Dead Reckoning

Newly updated, the true story of a retired couple, a coldblooded killer, and the controversial aftermath: A gripping read. -Aphrodite Jones, host of True Crime for Investigation Discovery Network Tom and Jackie Hawks loved their life in retirement, sailing on their yacht, the Well Deserved. But when the birth of a new grandson called them back to Arizona, they put the boat up for sale. Skylar Deleon and his pregnant wife, Jennifer, showed up as prospective buyers, with their baby in a stroller, and the Hawkses thought they had a deal. Soon after, however, the older couple disappeared-and the Deleons promptly tried to access the Hawkses's bank accounts. As police investigated, they not found not only a third homicide victim with ties to Skylar, but an unusual motive: Skylar had wanted gender reassignment surgery for years. By killing the Hawkses and plundering their assets, the Deleons planned to clear their $100,000 in debts and still have money for the already-scheduled surgery. Now, in this updated edition, which includes extensive new material, New York Times-bestselling author Caitlin Rother presents new developments in the case. Skylar, who was sentenced to death row for the three murders, transitioned via hormones while living in the San Quentin psych unit. Recently, she legally changed her name and gender, apparently a strategic step to obtain taxpayer-subsidized gender confirmation surgery and transfer to a women's prison. Combined with Governor Gavin Newsom's moratorium on executions, this only adds insult to injury for the victims' families, who want Skylar to receive the ultimate punishment for her crimes. Well researched and a quick, engrossing read, this should be popular with true crime readers, especially the Ann Rule crowd. -Library Journal