Biographical Info:
Born: Unknown
Age: 25
Tour of Duty: 1 year
Badge Number: Not available
Incident Details:
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Location: California
Date of Incident: June 17, 1967
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Parole request 2003, Denied parole 2006 (last of the four suspects)
Inspector Theodore Newton and Inspector George F. Azrak were shot and killed after being abducted from a traffic checkpoint on Highway 79 near Oak Grove, California (now in the city of Murietta). The ensuing investigation determined that the two inspectors had stopped a vehicle with over 800 pounds of marijuana. While searching the vehicle, they were overpowered by four subjects and taken to a remote cabin in a deserted mountainous area. The two had been handcuffed together and were shot and killed as they lay on the ground. Their bodies were found two days later. Four subjects were arrested in connection with the murders one month later. Two of the men were sentenced to 30 years in prison and were released in 1980. The other two were sentenced to life in prison. One of those two was paroled in 1998 and the remaining suspect was denied parole in 2006. Inspector Newton had been with the agency for one year. He was survived by his wife, son, and daughter.
Inspector Newton’s burial site is not known.