Prosecutors said Monday that they decided against pursuing death for 50-year-old Dave Hawk because they didn't want the couples' children to face the possible loss of both parents. Instead, Hawk faces life in prison without parole if convicted of murder.
Debbie Hawk disappeared in June 2006 from her home, which was bloodied and ransacked. Prosecutors believe Dave Hawk killed his ex-wife to cover up his alleged theft of about $300,000 from his children's trust fund accounts.
Hawk has been in the Kings County Jail since May on one count of first-degree murder with a special circumstance. He has pleaded not guilty.
