View source for Murders of Theodore L. Newton Jr. and George F. Azrak

'''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==
On June 17, 1967, Newton and Azrak stopped a car loaded with {{convert|800|lb|kg|abbr=on}} of marijuana in [[Oak Grove, San Diego County, California|Oak Grove]], [[San Diego County, California]].<ref name="desertsunstationrenamed">{{cite news |title=Station renamed to honor agents |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/195309805/?terms=%22George%2BF.%2BAzrak%22 |accessdate=July 23, 2019 |work=The Desert Sun |location=Palm Springs, California |date=April 25, 2009|page=27|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> 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.<ref name="desertsunstationrenamed"/> 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.<ref name="moranagentshonored">{{cite news |last1=Moran |first1=Chris |title=Slain agents honored |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/576749461 |work=North County Times |location=Oceanside, California |date=June 17, 1997 |pages=B1; B5|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> A 200-man search ensued,<ref name="latimessearchmounted">{{cite news |last1=Larsen |first1=Dave |title=Search Mounted for 2 Missing Border Officers |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/382404103/?terms=%22George%2BF.%2BAzrak%22 |accessdate=July 24, 2019 |work=The Los Angeles Times |date=June 19, 1967|page=3|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> and they were found on the Howard Bailey Ranch adjacent to the [[Cahuilla Band of Mission Indians of the Cahuilla Reservation]] near [[Anza, California|Anza]], [[Riverside County, California]].<ref name="uscbpaward">{{cite web |title=About the Newton-Azrak Award |url=https://www.cbp.gov/about/memoriam/newton-azrak-award |website=U.S. Customs and Border Protection |accessdate=July 22, 2019}}</ref><ref name="independentbothsides">{{cite news |last1=Dighton |first1=Ralph |title=Both Sides of U.S.-Mexico Border Link Border Deaths To Marijuana Smuggling |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/24266801/?terms=%22George%2BF.%2BAzrak%22 |accessdate=July 23, 2019 |work=Independent |location=Long Beach, California |date=September 7, 1967|page=5|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
Newton was a 26-year-old father of two who had served as a Border Patrol agent for a year,<ref name="uscbpaward"/><ref name="greenvillenewsnewtonhonored">{{cite news |title=Newton Honored With Award |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/189178675/?terms=%22George%2BF.%2BAzrak%22 |accessdate=July 23, 2019 |work=The Greenville News |location=Greenville, South Carolina |date=July 28, 1968|page=37|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> and Azrak was a 22-year-old trainee.<ref name="uscbpaward"/><ref name="bostonglobe2guardsmissing">{{cite news |title=2 Guards Missing; Hub Fugitive Seen |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/433685230/?terms=%22George%2BF.%2BAzrak%22 |accessdate=July 22, 2019 |work=The Boston Globe|date=June 19, 1967|page=3}}</ref> They were the 46th and 47th Border Patrol agents to die in the line of duty in the history of the USBP.<ref name="latimes46th">{{cite news |last1=Hillinger |first1=Charles |title=46th and 47th To Lose Lives. Border Patrol Killings Were First Since 1952. |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/382410422/?terms=%22George%2BF.%2BAzrak%22 |accessdate=July 22, 2019 |work=The Los Angeles Times |date=June 22, 1967|page=38|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> The 45th casualty dated back to 1952.<ref name="latimes46th"/>
The two criminals in the first car were arrested in Los Angeles on July 16, 1967,<ref name="poststandardfbiuses">{{cite news |title=FBI Uses Gas Grenades To Rout Murder Suspects |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/19676322/?terms=%22florencio%2Bmationg%22 |accessdate=July 24, 2019 |work=The Post-Standard |location=Syracuse, New York |date=July 17, 1967|page=3|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> and convicted and sentenced to life in prison.<ref name="moranagentshonored"/> The two men in the second car were arrested in [[Sonora]], Mexico,<ref name="independentbothsides"/> and given thirty-year sentences for second-degree murder.<ref name="moranagentshonored"/>
[[File:NAl - Large Medal.JPG|thumb|right|The Newton-Azrak Award for Heroism.]]
==Legacy==
Since their deaths, Border Patrol agents man checkpoints in teams of at least three.<ref name="moranagentshonored"/>
In 1968, Supreme Court Justice [[Tom C. Clark]] honored Newton with the Liberty Bell Award on behalf of the [[Immigration and Naturalization Service]] posthumously.<ref name="greenvillenewsnewtonhonored"/><ref name="fresnobeehonored">{{cite news |title=Son Is Honored Posthumously |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/25907519/?terms=%22George%2BF.%2BAzrak%22 |accessdate=July 23, 2019 |work=The Fresno Bee The Republican |location=Fresno, California |date=August 4, 1968|page=28|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
For its 30th anniversary in 1997, 20 Border Patrol agents honored Newton and Azrak at the checkpoint and the cabin.<ref name="northcountytiesslain">{{cite news |last1=Moran |first1=Chris |title=Slain Border Patrol agents to be honored |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/575924856/?terms=%22George%2BF.%2BAzrak%22 |accessdate=July 23, 2019 |work=North County Times |location=Oceanside, California |date=June 17, 1997|page=9|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref name="northcountytimesremember">{{cite news |title=Border Patrol agents remember slaying |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/575925143/?terms=%22George%2BF.%2BAzrak%22 |accessdate=July 23, 2019 |work=North County Times |location=Oceanside, California |date=June 18, 1997|page=17|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
The Newton-Azrak Award for Heroism was named in their honor posthumously.<ref name="uscbpaward"/> As of 2019, it has been awarded to more than 150 agents.<ref name="uscbpaward"/>
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|date=July 2019}}<ref name="northcountytiesslain"/><ref name="moranagentshonored"/>
On April 24, 2009, the Border Patrol station in [[Murrieta, California]] was renamed the Theodore L. Newton Jr. and George F. Azrak Station.<ref name="desertsunstationrenamed"/><ref name="uscbpstation">{{cite web |title=Theodore L. Newton, Jr. and George F. Azrak Station |url=https://www.cbp.gov/border-security/along-us-borders/border-patrol-sectors/san-diego-sector-california/murrieta-station |website=U.S. Customs and Border Protection |accessdate=July 22, 2019}}</ref>
==See also==
* [[List of homicides in California]]
*[[Murder of Javier Vega Jr.]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Newton, Theodore L., Murders of}}
[[Category:1967 in California]]
[[Category:1967 murders in the United States]]
[[Category:American police officers killed in the line of duty]]
[[Category:Deaths by firearm in California]]
[[Category:Deaths by person in California]]
[[Category:June 1967 events in the United States]]
[[Category:Mexican cannabis traffickers]]
[[Category:Murder in Riverside County, California]]
[[Category:People murdered in California]]
[[Category:United States Border Patrol agents]]