Three men have been found guilty of murdering Australian brothers Jake and Callum Robinson and their American friend Carter Rhoad during a surfing trip in Mexico in April 2024. The verdict was delivered in a Mexican court in Ensenada, Baja California, on Friday, following a month-long trial.
Jesús Gerardo García, Irineo Francisco, and Ángel Jesús—all Mexican nationals—were convicted of aggravated homicide, armed robbery, and armed carjacking. The judge ruled that the defendants acted with premeditation. Sentencing has not yet been determined, but the prosecution had sought 150 years in prison for each defendant.
The victims, aged 30 and 33, were on a surfing trip in the Pacific coastal region of Baja California when they were killed. Their bodies were discovered on May 3, 2024, in a well near Punta San Jose, approximately 50 miles from Ensenada. Officials reported that the men were shot and their truck was stolen during the attack.
Victim Impact and Family Statements
The parents of the Robinson brothers, Debra and Martin Robinson, attended the trial and delivered emotional testimony. Debra Robinson, speaking in a victim impact statement, said the murders had taken "the future we had imagined with them." She added, "No sentence can bring Callum and Jake back; nothing can undo what has happened, but accountability matters."
Martin Robinson told the court, "It's hard for a parent to lose a son, and we lost two sons." Debra Robinson, speaking outside the court after the verdict, said she had no feelings toward the convicted men, stating, "I have tried to hold on to the memory of my children... and I try really not to [focus on them]." The family expressed gratitude for the support they received from the Australian and U.S. governments, as well as from the local community.
Trial Details and Prosecution Case
During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence that the victims were killed during a botched robbery of their truck. The girlfriend of the alleged ringleader, Ary Gisell Silva Raya, testified that Jesús Gerardo García—known as "El Kekas"—confessed to her that he arrived at the victims' campsite with a 9 mm pistol. According to her testimony, the victims began throwing their belongings to prevent an attack, and one of them begged for his life, which García ignored.
The prosecution also presented evidence linking the defendants to organized crime. Irineo Francisco was reported to have ties to the Sinaloa cartel, while Ángel Jesús was described as a violent hit man with a criminal record. García, the alleged ringleader, was arrested in May 2024 in connection with the case.
In a separate trial, Silva Raya was sentenced to 20 years in prison in November 2023 for her role in the robbery.
International Response and Safety Concerns
The murders sparked an outpouring of grief and condemnation in Australia and the United States. The case drew international attention due to the victims' nationalities and the circumstances of the crime, which occurred in a region typically considered safer than other parts of Mexico.
Australian officials, including representatives from the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Embassy in Mexico, were involved in the investigation and trial. The case has raised questions about the safety of foreign tourists in Mexico, particularly in coastal areas popular with surfers and travelers.