Evil comes in many forms. Perhaps its most sinister guise is a smiling face. Looking forward to retirement, Thomas Hawks, a probation officer, and his wife, Jackie, met such a smiling face in Skylar Deleon. Deleon, giving the impression of a charming father and husband, offered to buy the Hawks’ 55-foot yacht for $435,000. Maybe it was the promise of the easy life so much money would bring that prevented Thomas’ well-honed instincts from detecting the evil that lay behind Deleon’s friendly exterior.

On the afternoon they were to take the boat out for a test run, Deleon brought two friends to meet Thomas and Jackie. Once out to sea, Deleon and his co-conspirators attacked the Hawks, forcing them to sign over the yacht and their entire life savings to Deleon. The group then tied the Hawks to the boat’s anchor and dropped the couple overboard. They were never seen again.

Investigative reporter and author Tina Dirmann recounts this horrific crime, shining a spotlight on:

• The paths that brought the lives of a former child TV actor and his victims into collision.

• The amazing investigative work that brought this horrifying case to a successful conclusion.

• Insights into the minds of criminals that shed light on recent high profile cases like Natalie Holloway and Lacey Peterson.

CREDENTIALS: Tina Dirmann has covered some of the nation’s biggest news stories. She is currently a reporter and on-air personality for E! Entertainment. Her book recounting the Hawks murder is titled VANISHED AT SEA: The True Story of a Child Actor and Double Murder.

AVAILABILITY: California, Nationwide by arrangement and via telephone
CONTACT: Ryann Gastwirth, (646) 307-5547 (NY);
fax (212) 674-3387 (NY); Ryann.Gastwirth@stmartins.com