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Murders of Theodore L. Newton Jr. and George F. Azrak

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Theodore L. Newton Jr. and George F. Azrak were two agents of the United States Border Patrol who were kidnapped and murdered by marijuana smugglers on June 17, 1967, near Anza, California. They are the namesakes of the Theodore L. Newton Jr. and George F. Azrak Station in Murrieta, California and the Newton-Azrak Award for Heroism.

Kidnapping, murders and convictions

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On June 17, 1967, Newton and Azrak stopped a car loaded with 800 lb (360 kg) of marijuana in Oak Grove, San Diego County, California.[1] The two men were kidnapped by individuals in the car they had stopped as well as a second car, and taken to a mountain cabin, where they were handcuffed and shot dead.[1] Newton was shot in the back of the head once, and Azrak was shot in the back of the head twice as well as in the chest once.[2] A 200-man search ensued,[3] and they were found on the Howard Bailey Ranch adjacent to the Cahuilla Band of Mission Indians of the Cahuilla Reservation near Anza, Riverside County, California.[4][5]

Newton was a 26-year-old father of two who had served as a Border Patrol agent for a year,[4][6] and Azrak was a 22-year-old trainee.[4][7] They were the 46th and 47th Border Patrol agents to die in the line of duty in the history of the USBP.[8] The 45th casualty dated back to 1952.[8]

The two criminals in the first car were arrested in Los Angeles on July 16, 1967,[9] and convicted and sentenced to life in prison.[2] The two men in the second car were arrested in Sonora, Mexico,[5] and given thirty-year sentences for second-degree murder.[2]

The Newton-Azrak Award for Heroism.

Legacy

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Since their deaths, Border Patrol agents man checkpoints in teams of at least three.[2]

In 1968, Supreme Court Justice Tom C. Clark honored Newton with the Liberty Bell Award on behalf of the Immigration and Naturalization Service posthumously.[6][10]

For its 30th anniversary in 1997, 20 Border Patrol agents honored Newton and Azrak at the checkpoint and the cabin.[11][12]

The Newton-Azrak Award for Heroism was named in their honor posthumously.[4] As of 2019, it has been awarded to more than 150 agents.[4]

A commemorative plaque with their pictures reading "Died in the line of duty, June 17, 1967" was installed in the Border Patrol office in Temecula, California.[when?][11][2]

On April 24, 2009, the Border Patrol station in Murrieta, California was renamed the Theodore L. Newton Jr. and George F. Azrak Station.[1][13]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Station renamed to honor agents". The Desert Sun. Palm Springs, California. April 25, 2009. p. 27. Retrieved July 23, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ a b c d e Moran, Chris (June 17, 1997). "Slain agents honored". North County Times. Oceanside, California. pp. B1, B5 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ Larsen, Dave (June 19, 1967). "Search Mounted for 2 Missing Border Officers". The Los Angeles Times. p. 3. Retrieved July 24, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b c d e "About the Newton-Azrak Award". U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Retrieved July 22, 2019.
  5. ^ a b Dighton, Ralph (September 7, 1967). "Both Sides of U.S.-Mexico Border Link Border Deaths To Marijuana Smuggling". Independent. Long Beach, California. p. 5. Retrieved July 23, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ a b "Newton Honored With Award". The Greenville News. Greenville, South Carolina. July 28, 1968. p. 37. Retrieved July 23, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "2 Guards Missing; Hub Fugitive Seen". The Boston Globe. June 19, 1967. p. 3. Retrieved July 22, 2019.
  8. ^ a b Hillinger, Charles (June 22, 1967). "46th and 47th To Lose Lives. Border Patrol Killings Were First Since 1952". The Los Angeles Times. p. 38. Retrieved July 22, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "FBI Uses Gas Grenades To Rout Murder Suspects". The Post-Standard. Syracuse, New York. July 17, 1967. p. 3. Retrieved July 24, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Son Is Honored Posthumously". The Fresno Bee The Republican. Fresno, California. August 4, 1968. p. 28. Retrieved July 23, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ a b Moran, Chris (June 17, 1997). "Slain Border Patrol agents to be honored". North County Times. Oceanside, California. p. 9. Retrieved July 23, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Border Patrol agents remember slaying". North County Times. Oceanside, California. June 18, 1997. p. 17. Retrieved July 23, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Theodore L. Newton, Jr. and George F. Azrak Station". U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Retrieved July 22, 2019.
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