A Mexican judge sentenced three men to 158 years and nine months in prison each for the murder of Australian brothers Jake and Callum Robinson and their US friend Carter Rhoad. The killings occurred during an attempted robbery of the trio’s truck on a secluded beach in Baja California in 2024, while they were on a surfing trip.
The court heard that the victims, all in their early thirties, were found dumped down a well with gunshot wounds to their heads. Their bodies were not discovered until a week after the murders, when families were able to identify them.
The convicted killers were identified only by first names—Jesús Gerardo, Irineo Francisco and Ángel Jesús—for legal reasons. In a separate trial last November, Jesús Gerardo’s girlfriend, known as “El Kekas,” received a 20‑year sentence after admitting involvement in the robbery.
Debra Robinson, the brothers’ mother, told the courtroom that the murders had “taken the future we had imagined with them.” The case shocked locals and tourists in Ensenada, a town known for its welcoming surf scene, and highlighted the persistent violence that can affect even popular beach destinations.
Local surfers and residents have called for increased security measures, citing recent incidents of violence in the state. Tourism remains a key part of Baja California’s economy, making the murders a significant blow to the region’s reputation for safety.
