Three Men Found Guilty in the Brutal Murders of Two Brothers and Their Friend During Mexico Surfing Trip

What began as a surfing getaway along Mexico’s Pacific coast ended in a tragedy that devastated three families and shocked people around the world. More than two years after three friends disappeared during their trip, a Mexican court has found three men guilty of their murders — bringing a major development in a case that has haunted the victims’ loved ones since 2024.

The victims were Australian brothers Callum Robinson, 33, and Jake Robinson, 30, along with their American friend, Jack Carter Rhoad, 30. The three men had traveled to Mexico’s Baja California region to enjoy surfing and camping along the coast. Instead of returning home from their holiday, all three were found dead in circumstances that would spark an international investigation and a lengthy legal battle.

On Friday, October 9, 2026, a judge in Ensenada, Mexico, found Jesús Gerardo García, known as “El Kekas,” Irineo Francisco and Ángel Jesús guilty in connection with the killings. The men were also convicted of related violent robbery and vehicle theft offenses. The verdict followed a month-long trial that examined the events leading to the friends’ deaths.

For the families, the decision represented an important step toward accountability after years of uncertainty and grief. But the conviction could not undo the loss of three young men whose lives, according to their loved ones, had been filled with promise, friendship and plans for the future.

A Dream Surfing Trip Took a Terrifying Turn

The three friends were last seen on April 27, 2024, while surfing and camping near Punta San José, a coastal area south of Ensenada. They were traveling through Baja California, a region known for its Pacific coastline and popular surfing destinations.

When the men could no longer be reached and failed to return as expected, concern grew among their families. A search began, with authorities in Mexico investigating their disappearance and assistance provided by the FBI.

The search ended in the worst possible way on May 3, 2024. Investigators discovered the bodies of all three men at the bottom of a well in a remote area near Santo Tomás, Baja California. The well was approximately 50 feet deep, and authorities reported that the victims had suffered fatal gunshot wounds to the head.

Their burned vehicle was also found nearby, adding to the disturbing circumstances surrounding the case. The discovery transformed what had begun as a missing-person investigation into a homicide inquiry involving several suspects.

For relatives waiting for news, the confirmation that the three friends had been killed was devastating. The families were left not only to mourn their loved ones but also to seek answers about how a trip that should have been an ordinary adventure ended in such violence.

Prosecutors Say the Attack Began as a Robbery

During the trial, prosecutors argued that the men were targeted in an attempted robbery that turned deadly when the victims resisted. According to the prosecution’s account, the accused went to the area where the surfers were camping, intending to steal their vehicle and belongings.

Investigators alleged that the attackers shot the three men during the incident and later disposed of their bodies in the well. The victims’ burned truck was found in the surrounding area.

Evidence presented during the proceedings included testimony about the alleged events leading up to the killings. The court heard accounts connecting the defendants to the crime, while the defense challenged whether the evidence was sufficient to establish their guilt.

Ultimately, the judge found the three men guilty. The decision marked a significant moment in a case that had drawn international attention because of the victims’ nationalities, the circumstances of their disappearance and the devastating impact on their families.

The court’s ruling also brought the case closer to its next critical stage: sentencing. Although the convictions have been handed down, the families are still waiting to learn the punishment the defendants will receive.

A Fourth Person Had Already Been Sentenced

The investigation also implicated Ary Gisell Silva Raya, who was the girlfriend of the main defendant, García, at the time. In November 2025, Silva Raya was sentenced to 20 years in prison after admitting her involvement in instigating the robbery, according to reports on the case.

Prosecutors said she met the three victims and encouraged one of her companions to rob them. Her case was dealt with separately from the trial of the three men convicted in October 2026.

During testimony reported in connection with the proceedings, Silva Raya said García had confessed to her that he shot the surfers. She testified that the men had tried to hand over their belongings when confronted, and that one of them pleaded for his life.

The testimony offered a chilling account of the final moments the victims may have experienced. However, it was presented as part of the evidence and accounts surrounding the case, rather than a direct public record of every moment of the attack.

The proceedings involving the four individuals helped investigators and prosecutors build a broader picture of the events. Yet for the victims’ relatives, the details have also meant confronting the painful reality of how their loved ones may have spent their final hours.

Parents Travel From Australia to Hear the Verdict

Callum and Jake’s parents, Martin and Debra Robinson, traveled from Western Australia to Mexico to attend the trial and hear the court’s decision in person. Their presence underscored the extraordinary lengths they had gone to in their pursuit of justice for their sons.

When the guilty verdict was announced, Debra was overcome with emotion. The couple later spoke to reporters outside the courthouse, describing the ruling as an important moment in a long and painful journey.

“They took our sons from our lives forever,” Debra said, reflecting on the loss. She also spoke about the cruelty her sons endured in their final hours, a thought that has continued to weigh heavily on the family.

Martin described the verdict as a significant step toward justice for Callum, Jake and their friend Carter Rhoad. He thanked the people who had supported the family, along with the Mexican and Australian authorities who contributed to the investigation and legal proceedings.

But the parents also acknowledged the limits of any court ruling. A guilty verdict can establish accountability under the law, yet it cannot restore the lives that were taken or remove the grief left behind.

Debra has said that she hopes the convictions will help prevent other families from enduring a similar tragedy. Her words reflected a desire for the outcome to mean something beyond the courtroom, even as she and her husband continue to live with the absence of their sons.

The Sentencing Could Bring Another Major Moment

The three convicted men are scheduled to be sentenced on October 16, 2026. Prosecutors in Baja California have requested prison terms of up to 210 years for each defendant, according to reports from ABC News Australia and PEOPLE.

The sentencing hearing will determine the punishment imposed under Mexican law for the crimes of which the men have been convicted. It will be another significant moment for the families, who have spent more than two years waiting for the case to reach this stage.

The case has also renewed discussion about the safety of travelers visiting parts of Mexico. While many tourists travel to the country without incident, the killings raised concerns about violent crime and the risks faced by visitors in unfamiliar areas. Following the deaths, U.S. authorities urged Americans to reconsider travel to Baja California because of concerns about crime and kidnapping.

For the Robinson family and Rhoad’s loved ones, however, the central issue is far more personal than travel warnings or international headlines. They lost three people who were loved by their families and friends, and whose futures were cut short during what was supposed to be an enjoyable trip.

Justice Cannot Bring Back the Three Friends

The guilty verdict marks the end of one major phase of the legal process, but it does not bring the story to a painless conclusion. Callum, Jake and Carter are still gone, and the people who loved them must continue to navigate life without them.

Martin and Debra Robinson have established a foundation in honor of their sons, seeking to carry forward their memory by encouraging others to live with purpose and generosity. The effort offers one way for the family to transform part of their grief into something meaningful.

The convictions may provide a measure of accountability, and the upcoming sentencing will determine what consequences the defendants face. Yet the words of the victims’ parents make clear that no punishment can fully repair the damage caused by the killings.

Three friends set out to surf and camp along Mexico’s beautiful coastline. Their disappearance led to a desperate search, a horrifying discovery and a legal battle that stretched across years. Now, with three men found guilty, their families have reached a long-awaited milestone — while continuing to remember the lives, friendships and futures that were taken from them.

Source: PEOPLE