Sgt. Steve Shulman said. They sold it for an undisclosed

amount of money.

The buyer has been cooperative with the police investigation,

Shulman said.

The asking price for the boat, which was advertised in a boating

magazine, was $400,000, Ryan Hawks said. They weren’t in a hurry to

sell it, he said.

Thomas and Jackie Hawks wanted to buy a smaller boat and possibly

a home in San Carlos, Mexico, where Thomas Hawks had friends, his son

said. His father and stepmother split their time between Newport

Beach, San Carlos and Prescott, Ariz., where they claimed residency.

Despite their travels, they kept in close contact with family

members, especially since the birth of their first grandchild three

months ago to their youngest son in Arizona.

“They would call my brother every other day,” Ryan Hawks said.

“[Their grandson] is their pride and joy.”

Thomas Hawks had even talked about his new grandchild to Jim

Smiley, owner of Paddle Power kayak shop on Balboa Boulevard. Thomas

Hawks stood out from other customers because his fit physique belied

his age, Smiley said.

The Well Deserved still floats at its mooring a few blocks down

from the shop.

“You could tell it was the kind of thing that he had worked hard

on his whole life and was enjoying retirement, especially with a

[boat] name like that,” Smiley said.

Thomas Hawks had served in the military, then later as a

firefighter in Carlsbad, where his brother worked as chief of police,

said their cousin, Robert Gayl. Most recently, Thomas Hawks had

worked as a probation officer until his retirement, Gayl said.

The cousins spent their childhood in Arcadia until Thomas Hawks’

family moved to a ranch in Chino. Gayl remembered visiting the ranch,

where the family had a stand selling sweet corn in the summer.

“I remember going places with him and always feeling safe,” Gayl

said. “That’s what’s so ironic about this.”

Police don’t have any suspects and don’t know if any crime has

been committed, Shulman said. They’re still trying to find the couple

or anyone who has seen them recently, he said.

Family members distributed fliers near the boat on Sunday and plan

to do so again Dec. 19. But they hope they won’t have to wait that

long to hear from them, Gayl said.

“It’s been an emotional rollercoaster,” Ryan Hawks said. “We’re

getting through it. We just want them back.”

Thomas Hawks is described as white, 5-foot-8, 185 pounds, with short brown hair, hazel eyes.

Jackie Hawks is described as white, 5-foot-6, 110 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.

They may be driving a 1998 silver Honda CRV with Arizona license

plate 774CPE. Anyone with information is asked to call Newport Beach

Police at (800) 550-6273.

* 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.