Well Deserved is towed away

Harbor Patrol deputies on Tuesday were moving Well Deserved, the boat that belonged to Tom and Jackie Hawks, from its mooring in Newport Harbor to a more secure location out of the water.

The boat, which belonged to the couple that police believe were murdered, was towed from its mooring early Tuesday and was to be hauled out of the water, said Newport Beach Police Sgt. Bill Hartford.

The police “decided to pull it out of the water and move it to a more secure location that would provide security as well as protect it from the elements,” Hartford said.

The move was not prompted by any specific security concerns, Hartford said.

Tom and Jackie Hawks, a retired Newport Beach couple, were allegedly tied to the boat’s anchor and thrown overboard alive in November 2004.

Three people have been ordered to stand trial for their deaths.

The 55-foot cabin cruiser Well Deserved remains in police possession.