Three Sentenced for Baja California Surfer Murders

Three Mexican men have each been sentenced to 158 years and nine months in prison for the 2024 murders of Perth brothers Jake and Callum Robinson and their American friend, Carter Rhoad. The victims were killed during a surfing trip in Baja California. A judge-only trial found Jesús Gerardo, known as “El Kekas”, Irineo Francisco and Ángel Jesús guilty of aggravated homicide and related offences. Prosecutors said the men were murdered during a robbery that went wrong; the defence argued that the evidence was insufficient to prove the case. Judge Raul Hernandez Arellano said the attack was especially serious because the tourists were unarmed, were targeted at a remote location at night, and the perpetrators had time to consider their actions. The men were also ordered to pay compensation: 1,980,728 pesos for the murders of the Robinson brothers and 549,550 pesos for Rhoad’s murder. Rhoad’s mother, Page, thanked the judge, saying that although nothing could bring her son back, she was glad other families would not become victims of the men’s crimes. The defence has said it intends to appeal and has 10 days to do so. Jake, 31, had travelled to California to visit Callum, 32, before the pair went to Mexico. Jake was a doctor preparing to begin a new job at a Geelong hospital; Callum had moved to the United States to pursue lacrosse. Their family and friends reported them missing after they could not be contacted and failed to check into their accommodation. The bodies of all three men were later found in a well on a remote property. The case drew international attention and highlighted crimes against tourists in Mexico. Jake and Callum’s parents, Debra and Martin Robinson, attended the trial and said they were satisfied with the sentences. They acknowledged that no punishment could undo their loss, but said they took some comfort in knowing the men would be removed from society and hoped the outcome would help them take a small step forward.

A Mexican judge sentenced three men to 158 years and nine months in prison each for murdering Australian brothers Jake and Callum Robinson and their American friend Carter Rhoad. The three victims, all in their early 30s, were on a surfing trip in Baja California in 2024 when they were killed in what prosecutors described as an apparent botched attempt to steal their truck. The court heard that their bodies were found down a well, each with gunshot wounds to the head. The men were identified only by their first names—Jesús Gerardo, Irineo Francisco and Ángel Jesús—for legal reasons. The guilty verdict had been delivered the previous week. In a separate trial in November of the previous year, the girlfriend of alleged ringleader Jesús Gerardo, also known as “El Kekas,” was sentenced to 20 years in prison after admitting involvement in the robbery. The killings drew international attention and caused shock in Australia, as well as among residents and tourists in Ensenada, a beach town known as a welcoming destination for surfers. The article says the violence appeared especially disturbing because the victims were apparently killed for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Their deaths occurred about 36 hours after they crossed from the United States into Mexico. Their bodies were not found for a week, and their families subsequently identified them. At trial, the brothers’ mother, Debra Robinson, told the court that the murders had taken “the future we had imagined with them.” Local surfers called for better security, pointing to other recent violence in Baja California. Tourism is an important part of the region’s economy, and the case has raised concerns about safety for residents and visitors.

Three men in Mexico have each been sentenced to 158 years and nine months in prison for murdering Australian brothers Jake and Callum Robinson and their American friend Carter Rhoad during a 2024 surfing trip. The men were camping near Ensenada, in Baja California, when they were attacked in an attempted robbery. Their bodies were discovered several days later in a remote well, with gunshot wounds to their heads. Judge Raul Hernandez found that the defendants—identified as Jesus Gerardo, Irineo Francisco and Angel Jesus—acted with premeditation. Prosecutors said the attackers likely wanted to steal tires and other parts from the victims’ pickup truck, rather than targeting them because they were tourists. Jesus Gerardo’s former girlfriend, Ary Gisell Silva, admitted encouraging him to steal the tires and was sentenced to 20 years in prison in November. After the killings, the victims’ tents and truck were burned, and their bodies were hidden in a well that investigators described as extremely difficult to find. A fourth body, apparently left there much earlier, was also discovered. Authorities have suggested the defendants may have been connected to that earlier killing, but they have not been charged in that case. The judge rejected prosecutors’ request for more than $100,000 in damages, saying compensation would need to be pursued through civil proceedings. The victims’ families described the pain and cruelty of their loss. Rhoad’s mother said the sentence could not restore her son but expressed relief that the men would not hurt anyone else. The Robinsons’ parents traveled from Australia for the trial, while Rhoad’s mother and fiancée addressed the court remotely. The murders shocked Ensenada, a popular surfing destination, against the backdrop of serious organized crime and drug trafficking in Baja California. The article also notes previous murders of foreign surfers in Mexico, including two Australians killed in Sinaloa in 2015.

