Three Men Found Guilty in Killings of Australian and US Surfers in Mexico
Goldlaner.com – Three men found guilty in the 2024 killings of two Australian brothers and their American friend now await sentencing in Baja California, Mexico. The verdict follows a closely watched case involving the deaths of Callum Robinson, Jake Robinson and Carter Redd Rhoad during a surfing trip.
A judge in Ensenada ruled Friday that Jesús Gerardo García, known as “El Kekas,” Irineo Francisco “N” and Ángel Jesús “N” were criminally responsible for the deaths. The three defendants were also convicted of armed robbery and violent vehicle theft.
They have been in custody since the 2024 investigation. A sentencing hearing is set for October 16, when the court will decide the length of their prison terms. State prosecutors have requested 210-year sentences for each defendant.
Surfing Trip Turned Into a Homicide Investigation
Callum and Jake Robinson traveled from Australia with their American friend, Carter Redd Rhoad, to surf in Baja California in April 2024. The three were last known to be in Punta San Jose, a coastal community about 80 kilometers, or 50 miles, from Ensenada.
After they were reported missing, authorities began a search that drew international attention. Their bodies were found inside a well on May 3, 2024, shifting the case from a missing-person investigation to a homicide inquiry.
The case has remained deeply personal for the victims’ families in Australia and the United States, even as it gained attention across borders. The guilty verdict represents a major legal step, though it cannot reverse the loss suffered by those who knew the three friends.
“Today’s guilty verdict is a significant moment in our long and painful journey to seek justice for our beautiful sons, Callum and Jake, and their friend Carter Rhoad, whose lives were so cruelly taken from them in 2024,” said Martin Robinson, the father of Callum and Jake.
Trial Testimony and Sentencing Ahead
García was arrested in May 2024 in connection with the killings. Authorities also detained his former partner, Ary Gisell Silva Raya, along with Irineo Francisco “N” and Ángel Jesús “N.”
During the month-long trial, Silva Raya testified that García had confessed to arriving at the victims’ tent with a 9mm firearm. She said the men began handing over their belongings after seeing him, apparently trying to avoid an assault, but one pleaded for his life and the attack continued.
Prosecutors said Silva Raya went to Punta San Jose on April 27, 2024, met the visitors and encouraged one of her companions to rob them. The robbery took place the following day, according to the state prosecutor’s office.
Silva Raya was found with one victim’s cellphone when she was detained. In November 2025, she received a 20-year prison sentence after pleading guilty in an expedited case involving aggravated violent robbery and violent vehicle theft. The three men found guilty at trial chose to contest the allegations against them.
FAQ: The Baja California Surfers Case
When will the three convicted men be sentenced? The sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 16 in Ensenada. The judge will determine the prison terms at that hearing.
Where did the victims disappear? The three friends were last known to be in Punta San Jose, a coastal area roughly 80 kilometers from Ensenada in Baja California.
What punishment have prosecutors requested? Prosecutors have asked the court to impose 210-year prison terms on each of the three defendants.
What did the victims’ family say after the verdict? Martin Robinson said no legal outcome could undo the tragedy, but expressed hope that the ruling would be an important step toward justice and help the family continue honoring Callum, Jake and Carter.
“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,” Martin Robinson said. “They will never be forgotten.”