Three Convicted in Murders of Australian Brothers and American Friend

Three men have been found guilty for the brutal murders of two Australian brothers and their American friend. The case gained widespread attention after the three went missing during a surfing trip in Mexico, prompting an international search that led to the discovery of their bodies in a well.

A judge in Ensenada convicted Jesús Gerardo García, known as “El Kekas,” Irineo Francisco “N,” and Ángel Jesús “N,” for the murders of Callum and Jake Robinson along with Carter Rhoad in Baja California in April 2024. They were also convicted of armed robbery and carjacking. Sentencing is set for October 16, and the Baja California State Attorney General’s Office is pushing for 210 years of prison time for each of the defendants.

The trial lasted for a month and included harrowing testimonies, including accounts of one victim pleading for his life. García’s former partner testified that he approached the surfers’ tent armed with a 9mm pistol. In desperation, the friends threw their belongings at him, hoping to dissuade the attack, but one of them reportedly begged to be spared, to no avail.

The friends had traveled to Baja, California, for an escape and to enjoy some surfing. They were last seen in Punta San Jose, around 50 miles from Ensenada, and their remains were found on May 3, 2024.

Initially, authorities theorized that the friends were killed during a confrontation with thieves who sought to steal the tires from their vehicle. The state prosecutor indicated that the surfers resisted the robbery attempt.

García allegedly confessed to his girlfriend, saying he had harmed “three gringos” before admitting, “I killed them.” He even showed her the stolen tires from the victims’ truck.

One of the convicted men’s ex-partner was found with a victim’s cellphone. Prosecutors stated she met the surfers on April 27, 2024, and encouraged one of her accomplices to rob them. She eventually pled guilty to aggravated robbery and was sentenced to 20 years in prison, while the other men proceeded to trial.

The guilty verdicts have provided some measure of relief for the Robinson family, more than two years after their tragic loss. Martin Robinson, the father, expressed that while the verdict doesn’t bring back his sons, it signifies an important step toward justice.

In a tribute on a San Diego beach, their mother, Debra Robinson, reflected on her sons’ love for surfing and expressed her broken heart. She urged others to live fully in their memory, encouraging a life of passion and love.