Ariz. rancher's slaying sparks debate

Ariz. rancher's slaying sparks debate over illegal immigration

by Dennis Wagner - Mar. 29, 2010 06:52 PM
The Arizona Republic
The unsolved murder Saturday of a soft-spoken rancher in southern Arizona has become a new flashpoint in the debate over illegal immigration, with conservative media and politicians demanding increased border security.
Less than two days after authorities found the body of 58-year-old Robert Krentz, political bloggers and talk-show hosts began denouncing the federal government for a perceived failure to protect U.S. civilians from violent smugglers and other illegal border crossers.

Cochise County Sheriff's spokeswoman Carol Capas said detectives have no information on the assailant, including a nationality.
After deputies and U.S. Border Patrol agents tracked footprints from the crime scene nearly 20 miles to the Mexican line, however, border policy critics declared that the killer was an illegal immigrant.
Two U.S. senators and a House member from New Mexico called for increased enforcement, according to published reports. And Tom Tancredo, an outspoken former Congressman from Colorado challenged Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano to send in the National Guard.
U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Tucson, offered condolences to the family in a news release and said the federal government "must respond appropriately" if the homicide was tied to smuggling. "All options should be on the table," she added, "including sending more Border Patrol agents to the area and deploying the National Guard."
More than half of all undocumented aliens arrested along the border last year were caught in the Tucson Sector, which covers most of southern Arizona. Omar Candelaria, a Border Patrol spokesman, said he is not aware of any U.S. citizen being murdered by illegal immigrants in that sector for more than a decade.
Capas, the sheriff's spokeswoman, said Krentz was working on a section of the ranch distant from his brother, Phil, and made a garbled radio contact about 10 a.m. Saturday, but only the words "illegal aliens" and "hurt" were audible. After Robert Krentz failed to meet his brother later in the day, family members launched a search and called the Sheriff's Office.
The body was discovered in an all-terrain vehicle shortly before midnight by an Arizona Department of Public Safety search helicopter. Capas said Krentz, who was married with three children, apparently managed to drive a short distance from the shooting scene before he became unconscious. His dog also had been critically wounded.
Capas said Phil Krentz had called Border Patrol agents to the Krentz Ranch one day before the homicide after witnessing illegal immigrant activity. She said the agents found more than 200 pounds of discarded marijuana and arrested eight undocumented immigrants in the area.
Richard Humphries, a former Arizona DPS officer, said he went to the crime scene on Sunday with Tancredo. He said it was an "ironic tragedy" that they had been planning a meeting that day with Phil Krentz and other area ranchers to discuss border security.
"This tragic incident has justifiably ignited a firestorm across southern Arizona," Humphries added.
While the political furor developed, Krentz' family and friends mourned the loss of a man they described as a calming influence, even when it came to the debate about border security.
Bas Aja, executive vice president of the Arizona Cattle Feeders Association, said Krentz and virtually every rancher south of Interstate 10 has expressed safety concerns because of crime related to smuggling and illegal immigration.
However, Aja and others said Krentz was always soft-spoken and thoughtful, willing to help immigrants who became lost or desperate after entering the country unlawfully. "Rob Krentz, first of all, was a very gentle soul," Aja said. "He was a caretaker for his family, for the land and for the animals he raised."
Although southern Arizona ranchers could not recall any civilians being killed by illegal immigrants, many said they are wary now while riding the range.
"Our cowboys are armed with .45s when they go out on the ranch everyday because they're scared to death," said Bill McGibbon, a friend of Krentz who runs cattle in the Santa Rita Mountains.
"We're always very careful," added Dan Bell, a Nogales rancher. "But this whole thing has got me to thinking."
For more than a century, Krentz and his family worked a spread that covers about 37,000 acres stretching into Chiricahua Mountains northeast of Douglas. He is a former president of the Cochise County Cattle Growers Association. His family was inducted into the Arizona Farming and Ranching Hall of Fame in 2008.
Aja said the state Cattleman's Association had collected $10,000 as of Monday to post a reward for information about the killer.
No announcement has been made regarding memorial services.

 

Hope they find the prick and hang him!!! And close the god damn borders!!!!!!!!!!! I;m tired of reading about this shit man, it so sad and unfortunate. Shit has to hit the fan before anybody gives a shit...if they'd just do preventative work this wouldn't happen as often if at all!

