Full Breakdown
Conviction of Three Men for 2024 Baja California Surf-Trip Murders
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Verdict and Charges
On October 9 2026, Judge Raúl Hernández in Ensenada, Baja California, found Jesús Gerardo García (alias “El Kekas”), Irineo Francisco “N”, and Ángel Jesús “N” guilty of aggravated homicide, violent robbery and vehicle theft for the deaths of Australian brothers Callum and Jake Robinson and their American friend Carter Redd Rhoad. The defendants, held for more than two years, were also convicted of armed carjacking.
Background & Context
The three tourists arrived in April 2024 for a surfing trip along the Pacific coast, camping near Punta San Jose, about 80 km (50 mi) south of Ensenada. The victims’ pickup truck was later found burned near the site.
Timeline
- April 27 2024 – Silva Raya arrives in Punta San Jose and initiates the robbery.
- May 3 2024 – Bodies discovered in a 50-foot-deep well, each with a gunshot wound to the head.
- September 7 2026 – Trial begins in Ensenada; the Robinson parents travel from Australia to attend.
- October 9 2026 – Verdict delivered; three defendants found guilty.
- October 16 2026 (scheduled) – Judge will announce sentencing.
Data & Statistics
- Victims: Callum Robinson (age reported as 32, 33, or 30), Jake Robinson (age reported as 31, 30, or 33), and Carter Redd Rhoad.
- Defendants: three men, all Mexican nationals.
- Prosecutors requested an “exemplary sentence” of 210 years per defendant; the state maximum is 60 years.
- The FBI assisted Mexican authorities in the search that located the bodies.
Official Statements & Responses
- The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade welcomed the conviction as an “important step” toward justice.
- The U.S. State Department, after the killings, urged Americans to reconsider travel to Baja California because of crime and kidnapping risks.
- The Baja California State Attorney General’s Office formally requested the 210-year exemplary sentences.
- The prosecution described the attack as premeditated, noting that García arrived with a 9 mm pistol, the victims threw belongings to deter him, and one pleaded for his life before being shot.
Verbatim Quotes
- “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
- “They took our sons from our lives forever,” — Debra Robinson
- “The accused are guilty and must be punished so that no other family suffers the same pain,” — Natalie Weirtz
- “It's hard for a parent to lose a son, and we lost two sons,” — Martin Robinson
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Victims’ ages: Sources list Callum Robinson as 32, 33, or 30 and Jake Robinson as 31, 30, or 33. The article notes the discrepancy without selecting a single figure.
- Prosecutorial sentencing request: Reuters cites a request of up to 150 years, while other outlets report a request for 210 years. Both figures are presented as attributed claims.
What's Next
The sentencing hearing is set for October 16 2026. The court will determine the actual terms, which cannot exceed the state-mandated maximum of 60 years per defendant.