Murrieta Border Patrol Renames Station In Honor Of Agents Newton And Azrak

Press Release

The Agents and Staff of the Murrieta Border Patrol Station renamed their border patrol station today after Theodore L. Newton Jr. and George F. Azrak Border Patrol Station. The two Border Patrol Agents were kidnapped and later murdered in the line of duty on June 17, 1967. Legislation sponsored by Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-49), H.R. 2728, to authorize the renaming of the station was signed into law last July by President Bush.

"Border Patrol Agents Newton and Azrak selflessly gave their lives in the line of duty," Issa said. "Our nation's Border Patrol agents have a long history of working thanklessly to make our country safer. Every day they are on the frontlines of the effort to keep our country safe."

The saga and sacrifice of these two slain agents is well-known by the Border Patrol. The Newton/Azrak Award, the Border Patrol's highest award for bravery, is named for them. The two agents were kidnapped from their post during a traffic check operation along Highway 19 near Oak Grove, California, in the early morning hours of June 17. The check point was located about 75 miles north of the Mexican border on a route known to have been used by illegal aliens and smugglers of aliens, narcotics, and contraband. The officers failed to report in following an all-night assignment at the road check, and a hurried search failed to reveal the whereabouts of the men and their two vehicles, a jeep and a Border Patrol sedan. The Service jeep was soon located about a mile from the check point where it had been driven through two stock fences and left under a tree in an open field. On June 19, the bodies of the two agents were found.

A reconstruction of the crime indicated that Patrol Inspectors Newton and Azrak intercepted a vehicle in which over 800 pounds of marijuana were being transported. While checking this vehicle the officers were overpowered by four convicted felons, two of whom had been following the load of marijuana in a second vehicle. The officers were then taken to the mountain cabin where they were made to lie prone with their arms extended toward each other inside a shelf of an old stove. The right wrist of one man was handcuffed to the left wrist of the other, and vice versa. While incapacitated in this manner they were shot and killed. Autopsies performed revealed Patrol Inspector Newton had been shot once in the head while three shots were fired into Patrol Inspector Azrak, two in the head and one in the chest. Their bodies bore no marks to indicate there had been a struggle.

All four killers were eventually caught and convicted. Three of them were paroled while a fourth, Florencio Mationg, continues to serve a life sentence.

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