The killing of 58-year-old Robert Krentz and his dog, shot on 27 March 2010 on his ranch roughly 19 miles (31 km) from the Mexican border, led to increased public support for a bill to combat illegal immigration in which US State?
Arizona SB 1070 March 27, 2010, 58-year-old Robert Krentz and his dog were shot and killed while Krentz was doing fence work on his large ranch roughly from the Mexican border. This incident gave a tangible public face to fears about immigration-related crime. Arizona police were not able to name a murder suspect but traced a set of footprints from the crime scene south towards the border. The resulting speculation that the killer was an illegal alien increased support among the public for the measure. For a while there was talk of naming the law after Krentz. Some state legislators (both for and
Robert Krentz out here, and he appears to need help. Call the Border Patrol." This was his last known transmission; after hours of radio silence aroused suspicions, he was found in a remote section of the ranch. Both he and his dog had been shot and had died from their wounds. Krentz had not been robbed, and in fact his gun was still in his holster. After being shot, he had lived long enough to return to his ATV and attempt to escape, but had lost consciousness and died before reaching safety. Footprints at the crime scene led to the Mexican border,