Thieves in Mexico Allegedly Murdered 2 Australians and an American in Order to Steal Their Truck

MEXICO CITY—Thieves murdered two Australians and an American while they were on a surfing trip in Mexico to steal their truck, specifically for their tires, authorities revealed on Sunday.

Baja California state prosecutors shared gruesome details of the killings, but have yet to officially verify the identification of the bodies. Family members of the victims are currently inspecting the bodies to determine if they can be recognized visually.

The bodies were decomposing after the thieves disposed of them in a remote well approximately 50 feet (15 meters) deep and 4 miles (6 kilometers) away from where the foreigners were attacked. If the relatives are unable to identify the bodies, further tests will be conducted. In addition to the bodies of the victims, there was also another cadaver that had been there for a longer period of time in the well.

“The likelihood that it’s them is very high,” stated chief state prosecutor María Elena Andrade Ramírez, explaining that the bodies still seemed identifiable by sight. “If they indicate any uncertainty regarding the identification, genetic testing will be conducted.”

The three men disappeared during a camping and surfing trip along a coastal area south of Ensenada, where they shared picturesque photos of waves and secluded beaches on social media before their disappearance.

Ms. Andrade Ramírez described the terrifying moments that marked the end of the trip for brothers Jake and Callum Robinson from Australia and American Jack Carter Rhoad.

According to Ms. Andrade Ramírez, the killers noticed the foreigners’ pickup truck and tents, deciding to steal their tires.

“The assailants approached in their vehicle,” stated Ms. Andrade Ramírez. “Their intent was to steal the vehicle and remove the tires and other parts to use on the older pickup they were driving.

“When the foreigners confronted them, they likely resisted,” she continued. “The assailants then pulled out a gun and first killed the one who resisted the vehicle theft, followed by others who joined the confrontation to defend their property and companion, resulting in their deaths as well.”

Subsequently, the assailants set fire to the foreigners’ tents and disposed of the bodies in a well that was challenging to access. Investigators are considering the possibility that the same suspects may have disposed of an earlier body in the well as part of prior crimes.

“They may have been seeking out trucks in this area,” Ms. Andrade Ramírez mentioned.

The culprits reportedly covered the well with boards, making it extremely difficult to locate. It took two hours to retrieve the bodies from the well.

The location where the bodies were found near Santo Tomás was close to the isolated seaside area where the missing men’s belongings were discovered last week. Despite the picturesque appearance of their trip from their last social media posts, even seasoned local expatriates are questioning the safety of camping along the sparsely populated coastline.

The moderator of the local Talk Baja internet forum, who has resided in the region for nearly two decades, expressed in an editorial that “the dangers of traveling to and camping in remote areas now outweigh the benefits.”

Nevertheless, adventure was central to the victims’ lifestyle.

Callum Robinson’s Instagram account showcased the slogan: “If you’re not living on the edge, you’re taking up too much room.”

During the press conference, Ms. Andrade Ramírez was questioned by a reporter who commended the quick and extensive search for the foreigners but raised concerns about the disparity in investigations when locals disappear in the region without much attention for weeks, months, or years.

“Do you have to be a foreigner in Baja California for there to be an investigation if something happens to you?” inquired the reporter. “Every investigation is unique,” Ms. Andrade Ramírez responded.

In a poignant demonstration of their sadness and outrage at the deaths, numerous mourners, surfers, and activists assembled in a central square in Ensenada, the closest city, to express their grief.

One placard carried by protesters read, “Ensenada is a mass grave,” while another individual wrote on a surfboard, “Australia, we are with you.”

A banner was held up by a woman stating, “They only wanted to surf—we demand safe beaches.”

Baja California prosecutors disclosed that they were interrogating three individuals in connection with the case, some of whom were found with methamphetamines. Initially, the three were arrested on charges related to a crime equivalent to kidnapping, but this was before the discovery of the bodies. Whether they will face additional charges remains unclear.

It is believed that at least one of the suspects directly participated in the killings and, in adherence to Mexican law, prosecutors referred to him by his first name, Jesús Gerardo, also known as “el Kekas,” which means “quesadillas” in Mexican slang.

Last week, Debra Robinson, the mother of the missing Australians, made a plea on a local community Facebook page for assistance in locating her sons. She mentioned that Callum and Jake had not been in contact since April 27 and had booked accommodation in Rosarito, close to Ensenada.

Ms. Robinson highlighted that Callum had diabetes. She also revealed the name of the American accompanying them as Jack Carter Rhoad, although the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City had not confirmed this information immediately. The U.S. State Department acknowledged reports of a missing U.S. citizen in Baja but did not provide further details.

In 2015, two Australian surfers, Adam Coleman and Dean Lucas, were murdered in western Sinaloa state, across the Gulf of California from the Baja peninsula. Authorities attributed their deaths to highway bandits, leading to the arrest of three suspects in that case.