Well-known Douglas-area rancher is found slain

[ChunkyMonkey]

There have been rumors on mp.net about an AZ/TX rancher killed by The Cartel, and the local Sheriff family got murdered for aggressively pursuing the case. Has anyone heard of such news? I found this, I wonder if this how that rumor got started...

http://www.azstarnet.com/news/local/...0c7bc913c.html

Megan Neighbor and Andrea Rivera Arizona Daily Star | Posted: Monday, March 29, 2010 12:00 am

A longtime rancher was killed on his Douglas-area property over the weekend, and neighbors worried that his homicide was connected to increasing border-related crime in the area.

The Cochise County Sheriff's Office offered little information into the late-Saturday shooting death of 58-year-old Robert Krentz, whose family began the Krentz Ranch more than 100 years ago.

Krentz's body was found on his land, which is about 35 miles northeast of Douglas, just before midnight Saturday, said Carol Capas, a spokeswoman for the Sheriff's Office.

The Sheriff's Office, aided by the U.S. Border Patrol, had no suspects Sunday and continued to follow leads, Capas said. She declined to comment on reports from neighbors and border activists that Krentz's death was related to smuggling in the area.

Area residents said Krentz had no enemies, and they could think of no motive for his death other than the possibility it was related to what they called the growing level of crime in the area related to illegal immigrants and drug smugglers.

Tom Tancredo, a former U.S. representative from Colorado, was visiting ranchers near Douglas to discuss border issues when he heard of Krentz's death.

Tancredo said he and Krentz were friends and that he was "a mild-mannered guy" who was known for providing illegal immigrants with food and water.
Tancredo and Chris Simcox, co-founder of the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps, said Krentz phoned a family member Saturday afternoon to say he was out near his watering hole, providing one or more illegal immigrants with aid.
That's the last his family heard from him, Simcox and Tancredo said.
"He looked the other way so often," Tancredo said. "It's so ironic that he, of all people, got murdered."

If Krentz's killing was caused by an illegal immigrant or a drug smuggler, U.S. Border Patrol spokesman Omar Candelaria said, it would be a first for the area, to his recollection.

"We haven't seen any instances of illegal immigrants or drug smugglers attacking U.S. citizens," Candelaria said.

Others who live nearby were unwilling to disclose their names when they spoke about the homicide Sunday because, they said, they were afraid of possible repercussions. A person at the Krentz home also declined to comment.
In a 1999 PBS interview, Robert Krentz and his wife, Susan, said illegal immigrants once stole property from their ranch, but that incident didn't stop him from aiding other trespassers.

"You know, we've personally been broke in once. And they took about $700 worth of stuff. And you know, if they come in and ask for water, I'll still give them water. I, you know, that's just my nature," Krentz was quoted as saying in written transcripts of the interview.

The longtime rancher's homicide already has caught U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' attention.

Sometime this week, the Arizona Democrat will travel to Douglas for a briefing on the homicide, said Giffords' spokesman, C.J. Karamargin.

"Rob Krentz was a pillar of the Cochise County ranching community," Giffords said in a press release. "He will be greatly missed."

The Krentz family's cattle ranch was inducted into the Arizona Farming and Ranching Hall of Fame in 2008. The family started the ranch in 1907.

Contact reporters Megan Neighbor at 307-0579 or mneighbor@azstarnet.com and Andrea Rivera at arivera@azstarnet.com or 807-8430.

[sniper7]

he was allowing illegal immigrants to come into the country...he knowingly was helping criminals and became a criminal himself.

nothing lost IMO.

[ChunkyMonkey]

He has been playing with fire for long time from the sound of it. I bet his ranch became smugglers' fav. route and things went out of control.

I am trying to confirm the rumors about the Sheriff on the case was murdered also.

[cowboykjohnson]

he was allowing illegal immigrants to come into the country...he knowingly was helping criminals and became a criminal himself.

nothing lost IMO.

+1

[SA Friday]

Wow, you guys are harsh. I'm not so sure I can condemn the man for giving another human being a drink of water and some food.

Now where'd I put that fire resistant suit?

[SNAFU]

He was not a criminal. I will play the Devil's advocate. Giving water or food to a starving dehydrated person is not smuggling illegals across the border.
Seen any pictures of him? He's an older gentleman who posed no threat,but had called authorities numerous times.
Do you honestly believe he could stem the flow through that area?
Ever been to Camp Pendleton CA? Know how many illegals go through there ?
Might as well call all the Marines and Navy at Camp Pendleton criminals.

http://www.diggersrealm.com/mt/archives/003355.html

Border Rancher Rob Krentz And Dog Found Shot To Death After Aiding Illegal Alien
By Digger Bookmark and Share

Robert Krentz
The body of Rancher Rob Krentz and his dog were found shot to death on his ranch. Krentz, who always was good-natured and willing to help people, had called in that he had found an illegal alien
at one of his watering holes and was assisting him. That was the last that was heard from him before his body was discovered.

