Rancher Robert Krentz was found shot to death late Saturday on his own land a few hours after phoning his brother that he was going to help an illegal alien who required medical assistance.
The crime highlighted the worsening danger near the border, particularly out in the country where everyone carries a gun for protection from the aliens and drug smugglers who pass through in large numbers every day. The Washington spin that substantially fewer are crossing the border illegally is not true, at least in Arizona. The ranchers say the violence is getting worse, and the murder of Bob Krentz shows that.
Fox News sent William La Jeunnesse to Douglas to report on the murder (Video Link) [1]…
Naturally, the local people are disturbed and want Washington to get serious about border security [3].
Neighbors in Fear Following Killing of Well-Liked Arizona Rancher [4], Fox, March 30, 2010
Wendy Glenn says she heard Robert Krentz communicating with his brother on the radio Saturday before he was shot dead. Authorities said Krentz, 58, was tending to water lines and fencing on his family’s ranch in the known smuggling corridor when he was heard saying “illegal alien” on the radio.
“That’s the last we heard from him,” said Glenn, who lives on the nearby Malpai Ranch.
Krentz, whose family has owned Krentz Ranch, about 35 miles northeast of Douglas, since 1907, was found fatally shot just hours later.
“We have all been carrying guns for several years,” said Glenn, referring to her fellow ranchers in the region. “But now we’re going to be much more and pay more attention. We have an element of people coming up here who are not the normal league of aliens from 10 years ago.”
Glenn said there’s been a “flood” of illegal immigrants trying to enter the country in the area since amnesty started being discussed as a potential answer to the country’s immigration crisis.
“It makes us feel really bad, they’re trashing the land, they’re leaving garbage,” she told FoxNews.com. “But we tolerate it because we have no choice.”
She called for U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents to increase their presence in the area in the wake of a murder she said has “devastated” the close-knit community 35 miles from the Mexican border.
“This is a senseless, stupid killing,” Glenn said. “It would’ve been different if he was attacking someone.”
Glenn said Krentz was “gentle giant” who often helped illegal immigrants crossing into the United States on his 35,000-acre ranch.
“We all have,” she said. “They’re having babies in our pastures, they’re breaking their legs … It’s a tough deal because these people are here illegally but they are human beings.”
Krentz, a devout Catholic, would “help anyone” in need, she said.