Hanna Marcos, an 80-year-old woman, tragically lost her life on September 24, 2010, during a violent home invasion in Hawthorne, California. She was attacked by John Wesley Ewell, a 62-year-old man, who broke into her home with the intent to rob. Ewell choked and struck Hanna Marcos during the assault, which ultimately led to her death. The cause of her death was determined to be a heart attack, brought on by the physical trauma she endured during the attack.
Ewell's crime spree did not
end with Hanna Marcos. In the weeks following her death, he committed additional home invasions and murders in the same area. On October 13, 2010, he killed Denice Roberts, a 53-year-old woman, in her Los Angeles home. Later, on October 22, 2010, Ewell attacked and murdered Leamon Turnage, 69, and his wife Robyn Turnage, 57, in their Hawthorne residence. These crimes were part of a series of violent robberies that terrorized the community.
Ewell was apprehended shortly after the final attack when he was caught on video using one of his victim's ATM cards. He was charged with multiple counts of first-degree murder and residential robbery. In a plea agreement, Ewell admitted to the murders and the special circumstance of committing murder during a robbery. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, ensuring he would never harm anyone again. The case was investigated by multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, the Hawthorne Police Department, and the Los Angeles Police Department.
