You remember the Power Rangers, right? That neon-drenched fever dream of 90s television where teenagers in spandex fought rubber monsters. Most of those kids went on to do indie films or hit the convention circuit. But then there’s the story of Skylar Deleon. Honestly, it’s one of those tales that makes you double-check the locks on your doors.
People always search for the "Power Ranger killer," expecting a main cast member. But Skylar wasn’t the Red Ranger. Not even close. Skylar Deleon was a child actor who appeared as an extra in one episode of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers back in 1994. Specifically, an episode titled "Second Chance."
It was a bit part. A blip. But years later, that tiny credit would become the headline for one of the most depraved maritime murders in California history.
The Grifting of Tom and Jackie Hawks
By 2004, Skylar Deleon wasn't a child actor anymore. Life was getting messy. Bills were piling up—we’re talking nearly $100,000 in debt. Skylar was married to Jennifer Henderson, and they had a kid with another on the way. They were desperate. Or maybe just greedy. Probably both.
They found their target in Tom and Jackie Hawks.
The Hawks were the kind of people you’d want as neighbors. Tom was a retired probation officer; Jackie was kind and devoted. They lived on a 55-foot yacht named Well Deserved. They were ready to retire to Arizona to be full-time grandparents, so they put the boat up for sale for about $440,000.
Skylar saw the ad.
The Fatal "Test Drive"
The brilliance—if you can call it that—of the plan was how they used family to lower the Hawks' guard. Jennifer Henderson brought their baby to the meetings. Who’s going to suspect a couple with a stroller?
On November 15, 2004, Skylar convinced the Hawks to take the boat out for a sea trial. Skylar didn't go alone. Two other men, Alonso Machain and John Fitzgerald Kennedy (a gang member Skylar had recruited), came along.
Once they were far enough from the Newport Beach shoreline, the nightmare began.
The Hawks were overpowered with stun guns. They were duct-taped and forced to sign over the title of the boat and give Skylar power of attorney. Imagine the terror of standing on your own deck, looking at the ocean you love, while someone forces you to sign away your life.
Then, they tied the couple to the yacht’s heavy anchor.
They didn't shoot them. They didn't even knock them out. They just pushed the anchor overboard. Tom and Jackie Hawks were dragged into the cold Pacific while still alive. Their bodies have never been found.
More Than One Victim
It turns out the yacht wasn't the first time Skylar had "dealt" with someone for money.
During the investigation, police linked Skylar Deleon to the 2003 murder of Jon Jarvi. Jarvi was a guy Skylar had met while doing time in a work-furlough program. Skylar convinced him to withdraw $50,000 for an "investment."
Instead of an investment, Jarvi got a trip to Mexico. His body was found near Ensenada with his throat slashed.
The level of coldness here is hard to wrap your head around. It wasn't a crime of passion. It was a business model. Skylar was also later charged with trying to solicit the murder of their own father and cousin while sitting in jail, fearing they would testify.
The Trial and the Motive
When the trial finally rolled around in 2008, the defense didn't even try to say Skylar didn't do it. Their lawyer, Gary Pohlson, basically stood up and said, "Yeah, my client did it. But please don't kill them."
The defense’s big play was explaining why.
They argued Skylar was desperate for money to fund a gender-reassignment surgery. They claimed Skylar had struggled with gender identity since childhood and felt that the only way to be "whole" was to get this expensive procedure.
The jury wasn't exactly moved by the "I killed three people to pay for surgery" defense. In 2009, Skylar Deleon was sentenced to death.
Life on Death Row and the Transition
California hasn't actually executed anyone since 2006, so a death sentence is basically a life sentence with a different label. Since being incarcerated, Skylar’s identity has shifted significantly.
- Name Change: Legally changed the name to Skylar Sophia Deleon (and later Skylar Preciosa Deleon).
- Gender Recognition: In 2019, a judge officially granted the petition to change Skylar's gender to female.
- Surgery: In a surprising turn of events, Skylar reportedly received gender-affirming surgery in April 2023 while in custody. This sparked a massive political firestorm in California regarding taxpayer-funded procedures for death row inmates.
As of 2026, Skylar remains in the California prison system. Because of the moratorium on the death penalty and the transition, the legal status of where Skylar is housed has been a point of constant litigation.
The Aftermath for the Families
While the media focused on the "Power Rangers" connection and the transition, the Hawks family was left with a void that never closes. Ryan Hawks, the couple's son, has spent two decades being the voice for his parents.
The Well Deserved was eventually recovered, but for the family, it was a floating crime scene.
Jennifer Henderson didn't escape either. She got two life sentences without the possibility of parole. John Fitzgerald Kennedy also received a death sentence. Alonso Machain, who cooperated and told the police exactly how the anchor went over the side, got 20 years and was paroled around 2021.
What to Remember
When you see those "Power Rangers Curse" videos on YouTube, Skylar Deleon is always the thumbnail. It's a catchy hook, but it's important to keep the perspective:
- The Acting Career was Negligible: Skylar was an extra. The "Power Ranger" label is mostly a media invention to make a grim story more clickable.
- The Crimes Were Premeditated: These weren't accidents. They were calculated, multi-person hits for cash.
- The Legal Saga is Ongoing: Between the name changes, the surgeries, and California's shifting stance on the death penalty, this case stays in the news for reasons that have nothing to do with the 1990s.
If you’re looking into this case for the first time, don't just look at the Hollywood connection. Look at the court transcripts from the Orange County District Attorney’s office. They paint a picture of a manipulator who used a baby and a bit-part acting resume to mask a terrifying lack of empathy.
For further reading on the psychological profile of the case, search for Caitlin Rother’s book Dead Reckoning. She’s one of the few journalists who actually interviewed Skylar extensively in prison and provides the most nuance on the transition versus the crimes.
Next Steps for Research
Check the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) public inmate locator if you want to verify current housing status, as the move between male and female facilities for high-security inmates is a rapidly evolving area of California law. You can also look up the 2009 sentencing remarks by Judge Frank Fasel for a clear picture of the "special circumstances" that led to the death verdict.