Three men found guilty over deaths of surfers in Baja California

On 9 October, three defendants were convicted of killing Jake and Callum Robinson, brothers from Australia, and Carter Rhoad of the United States while the trio were surfing in Baja California in 2024. The court heard that the three visitors were killed in an apparent attempted robbery of their truck, with prosecutors seeking prison terms of 150 years for each defendant.¹²

Court ruling

The convictions followed a trial in Ensenada, a port city in Baja California, which began on 8 September. The prosecution and defence were expected to make closing arguments before the judge’s decision, according to reporting on 8 October. The three men were then found guilty the following day, BBC reported.¹²

The prosecution sought sentences of 150 years for each of the three defendants. Reporting before the ruling said that, if convicted, the men would be sentenced on Friday. The dossier does not state the sentences ultimately imposed on the men found guilty.¹²

Deaths during surfing trip

Jake and Callum Robinson, both Australians, and Rhoad, their American friend, had travelled to Mexico’s Pacific coast on a surfing trip. They were shot dead in Baja California in 2024. The dossier's accounts say the group was staying at an isolated coastal campsite when an alleged robbery led to an attack in April 2024.²

BBC described the killings as occurring during an apparent botched robbery of the group’s truck. The bodies were found about a week later, with gunshot wounds to the head, and had been placed in a well or clifftop shaft, according to the two reports. BBC also reported that the killings came barely 36 hours after the group crossed into Mexico from the United States.¹²

Families at the trial

Martin and Debra Robinson, the parents of Jake and Callum, attended the trial and addressed the court during closing arguments. Page, Rhoad’s mother, and Natalie Weirtz, his widow, took part in the hearing by video link from the United States, according to the reported timeline.¹²

Martin Robinson told the court: "It’s hard for a parent to lose a son, and we lost two sons." The parents of the Australian brothers said that "no outcome can ever undo this tragedy", while Debra Robinson said accountability was important.¹²

In a separate case, the girlfriend of Jesús "El Kekas" Gerardo, described as the alleged ringleader in the robbery case, was sentenced to 20 years in prison after admitting involvement in the robbery. The dossier records that sentence as having been delivered in November, without specifying a year.¹

Regional response

The deaths prompted commemoration by surfers in Ensenada, who paddled into the sea and threw flowers on the water, BBC reported. Baja California’s governor, Marina del Pilar Ávila, sent condolences to the families and said the state would remain safe for visitors. Tourism is an important part of Baja California’s regional economy, according to BBC.¹