Full Breakdown
Trial of Three Men Accused in 2024 Surf-Trip Murders Near Ensenada
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
In early October 2026, a court in Ensenada, Mexico entered the closing-argument phase of a trial involving three defendants accused of murdering two Australian brothers, Callum and Jake Robinson, and their American friend, Jack Carter Rhoad, during a surfing trip in April 2024. The victims disappeared shortly after arriving in Baja California, and their bodies were recovered on May 3 in a well near Punta San José. Four individuals were arrested in connection with the killings; three—Jesús Gerardo García (known as “El Kekas”), Irineo Francisco, and Ángel Jesús—stood trial, while Ary Gisell Silva Raya received a 20-year sentence last November after pleading guilty to related robbery charges.
Background & Context
The Robinson brothers traveled from Australia to surf the Pacific coast, joining Rhoad, an American. According to prosecutors, García attempted to steal tires and other parts from the group’s pickup truck, confronted the surfers with a 9 mm handgun, and shot them when they resisted. Silva Raya testified that she found one of the victims’ phones in her possession and that García confessed to the attack. The case has heightened concerns about the safety of foreign tourists in Mexico’s coastal regions.
Official Statements & Responses
Baja California Attorney General María Elena Andrade Ramírez reiterated that prosecutors believe García acted to steal vehicle parts and that the murders occurred after the surfers tried to fend off the assault. She emphasized that the investigation linked the defendants to the crime through forensic evidence and witness testimony. The trial, which began in early September, is expected to conclude with a verdict announced the following day.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I know they would want us to be here; they would do the same for us,” — Martin Robinson — Martin Robinson, father of the Australian victims.