A Mexican judge on Friday found three men guilty of the 2024 murders of two Australian brothers and their American friend during a surf trip to Baja California — closing a case that shocked Australia, the United States and Mexico.
Jesus Gerardo Garcia, known as "El Kekas," and co-defendants identified as Irineo Francisco "N" and Angel Jesus "N" were found guilty of aggravated homicide, violent robbery and vehicle theft by a Baja California court. The prosecution had sought sentences of up to 150 years; the sentence will be announced on October 16.
Brothers Callum, 33, and Jake Robinson, 30, and American Jack Carter Rhoad, 30, were camping and surfing near Punta San Jose, about 80 kilometers south of Ensenada, when they were reported missing in late April 2024. After a days-long search aided by the FBI, their bodies were found on May 3 at the bottom of a well — each with gunshot wounds to the head.
Prosecutors said the accused had attempted to carjack the tourists, who were shot when they tried to resist. Their truck was later found burned nearby. The Robinsons' parents, Martin and Debra, traveled from their hometown of Perth to attend the four-week trial, and Rhoad's widowed fiancee spoke via video call from the United States.
"Today's guilty verdict is a significant moment in our long and painful journey to seek justice for our beautiful sons, Callum and Jake, and their friend Carter Rhoad, whose lives were so cruelly taken from them in 2024," Martin Robinson said.
In November 2025, Gisell Silva, Garcia's then-girlfriend, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for her involvement. She had testified that Garcia confessed to arriving at the tent where the foreigners were staying with a 9mm pistol — and that one of the victims begged for his life.
While the Ensenada area is considered relatively safe, Baja California ranks among Mexico's most violent states. After the killings, the U.S. State Department urged Americans to reconsider travel to the state over crime and kidnapping risks.
