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Three Convicted in Mexico Murders of Australian Surfers and US Friend
Confirmed
In Short: Three men have been convicted of murdering two Australian brothers and their American friend during a surfing trip in Mexico in 2024.
Three men were convicted of the murders of two Australian brothers, Jake and Callum Robinson, and their American friend, Carter Rhoad, during a surfing trip in Baja California, Mexico, in April 2024. The victims were camping near the coastal city of Ensenada when they were attacked and killed in a suspected robbery.
The judge ruled that the three Mexican defendants acted with premeditation. The prosecution has requested 210 years imprisonment for each of the accused, though the maximum sentence in Baja California is 60 years.
The attack involved the use of a 9mm and a.45 caliber pistol. According to court testimony, Rhoad's fiancée, Natalie Weirtz, said that Rhoad had begged for his life and that her boyfriend, nicknamed 'El Kekas,' had bragged about the victims' cries and the items he robbed from them.
The murders sent shockwaves around the world, particularly in Australia, as the coastal area is usually safe from the violence in other parts of Mexico. The beach town has a reputation as a welcoming spot for surfers, and the killings revealed much about the prevalence of extreme violence in Mexico.
The victims' families expressed their grief and hope for justice. Martin Robinson, speaking on behalf of the family, said, 'While no verdict can ever bring back our boys or ease the heartbreak of losing them, the convictions marked an important step towards justice and accountability.'
Debra Robinson, the brothers' mother, testified in court, saying, 'It's hard for a parent to lose a son, and we lost two sons.' She added, 'Baja California is and will continue to be a state with safe tourism for the thousands of people who visit us from the rest of the country and the world.'
The trial concluded after a month, with Judge Raúl Hernández ruling that Jesús Gerardo García, alias 'El Kekas,' Irineo Francisco 'N,' and Ángel Jesús 'N' were responsible for the murders. García was arrested in May 2024, along with his ex-partner Ary Gisell Silva Raya, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison for her role in the crime.
Silva Raya was found in possession of one of the victims' cellphones and was involved in instigating the robbery. The chilling details of the crime were revealed during the trial, highlighting the brutality of the attack.
The families have received an outpouring of support from Australians, and they expressed their gratitude for the solidarity. Martin Robinson said, 'We feel the love and their arms around us.'
The verdict, while providing some measure of justice, cannot alleviate the families' pain. Debra Robinson said, 'No outcome can ever undo this tragedy, but we hope today marks an important step towards justice and allows us to continue honoring their lives and the extraordinary young men they were.'
What's confirmed
- They were camping in a remote beachside area near the coastal city of Ensenada when they were attacked on April 27, 2024.
- Australian brothers Jake and Callum Robinson, aged 30 and 33, respectively, and their friend Carter Rhoad, 30, were on a surfing trip to Mexico's Pacific coast when they were shot dead in Baja California state in a suspected robbery.
- The judge ruled that the three Mexican defendants acted with premeditation.
- Rhoad's fiancee Natalie Weirtz told the court by video call that the accused "must be punished so that no other family suffers the same pain."
- Debra Robinson, the brother's mother, told the courtroom in the northern Baja California state the murders of her sons had taken "the future we had imagined with them".
- "It's hard for a parent to lose a son, and we lost two sons," said Martin.
What's still developing
- "I send my condolences and solidarity to the families at this difficult time."
- The three friends traveled to Baja California in April 2024 to surf, but shortly after arriving in the town of Punta San Jose, about 50 miles from Ensenada, they were reported missing.
- The state prosecutor's office reported that Silva Raya arrived in Punta San Jose on April 27, 2024, where she met the three foreigners and "instigated one of her companions to rob them," which was carried out the following day.
- “What hurts us most is that, in their final hours, they were treated with such cruelty.” She burst into tears when the guilty verdict was pronounced.