This is the tragic story of Thomas and Jackie Hawks:

Fresh from two years of plying the waters of the Sea of Cortez, the Hawkses were believed to have been killed Nov. 15, 2004, after being tricked into a test sail of their 55-foot yacht, the Well-Deserved. They had put the boat up for sale because they wanted to move back to Arizona to be closer to their newborn grandchild.

[…]

Machain testified that he helped Deleon cover the couple’s eyes and mouths with duct tape as Jackie Hawks cried. The Hawkses were taken up to the main cabin one at a time to sign and fingerprint title transfer documents for the boat, he testified.

Jackie Hawks was told that if she cooperated she would be released, Machain recalled.

[…]

Deleon lifted the anchor and threw it overboard as Kennedy pushed the couple into the water, Machain said.

Deleon then turned the yacht around and the men collected cash, jewelry and other valuables, Machain said. Kennedy cracked open a beer, grabbed a fishing rod and fished all the way back to Newport Harbor, he said.

So cruel, so sad. Pirates in America.