 

Yeah this is some serious bullshit. The rancher was known for helping the illegals while still notifying BP. Its going to come to all these ranchers just shooting anyone they come across on their property for fear of being killed themselves now.

 

Exactly!

 

Yeah I live about 30 minutes or so from where this happened and people down here are beyond outraged. They are all calling for Soldiers on the borders and saying they will shoot anybody that comes near their property! Pretty messed up situation.

 

If they need any help, I'm available.

 

What I don't fully understand is the use of Arizona National Guard Soldiers. Does Jan Brewer, Governor of AZ, not have the power to put her troops on the border?? Since they are AZ National Guard troops, does she not have that authority? Please excuse my ignorance to the ways of the Guard.

 

Idk either but maybe they are federally funded?? AZ is broke.

 

Border security is a federal responsibility therefore they need to pay for it.

 

Arizona ranchers taking precaution in wake of slaying

Mar. 31, 2010 11:09 AM
Associated Press
SIERRA VISTA - After one of their own was killed while riding the range, many ranchers in southeastern Arizona say they will be more cautious.
Cochise County rancher Robert Krentz was killed last Saturday on his 35,000 acre ranch north of Douglas.

Rancher Glenn Spencer said he is "taking extra precautions." Spencer did not elaborate, except to say he is deploying some additional technology.
Bisbee Junction rancher Richard Hodges said he has been concerned for a long time about Americans being killed by drug smugglers.
Hodges said when he goes into his pasture, he plans to look for spotters, and when he gets on top of ridges, he will stop and see if anybody is around him.

 

I am ready to go down there myself locked and loaded. I am real tired of this crap and maybe we all should take this into our own hands seeing as the goverment couldn't care less.

Gee, I wonder if they will allow the National Guard to have loaded weapons this time.

There was was a quote from the movie "Independence Day" I think it went like this.

"Nuke the bastards, nuke 'em all"

 

This crap pisses me off!!!

 

If they cross illegally they should be shot!!

 

They do shoot them in foreign countries if they cross illegally. I don't want to seem totally barbaric but we need to something drastic to put an end to this. Seriously.

 

When I say this I am just talking in general here, not to anybody on TW, but I just love how it takes an an American man dying to wake people up that there is a HUGE problem with our borders! Freaking most of Phoenix looks like fucking Mexico, and now people are getting up in arms and pissed off? This should have been addresed decades ago, but noooooo our politicians are too buisy voting themselves money and living the high life, instead of doing what the hell we "suposedly" voted them in there to do!
oh and I just love how that idiot McCain is trying to push hard now to make ammeds to this and try to do something about it and close the borders now, when a few years ago he just wanted to give these damn illegals fucking amnesty and let the flood gates open, he makes me sick...... I'll tell you what, I dont trust any of those fat cats in Washington!

 

The majority of people crossing the border are good people just looking for work, but there are quite a few that are not. Most of the murders by illegals are people who already have felony's and have been prevously deported. I think if you are an illegal with a felony is caught this would be a good policy. Why should we pay millions in tax dollars to hold wothless scum in jail?

Mcain and Giffords don't wan't to do anything about it, they are just giving lip service because it's an election year. The national media hasn't even covered this, there just hoping it will blow over.

I think its gonna get worse though, somebody's gonna gun down a big group of illegals on there property and the situation is going to blow up, forcing people to adress it.

 

man does this piss me off. we are becoming the minority in our own damn country. people are too damn sensitive these days. throw them back to mexico and tag them or something so we can know if they are trying to get back. or ship them to russia. i feel bad for residents who live down in AZ or Socal. luckily we dont have to deal with that bullshit up here. they need to do something about this, and not be so politically correct about it.

 

We fly near the border all the time..and we see the effects of the border crossings...and it is NOT pretty. Today, on the way to the range, we saw no less than 15 abandoned vehicles, all of them pickups. Our pilot also flies for the CPB and he showed us some places where they gather and then are picked up and spread around the state and beyond. The hole-up sites are filled with human garbage...trash, water bottles, clothes....and you can smell it from the air...in a freaking helicopter.

The stories these guys tell are almost unbelievable...the problem is a lot worse than is being reported.

 

Yeah, McCain is a douche, 10 years ago he could care less. But now he is all up and arms about it since this rancher got shot and then died. All of these politicians care about is votes, and trying to be politically correct. And not what is best for this country and It's people.

Trying to be politically correct is clouding our judgment and common sense. I say, let's send some of our national guard troops down there. Could also help them train too.