Three Men Found Guilty Of Murdering Australian Surfers And American Friend In Baja

More than two years after the bodies of Callum and Jake Robinson and Carter Rhoad were discovered at the bottom of a well, a Mexican court has delivered its verdict.

In May 2024, the bodies of three young surfers, two Australians and an American, were discovered at the bottom of a 50-foot well near La Bocana, roughly four miles west of Santo Tomás in Baja California, Mexico. All three had been shot in the head.

The victims were Perth brothers Callum Robinson, 33, and Jake Robinson, 30, and their American friend Jack Carter Rhoad, 30. The three had crossed into Mexico from the United States for a surfing and camping trip, chasing waves near Punta San José, a remote stretch of Pacific coastline approximately 50 miles south of Ensenada.

They were last seen in late April 2024. On May 3, after an extensive search involving Mexican authorities and assistance from the FBI, their bodies were recovered from the well. Their Chevrolet Colorado pickup had been found burned nearby.

Investigators initially suspected the men had been killed during a robbery, possibly over the tyres on their truck. Prosecutors subsequently alleged that the three surfers were confronted while camping in a secluded coastal area and shot after resisting attempts to steal their vehicle.

Now, more than two years later, three Mexican men have been found guilty of their murders.

On Friday, October 9, Judge Raúl Hernández delivered the verdict following a month-long trial in Ensenada, convicting Jesús Gerardo García, known as “El Kekas,” Irineo Francisco and Ángel Jesús of aggravated homicide and related robbery and vehicle theft offences, according to the BBC.

The defendants, who have been in custody since 2024, are scheduled to be sentenced on October 16. Prosecutors have sought lengthy prison terms, with reports putting the requested sentences between 150 and 210 years for each man.

The trial offered a harrowing account of the surfers’ final moments, including testimony from the former girlfriend of García, who said he had confessed to the killings. Ary Gisell Silva Raya had previously admitted her involvement in the robbery and was sentenced to 20 years in prison in November 2025.

Throughout proceedings, defence lawyers questioned the reliability of the investigation and the prosecution’s evidence. Ultimately, the court found all three men responsible.

The parents of the Robinson brothers, Debra and Martin travelled from Western Australia to attend the proceedings, remaining in Ensenada throughout much of the trial. During closing arguments, Debra described Callum and Jake as their only children and told the court that their murders had taken not only their sons, but the futures they had imagined sharing with them.

“No sentence can bring Callum and Jake back; nothing can undo what has happened, but accountability matters,” she said, urging the court to impose the maximum penalty.

Martin was equally direct in describing the scale of their loss. “It’s hard for a parent to lose a son, and we lost two sons.” Members of Carter Rhoad’s family also participated in the proceedings remotely.

Following the verdict, Martin and Debra thanked the judge, witnesses, prosecutors and Australian consular staff who had helped bring the case to trial.

“While no verdict can ever bring back our boys or ease the heartbreak of losing them, we hope this outcome represents an important step towards justice and accountability,” Martin said.

The murders also punctured the sense of relative security enjoyed by foreign surfers travelling through northern Baja California. While the state has long grappled with violent crime, the surfing communities around Ensenada have maintained a reputation for hospitality, drawing generations of Americans and international visitors across the border.

Related: How Can Surfers Stay Safe In Baja? Rusty Long, Dino Andino and Damien Fahrenfort offer their best practices, DOs and DONTs, when visiting Baja.