The unsolved murder of veteran Arizona rancher Robert Krentz may no longer be in the MSM headlines, but his community and his colleagues won’t let local, state, or federal government officials just forget about the crime — and the continuing bloody consequences of open borders.
More than 1,200 people turned out over the weekend to honor Krentz at a Douglas-area memorial:
More than 1,200 friends, relatives and dignitaries crowded into the Douglas High School gym Saturday morning to remember and celebrate the life of a “good man,” Robert Krentz.
The Douglas-area rancher was found murdered March 27 on his ranch…
Krentz was a man whose actions spoke louder than words, and he fostered a reputation as a kind, compassionate man, said Gary Tuell. “You can tell that by the people who showed up and the reaction that they had,” he said.
Tuell knew Krentz when he was a child, and said he was amicable then. “He was a couple of years younger than I was, but he was always a friendly little cuss.”
On March 27, authorities believe, an illegal immigrant shot Krentz on his ranch.
How to help
Those wishing to honor slain Douglas-area rancher Robert Krentz’ life can do so by donating to the Rob Krentz Memorial Fund, The Cowbelles c/o Carol Riggs, 4466 N. Brooks Road, Douglas, AZ 85608; or the ACGA’s Litigation Fund c/o Patrick Brey, 1401 N. 24th St., No. 4, Phoenix, AZ 85008-4638. Donations may also be made to any Wells Fargo Bank in the name of Robert Krentz.
Tomorrow, ranching families will gather at the state Capitol to demand action. I received the following info from the Arizona Farm Bureau:
April 12, 2010, AZ – This weekend the ranching community gathered to celebrate the life of Robert Krentz, a husband, father and a friend to many. A senseless act took the life of a man, a humanitarian, who bore no ill will towards anyone. Rob loved his family instilling in them the importance of honesty, fair dealing and skill managing all aspects of a large 100-year-old ranching operation producing food to make our country strong and healthy.
On April 13, 2010 Arizona ranching families will gather at the state Capitol to demand action to secure our border, called Restore Our Border. For 18 months southern Arizona ranchers have been meeting with local officials to improve the conditions on the border. Thanks to the hard work of many individuals the Arizona Cattlemen’s Association has developed a plan of action to secure our border.
It’s clear that southern Arizona is a lawless area and the U.S./Mexico border is controlled by criminal forces. These unlawful cartels have no regards for the lives of American citizens and it is past time that our government takes action. Our fellow Arizonans and Americans should be able to sleep at night in the safety of their own homes. Arizona ranchers cannot stand for another tragedy like they have faced and will not rest until the border is secured.
The Arizona Cattlemen’s Association is working with the proper authorities to finalize the plan of action. On April 13, 2010 Restore Our Border (ROB) Plan will be released at 12:00PM at the capitol during a press conference. At 2:30PM Senator Russell Pearce has called a special committee hearing to discuss the criminal activities along the border. The committee will discuss the Restore Our Border plan and take testimony from southern Arizona Ranch Families.
Restore Our Border (ROB) Plan is a plan of action, not discussion points. For far too long these American Citizens have lived in fear for their lives and the lives of their family, we need to secure the border now!
More info on the protest and hearing here.
Related: Sheriff To Texas Border Town: ‘Arm Yourselves’
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Via Teri Christoph: Arizona’s Smart Girl Politics chapter is organizing a citizen border clean-up event in honor of Robert Krentz on 4/24 in Bisbee, AZ. More info on Facebook here.
Arizona ranchers continue to raise their voices about chaos on the southern border in the wake of Robert Krentz’s murder in the Douglas-area:
Given Mr. Krentz’s radio transmission, the footprints and heavy drug and illegal immigrant trafficking in that area, investigators are working on the assumption that he encountered a smuggler, possibly heading back to Mexico.
“You never know who you’re dealing with out here because you get all kinds of traffic through here,” said William McDonald, a fellow rancher on the vast mesquite scrubland pocked with canyons and scattered mountain ranges floating on the horizon like islands.
Mr. McDonald and other residents said that in the last year or two the traffic had taken a more sinister turn, with larger numbers of drug smugglers, many clad in black and led by armed scouts.
“It was only a matter of time,” he said. “Everything was in place for something like this to happen.”
Sheriff Larry A. Dever of Cochise County said if it was related to smuggling, it would be the first such killing of a rancher in more than three decades. But as local, state and federal investigators pore over the case, no motive has been ruled out, Sheriff Dever said.
Mr. Krentz’s family, in a statement last week, said they had little doubt that the killing was related to smuggling. They went on to vent frustration at what they said was a lack of concern by federal leaders.
“We hold no malice towards the Mexican people for this senseless act but do hold the political forces in this country and Mexico accountable for what has happened,” the family said. “Their disregard of our repeated pleas and warnings of impending violence towards our community fell on deaf ears shrouded in political correctness. As a result, we have paid the ultimate price for their negligence in credibly securing our borderlands.”
Reader Billie e-mails along more info via Arizona native Caren Cowen, now director of New Mexico Cattlemen:
A rosary will be held for Rob Krentz at St. Luke’s Catholic Church, 211 E. 15th St., Douglas, Arizona, on Friday, April 9th, at 6:00 pm. A memorial service will be held at Douglas High School Gym, 1550 East 15th St on Saturday April 10th at 10:00 am. A reception will follow at the Gadsden Hotel, 1046 G Avenue in Douglas.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the “Rob Krentz Memorial Fund,” The Cowbelles – c/o Carol Riggs, 4466 N. Brooks Road, Douglas, Arizona 85608.
Cards to may be sent to: Krentz Family, PO Box 3592, Douglas, Arizona 85607
A Robert Krentz Memorial Fund has been established at Wells Fargo Bank to aid the family. Anyone that would like to donate to this fund may do so at any Wells Fargo using the following account number: 5560960899. A calf donated by Sunny Shores will be auctioned and re-auctioned at the Willcox Livestock Auction April 8, with proceeds to the Memorial Fund.
As I noted last month, the Arizona Cattle Growers Association is offering a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for the murder of Rob Krentz and is collecting contributions and pledges to supplement the ACGA’s own contribution to the fund of $5,000. The New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association is contributing $1,000 to this fund. ICE/DHS are also offering a $25,000 reward.
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Previous:
March 30 – From the front lines: Ranchers speak out on border chaos
March 29 – The death of an Arizona rancher; Updated: Cattle growers’ association offers reward; new details of the murder; suspect foot tracks into Mexico
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