Dave Hawk is in the Kings County jail. For about two years, he has been a suspect in the disappearance and apparent murder of his ex-wife Debbie, but police only Thursday had enough evidence to charge him and they continued looking for more evidence Thursday.
Detectives from the Hanford Police Department spent hours searching Dave Hawk's home and they removed several items. Hawk was arrested after a traffic stop in Hanford. He's in the Kings County jail on murder charges in connection with the 2006 disappearance of his ex-wife, Debbie.
Hawk's parents, who live next door had nothing to say and slammed the door on reporters. We reached Debbie Hawk's sister, Diane by phone in southern California for her reaction.
"It's an awful thing. Nothing's going to bring Debbie back to us. But certainly, I don't want to see anybody get away with what's happened to her."
Debbie's close friend, Teresa Voyles sees the arrest as progress in the case.
"I'm happy that they have continued to work on the case and that they feel that they have enough evidence to move forward with an arrest and hold someone accountable for Debbie's murder."
Many residents where Debbie Hawk lived and was abducted didn't want to talk about it.
One woman who didn't want to give her last name had this to say:
"I hope they got the right person. I hope that if he did it, they've got the right person. I'm glad it's over. I hope it's over and I'm sure the neighborhood does too."
There is concern about the Hawk children, 2 girls and 1 boy. We are told that they were taken out of their classrooms before their father was arrested. They are said to be with relatives in northern California.
Dave Hawk has been in handcuffs before. About a year ago, he was arrested on tax evasion and embezzlement charges. And a cloud of suspicion has followed him since October of 2006, when he was named the prime suspect in his ex-wife's murder. Now, nearly two years after Debbie Hawk's disappearance, there is still no word of a body, and Dave Hawk has been arrested again, this time, for murder.
"The major problem with this case, one, there's no body. Two, there's no murder weapon. Without a body, how do you know there is a murder? The odds are there is, but you have to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt," said ABC 30 Legal Analyst Tony Capozzi. Capozzi doubted prosecutors found that main piece of evidence they need, but said some kind of new evidence likely led Thursday's arrest.
Hawk's attorney, Mark Coleman, is also clueless as to what that evidence is. He learned of the arrest late in the afternoon, but still knew little about the charges. "I don't know anything about them other than what I've been told and that is that he's been arrested for the murder of Debbie Hawk," said Coleman.
Coleman, along with the public, will learn more about the charges in the coming days, as Dave Hawk once again faces a judge. He could be arraigned as soon as Friday.