Rob Krentz was a lifelong rancher in Southeastern Arizona, 12 miles north of the U.S./Mexico border and 25 miles northeast of the city of Douglas. He was the father of three children. The ranch has been in his family for three generations, more than 100 years - since 1907, and sits on about 35,000 acres with 1,000 head of cattle. Running a ranch is hard work and with the influx of illegal aliens increasing, Rob was at ground zero of the stampede that is destroying the fragile desert landscape.

The Krentz family has received numerous threats in the past by illegal aliens trespassing on their property. In 2002, the family was physically threatened when one of them stumbled upon a group of 39 illegal aliens. They were told to get off the land and they made threats. The Border Patrol did catch the illegal aliens after they were called, but we all know that illegal aliens, if deported, come right back across.

In 1999, Krentz and his wife Susan did an interview with PBS when they came around asking about the issue of illegal immigration
and its impacts on the local ranchers.

"We've been broken into," Susan Krentz told PBS.
"One time," Rob said "You know, we've personally been broke in once. And they took about $700 worth of stuff. And you know, if they come in and ask for water, I'll still give them water. I - you know, that's just my nature."

In 2003, Congressman Tom Tancredo mentioned the challenges of the border ranchers, and in particular highlighted the the Krentz family's plight.

"In the month of November, 2002, in the Tucson Sector of the U.S. Border Patrol ... where the Krentz ranch is located, the Border Patrol apprehended 23,000 border crossers," Tancredo wrote. "many people would suggest that the [apprehension] ratio is just about maybe one in five, and that is a very conservative estimate. ... I think it is closer to one in ten".

That means in that sector alone for one month, 8 years ago, the most conservative estimate is that 115,000 illegal aliens crossed the border in that one chunk of land in the Tucson sector. All of the illegals are unknown.

Tancredo notes that the Krentz's did mention to him that they called the Border Patrol. In one instance illegal aliens had butchered one of his calves.


In February [2002] ... a calf was butchered by illegal alien trespassers. Two men responsible were caught. They were tried. They were found guilty. They served a total of 51 days in jail. They were also ordered to pay $200 in restitution to the Krentz ranch. The Krentz ranch has not seen a cent of that money; and, of course, our best guess is they will not because these people have been released. They either came back into the population up here in the U.S.A. or returned to Mexico.

Tancredo goes into the cases of deliberate sabotage of the Krentz ranch's water supply and the other impacts on the Krentz's by illegal aliens. You can read more, where Tancredo dubs the Krentzs American Homeland Heroes

6 years after the PBS interview, in 2005, Krentz did an interview with KOLD as the number of illegal aliens exploded.

"We’re being over-run, and it’s costing us lots and lots of money," Krentz said.

"We figured it up over the last five years and it’s cost us over $8 million," Krentz said. "Cattle don’t like people walking through, so they move. So, cattle weight loss, destruction of fences, breaking our pipelines, they break them in two and (the pipes) run for two or three days before we find it."

Krentz went on to say that when he was a boy he actually knew the few illegal aliens that came through looking for work, he said it's nothing like that now as hundreds of unknown illegals stream across his land.

Rob Krentz is just one of the many people who live and work along our southern border. A tough, hard working man who was trying to make a living and doing what he loved. Those who support illegal aliens will talk about "human rights", but where were the "human rights" when it came to Rob Krentz? Where was the government to protect our border and prevent this from happening, though they've been told time and time again? They didn't protect his property rights, nor his civil rights.

This country failed Robert Krentz, his family and all who work for him. As they have failed countless families all across this country. The number of deaths is estimated to be from 15-25 deaths caused by illegal aliens each day in this country.

It is not known yet whether Krentz was specifically targeted or whether it was just one of the hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens who come across our border every year who have actual criminal records, but in the end does it matter? A hard working man was killed on his own land. And all for just trying to help out someone in need.

And that is simply outrageous.

[roberth]

I wonder if Rob Krentz rendered aid to the illegal alien that murdered officer Donny Young, or the illegal alien that murdered 3 yr old Marten Kudlis, Patricia Guntharp, and Debra Serecky. There are hundreds if not thousands of similar cases like these two local high profile cases nationwide.

If Rob Krentz rendered aid to those two ol' Rob got what he deserved.

Fact is, no one knows who Rob Krentz aided and abetted in their criminal activity. People like Rob may be good-hearted but their kindness is wasted on the illegal alien and that kindness came back and killed him.

[Irving]

Glad I didn't have to say it first this time.

[SNAFU]

Did you read my above post? here's more..

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articl...ona-ranch.html

[Irving]

Did you read my above post? here's more..

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articl...ona-ranch.html

Who me? I did, it was very similar to the first article posted. I'm not sure which side of this debate you think I'm on, but it is your side. I don't have any bad feelings for this guy for giving people some water.