A Mexican court sentenced three men—Jesus Gerardo, Irineo Francisco and Angel Jesus—to more than 158 years in prison each for the 2024 murders of Australian brothers Jake and Callum Robinson and their American friend, Carter Rhoad. The court also ordered the defendants to pay compensation to the victims’ families. The men had been convicted a week earlier of homicide, aggravated robbery, robbery with violence and vehicle theft with violence. The three tourists were on a surfing trip on Mexico’s Pacific coast and camping near Ensenada, in Baja California, when they were attacked on April 27, 2024. Prosecutors said the attack occurred during an attempted robbery. After the victims were reported missing, a search assisted by the FBI led to their bodies, which had been dumped in a cliff-top well. All three had gunshot wounds to the head. The killings shocked Ensenada, an internationally known surfing destination, and drew condemnation around the world. Although Mexico has long faced widespread insecurity, the area where the murders occurred had been regarded as safe for tourists. Family members spoke about their grief following the sentencing. Page Rhoad, Carter’s mother, said that no sentence could bring justice for the loss of a child, but expressed hope that the convicted men would not hurt anyone else. The Robinsons’ parents traveled from Australia to attend the month-long trial and were present for the guilty verdict. Martin Robinson described the pain of losing two sons, while Debra Robinson said the cruelty inflicted on them in their final hours was especially painful.

Three Mexican men were sentenced to 158 years and nine months in prison each for the 2024 murders of Australian brothers Callum and Jake Robinson and their American friend Carter Redd Rhoad. A judge in Ensenada, Baja California, imposed the sentences for murder, robbery with violence, and vehicle theft with violence, one week after the men were found guilty. Antonio Otañez, head of the Baja California surfers’ association, said justice had been served, while noting that the killings had sharply reduced tourist visits, especially by surfers. The three friends traveled to Baja California in late April 2024 to surf near Punta San José. They camped on the beach on April 27. According to the article, attackers confronted them in the early morning, shot them, and left their bodies in a well more than 50 feet deep. Their bodies were found on May 3, after several days of searching. Authorities arrested Jesús Gerardo García, known as “el Kekas,” on May 5 and identified him as the suspected gunman. García’s former partner, Ary Gisell Silva Raya, and alleged accomplices Irineo Francisco “N” and Ángel Jesús “N” were also arrested. Silva Raya, found with one victim’s cellphone, took an abbreviated trial and was sentenced in November to 20 years for aggravated robbery with violence and vehicle theft with violence. State prosecutor María Elena Andrade said the attackers intended to steal the victims’ pickup-truck tires. She alleged the victims resisted and that the attackers shot the person who first resisted before killing the other two. The case drew attention to safety risks for foreign visitors and harmed the image of a country reliant on tourism.

A Mexican judge sentenced three men to 158 years and nine months in prison each for the 2024 killings of Australian brothers Jake and Callum Robinson and their American friend, Jack Rhoad. The men were convicted of homicide, aggravated robbery, robbery with violence and vehicle theft with violence. The court also ordered them to compensate the victims’ families. A fourth defendant, Gisell Silva, had previously received a 20-year sentence after pleading guilty to robbery-related charges. The three friends were camping and surfing near Punta San Jose, south of Ensenada, when they went missing in late April 2024. After a search that included FBI assistance, their bodies were found on May 3 at the bottom of a well. Each had been shot in the head, and their burned pickup truck was discovered several kilometres away. The victims were Jake, 33, Callum, 30, and Rhoad, 30. Family members attended the sentencing remotely. Rhoad’s mother, Page, said that the loss of a child could never be answered by justice, but expressed relief that the convicted men would not hurt anyone else. Jake and Callum’s parents, Martin and Debra Robinson, had followed the trial remotely after returning to Australia. They described the deaths and the proceedings as “hell” and “incredibly difficult.” The article also notes that although the Ensenada area is considered relatively safe, Baja California is among Mexico’s most violent states. After the killings, the US State Department advised Americans to reconsider travel to the state because of crime and kidnapping risks.

A Mexican judge sentenced three men to 158 years and nine months in prison each for killing Australian brothers Jake and Callum Robinson and their American friend Carter Rhoad during a surf trip in Baja California in April 2024. The men were found guilty a week before sentencing of homicide, aggravated robbery, robbery with violence and vehicle theft with violence. The three victims were camping in a remote beachside area near Ensenada when they were attacked in what authorities suspect was a robbery. Their bodies were discovered days later in a clifftop well, each with gunshot wounds to the head. One defendant, Jesus Gerardo, known as “El Kekas,” was accused of leading the attack; his surname has not been disclosed for legal reasons. The other convicted men were identified as Irineo Francisco and Angel Jesus. The victims’ families attended the sentencing hearing by video link. Prosecutors sought more than $100,000 in damages, but the judge ruled that compensation would have to be pursued through civil proceedings. The Robinson brothers’ parents, Martin and Debra, travelled from Australia to Ensenada for the trial, which began on 7 September. They have established the Callum and Jake Robinson Foundation to honor their sons. Callum, a professional lacrosse player who moved to the United States, was remembered for his loving nature and environmental concern, including participation in coastal cleanups. Jake was a doctor due to begin work at Geelong hospital after returning to Australia, and was remembered for his academic achievement, love of sport, cricket and surfing, and compassion. The article notes that Baja California is among Mexico’s most violent states, affected by organized crime and drug trafficking, though cartel activity does not usually affect tourists. It also recalls the 2015 killings of Australian surfers Dean Lucas and Adam Coleman in Sinaloa; their bodies were later burned.