5 Shocking Facts About Skylar DeLeon: The 'Power Ranger' Actor Who Became A Triple Murderer

The name Skylar DeLeon is synonymous with one of the most horrifying true crime stories of the 21st century, a case that tragically links a fleeting childhood acting credit on *Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers* with a brutal triple murder. As of the current date, December 10, 2025, DeLeon remains on death row in California, his life a stark and disturbing contrast between the bright lights of Hollywood and the dark reality of a calculated killer who sought financial gain through unimaginable violence. This article dives into the full, shocking story, separating the sensationalized media narrative from the chilling facts of the case. The sensational moniker "Power Ranger Killer" often overshadows the actual details of his involvement with the franchise; DeLeon was a non-speaking extra in a single episode of the popular children's show, a fact that makes the media's focus on the role all the more macabre. His crimes, however, were devastatingly real, culminating in the murder of a retired couple for their yacht and the earlier murder of an acquaintance, all driven by a desperate need for money.

Skylar DeLeon: Full Biography and Profile

Skylar DeLeon, born John Julius Jacobson Jr., has a biography marked by early struggles, a brief flirtation with acting, and a dramatic descent into violent crime. The timeline of his life and legal proceedings provides a clear picture of the man behind the headlines:

• Birth Name: John Julius Jacobson Jr.
• Current Legal Name: Skylar Preciosa Deleon
• Date of Birth: August 12, 1979
• Birthplace: Sun Valley, California, USA
• Early Life: Son of a convicted drug dealer; had a troubled childhood.
• Acting Career: Appeared as a non-speaking extra in one episode ("Second Chance") of *Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers* at age 14. He also had a bit part in the movie *Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie*.
• Victims: Jon Jarvi (2003), Thomas and Jackie Hawks (2004).
• Crime: Triple murder for financial gain.
• Conviction Date: October 20, 2008 (Hawks Murders)
• Sentencing Date: April 10, 2009
• Sentence: Death by lethal injection.
• Current Status: Inmate on Death Row in California.

The Truth About the 'Power Ranger' Role and the Media Narrative

The headline "Former Power Ranger Actor Convicted of Triple Murder" is a prime example of media sensationalism, though it undeniably captured the public's attention. The reality is that Skylar DeLeon's connection to the beloved children's show was tenuous at best.

At age 14, DeLeon secured a non-speaking role as an extra in a single episode of *Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers*. This minor credit became the defining, ironic label of his adult life: the "Power Ranger Killer." The narrative took a dark turn, suggesting a fallen star, when in fact, DeLeon’s acting career had barely begun and quickly fizzled out. By the time of the murders, he was desperately broke, living off his wife's income, and trying to convince others he was wealthy and successful. The "Power Ranger" title, however, provided the perfect, chilling contrast for the press covering his horrific crimes.

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The Double Murder on 'The Well Deserved' Yacht

The most infamous of DeLeon's crimes is the brutal double murder of Thomas and Jackie Hawks in November 2004. The couple, a retired prison guard and his wife, were selling their 55-foot yacht, *The Well Deserved*, to live a peaceful life on land after the birth of their first grandchild.

DeLeon, along with his then-pregnant wife Jennifer DeLeon, posed as interested buyers. During a "test sail" off the coast of Newport Beach, Skylar and his accomplices overpowered the couple. They forced the Hawks to sign over the title of their yacht and withdraw money from their bank account.

In a truly cold-blooded act, Thomas and Jackie Hawks were tied to the yacht's anchor and thrown overboard, drowning them in the Pacific Ocean. Their bodies were never recovered. The yacht was then cleaned and sold, completing the crime for financial gain.

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The Forgotten Victim: Jon Jarvi and the Triple Murder Conviction

While the Hawks yacht murder case garnered international attention, Skylar DeLeon was ultimately convicted of a triple murder. The third victim was Jon Jarvi, a man DeLeon had known in the past.

Jarvi was murdered in December 2003, nearly a year before the Hawks case. DeLeon and an accomplice, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, killed Jarvi in a separate incident, also for financial reasons. Jarvi's body was discovered in Mexico, and it was the subsequent investigation into DeLeon's activities that eventually led authorities to re-examine the disappearance of Thomas and Jackie Hawks.

The Orange County jury found DeLeon guilty of all three counts of first-degree murder, with special circumstances for multiple victims and murder for financial gain, leading to his death sentence in 2009.

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DeLeon on Death Row: The Sex Change Operation

A more recent and controversial development in Skylar DeLeon's case involves his life on California's death row. While incarcerated, DeLeon began the process of gender transition, changing his name to Skylar Preciosa Deleon and identifying as a transgender woman.

In 2019, it was reported that DeLeon received a taxpayer-funded sex change operation, a detail that sparked significant public debate and controversy, especially among the victims' families. This development ensures that the "Power Ranger Killer" remains a subject of public scrutiny, years after his conviction, highlighting the ongoing legal and ethical complexities surrounding inmates on death row.

The story of Skylar DeLeon serves as a stark reminder of how quickly a life can spiral from a hopeful, if minor, career in entertainment to the darkest depths of violent crime, leaving a legacy defined by the victims he brutally murdered rather than the brief, forgotten role he once played.