Surfers found dead in Mexico well were shot in the head
Authorities have confirmed that three tourists discovered deceased in Mexico were fatally shot in the head and then disposed of in a well.
The victims were identified as Australian siblings Jake, 30, and Callum Robinson, 33, along with their American companion Jack Carter Rhoad, 30. They vanished on April 27 while enjoying a surfing expedition in Ensenada.
Following their disappearance, relatives journeyed to Mexico to collaborate with authorities, leading to the identification of the bodies on Sunday, according to a statement from a state prosecutor.
It’s believed by officials that the trio was assaulted while intervening to prevent the theft of their pickup truck. The assailants, allegedly seeking the vehicle’s tires, resorted to violence when faced with resistance.
The bodies were discovered in a well, approximately 4 meters (15 feet) deep, around 6 kilometers (4 miles) away from the scene of the attack in Santo Tomás last Friday.
Nearby, abandoned tents, a burned-out white pickup truck, and a mobile phone linked to the missing surfers were recovered.
In addition to the victims, a fourth body was found in the same well, though it was determined to be unrelated to the case and had been there longer.
Authorities have detained two men and a woman on suspicion of involvement in the attack, with one individual already facing charges of “forced disappearance.”
The FBI has expressed its involvement in the investigation, coordinating with international partners.
While Baja California is known for its high levels of violence due to local drug conflicts, the Ensenada region, positioned approximately 120 kilometers (75 miles) south of the US-Mexico border and renowned for its surfing conditions, has historically been considered safer and a popular destination for tourists, particularly from California.
The parents of the Robinson brothers, Deborah and Martin, disclosed that Callum had been residing in the US, pursuing his aspiration of becoming a professional lacrosse player.
Jake, on the other hand, was described as embarking on “the trip of a lifetime” to visit his brother before commencing a new role as a doctor in Victoria, as conveyed by the grieving parents on Friday.
“Callum and Jake are beautiful human beings. We love them so much and this breaks our hearts.”
Friends of the brothers have also flooded social media with tributes.
Callum’s teammates at Stevenson University Lacrosse Club said the athlete had a larger-than-life personality.
“With his beautiful long hair and charming smile, he truly embodied the nickname ‘big koala’ – warm, friendly, and always there to lend a helping hand,” a statement from the club said.
His girlfriend, Emily Horwath, said her heart was “shattered into a million pieces”.
“I don’t have the words right now… I will love you forever,” she wrote in a post on Instagram, alongside pictures of the couple.
Carter Rhoad’s social media accounts showed happy snaps of him proposing to his partner less than a year ago.
A fundraiser set up by friends of his family said he and the Robinson brothers had “brought immeasurable joy, love, and kindness” to the world.
Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the country was thinking of the Robinson family.
“It has been a horrendous, absolutely horrific ordeal and our thoughts are with all of them today,” he said at a news conference on Monday.
The killings have sparked fear and anger in the Ensenada region.
Scores of protesters marched through the city on Sunday, carrying surfboards plastered with slogans written in Spanish.
“They only wanted to surf – we demand safe beaches,” one said. “Australia we are with you,” another said.
A group of surfers later performed a “paddle-out” ceremony, an ocean vigil to honor the trio.
