They Left Us Too Soon…
The Tragic Death of Three Crawford High Students! The information source material for this memorial summary comes from State of California Death Records and the San Diego Union/Tribune newspapers.

REDACTED ABSTRACT

Marcia Degen

SDS Student Kills Girl, 17,
Then Himself
The San Diego Union and Evening Tribune
In Both April 6th, 1963 Issues

A 20-year old college student yesterday fatally fires three pistol bullets into the head of a 17-year old girl who refused to continue dating him. Dead is Crawford High School student Marcia Degen. Immediately after Marcia’s shooting, her assailant then turned his weapon on himself. He expired not long afterwards. At least eight high school students witnessed the murder.

The murderer, a former ROTC Crawford High School Honor Student, from the Class of 1960, left a written note detailing his reason for killing Miss Degen. The two had dated recently and Miss Degen had broken-off the relationship. Marcia’s former boyfriend had threatened to kill her twice within a 16 hour period before the killing, a homicide detective said.

The shooting occurred at the intersection of Spartan Drive and Spartan Circle, a block from Crawford High School at 7:50 a.m. Miss Degen was taken to the College Park Hospital where she died at 9:10 a.m.

REDACTED ABSTRACT
Teenager Drowns
The San Diego Union
July 12th, 1968

A College Grove area youth drowned last night in the City’s Chollas Reservoir on Ryan Road about a half-mile east of 54th Street. Police said the victim was Victor Manuel Vega, 18, and a Crawford High School student.

He was swimming just before 6 p.m. with two companions in water about 10 feet deep. They were near the middle of the reservoir when he told his friends he could not make it to a nearby raft.

Officers said the companions continued swimming and, when they looked back, Vega had disappeared. The friends went to a nearby fire station to summon help.

Three city lifeguards, were sent to the scene. They searched the murky water for about an hour before recovering the body at 8:05 p.m., police said.

Swimming is not permitted in the reservoir.

REDACTED ABSTRACT
Jump in Chollas Lake costs teen his life
The San Diego-Union Tribune
March 11th, 1997

A 16-year-old boy died Sunday after he was pulled from Chollas Lake. He had gone into the water to retrieve a basketball, police said.

Juan Bahena, a ninth-grader at Crawford High School, jumped in the water at the Chollas Lake Recreation Center about 6 p.m. When he did not surface, friends tried to find him.

Others found the boy unconscious and pulled him from the water. He was taken to
a nearby hospital, then transferred to the Children’s Hospital, where he died about
10 p.m.