Bio

James Delano Winkles, also known as Jimmy Delano Hawk, was born on December 18, 1940. He spent most of his early life in Florida. Information about his childhood is limited, but it is known that he struggled with various issues as he grew older.

Winkles had a troubled past, which included involvement with the law. He was convicted of assault with intent to commit robbery and attempted robbery in Hamilton County, Florida, on September 3, 1963, under the name of Jimmy Delano Hawk. This conviction marked a pattern of criminal behavior that would continue throughout his life.

Throughout his years, Winkles faced challenges and conflicts that shaped his character. He had difficulties in building stable relationships and maintaining a consistent lifestyle. In later years, he would serve time for kidnapping and robbery. These experiences set a troubling foundation for his adult life.

In February 1998, while imprisoned for another crime, he gained attention by confessing to the murders of two women nearly 18 years prior. This confession would eventually lead to his conviction for those crimes. Winkles' life took a dark turn, impacting not only his own fate but also the lives of others. He died in prison on September 9, 2010.

Murder Story

James Delano Winkles, also known as Jimmy Delano Hawk, committed two murders in Pinellas County, Florida. The first victim was Elizabeth Graham. This murder happened between September 9, 1980, and July 3, 1981. Winkles was stalking a young woman who worked at a dog grooming business. He called the business to set up a meeting at an abandoned house. The woman he wanted did not arrive, so when Elizabeth Graham showed up instead, he attacked her.

Winkles pushed Graham into his van, handcuffed her, and gagged her. He took her to his grandmother's house, where he held her captive for four days. He sexually assaulted her multiple times. Fearing that she might know where they were, he decided to kill her. He gave her muscle relaxants to put her to sleep, then shot her in the head three times. He buried her body nearby and later returned to dig it up again. He removed her head and disposed of it in a river. Her skull was discovered in 1981 but was not identified until the late 1990s.

Winkles' second victim was Margo Delimon. He kidnapped her sometime between October 3 and October 21, 1981. Winkles met Delimon at an open house viewing and asked her to show him properties. He took advantage of this situation and kidnapped her, holding her captive for four days in an abandoned house. He also sexually assaulted her several times. Fearing that she recognized him and could identify him, he killed Delimon with an overdose of sleeping pills. He buried her body and later moved it to another location. Her headless body was found in 1981, and it was identified in 1983.

Winkles was a suspect in both cases for many years, but he was never charged due to lack of evidence. He confessed to the murders in February 1998 while already in prison for another crime. In 2003, he was convicted of both murders and sentenced to death. He died in prison on September 9, 2010, from natural causes.