Police obtain first break in case of missing couple

Marisa O’Neil

Police have the first major breaks in the case of a local couple

missing for more than a month with the recovery of their car in

Mexico and the arrest of a man who bought their boat just before they

disappeared.

Newport Beach Police arrested 25-year-old Long Beach resident

Skylar DeLeon Friday afternoon in the 2200 block of Grand Ave. in

Long Beach on suspicion of money laundering, Sgt. Steve Shulman said.

The arrest is connected with the $400,000 cash purchase of the

55-foot boat, Well Deserved, on which Tom and Jackie Hawks had lived

in Newport Harbor until they sold the boat in the middle of November

, Shulman said.

On Thursday in Ensenada, Mexico, Newport Beach Police recovered

the 1998 Honda CRV the Hawkses owned, Shulman said. Someone in

Mexico, who had seen news reports about the missing couple and

recognized the vehicle, made a report he said.

“We have reason to suspect foul play, but we don’t know what’s

become of the Hawks,” Shulman said.

A Mexican citizen was in possession of the car at the time, and he

has been cooperative with police, Schulman said. “We don’t believe

that person has anything to do with the disappearance of the Hawks,”

he said.

The car is in the custody of Newport Beach Police and is being

processed for evidence, Shulman said. He could not say if the person

who had the car had driven it from the United States or took

possession of it in Mexico.

Until the sale of the boat, the Hawkses split their time between

their Newport Harbor-moored boat; Prescott, Ariz.; and San Carlos,

Mexico. They had discussed selling the Well Deserved and buying a

smaller boat and possibly a home in San Carlos, Mexico, Tom Hawks’

son, 28-year-old Ryan Hawks, said.

The couple spent time in San Carlos, on the western coast of the

mainland. But they didn’t like going to the Baja peninsula -- where

Ensenada lies -- Ryan Hawks said.

And if they had, he said, they would have likely visited him in

his San Diego home on their way down there.

Friends and family last heard from Tom and Jackie Hawks in

mid-November, about the time they sold the boat. Because they are

normally in close contact with loved ones, especially since the birth

of their first son four months ago, it gave cause for concern.

Since they disappeared, there has been no activity on any of their

credit cards or bank accounts, police said.

Police are still investigating the case and searching for the

couple, Shulman said, adding that the search now includes Mexican

authorities and the California Highway Patrol Mexican Liaison Unit.

Ryan Hawks this week also posted a website with information about

the couple, photographs and a guest book.

“I want Tom and Jackie back in our lives,” wrote Tom Hawks’

cousin, Robert Gayl. “I have so much I want to say to him now. My

family and I pray everyday for their safe return.”

DeLeon is being held in the Newport Beach jail in lieu of $250,000

bail. He is scheduled to appear for an arraignment at the Harbor

Justice center on Monday.

* 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.