October 17, 2026
158 years each — three men sentenced for the Baja California murders of two Australian surfers and their American friend
Headline card by The Night Desk
158 years each — three men sentenced for the Baja California murders of two Australian surfers and their American friend
MEXICO CITY — A Mexican judge on Friday sentenced three men to 158 years and nine months in prison each for the killings of two Australian brothers and their American friend during a 2024 surf trip to Baja California, closing a case that gripped three countries.
The defendants, identified by authorities only as Jesus Gerardo "N" — known as "El Kekas" — Irineo Francisco "N," and Angel Jesus "N," were found guilty a week ago of homicide, aggravated robbery, robbery with violence, and vehicle theft with violence. The judge also ordered them to pay compensation to the victims' families.
The victims
Jake Robinson, 33, and Callum Robinson, 30, of Australia, and their American friend Jack Carter Rhoad, 30, were camping and surfing near Punta San Jose, about 80 kilometers (50 miles) south of Ensenada, when they were reported missing in late April 2024.
After a days-long search aided by the FBI, their bodies were found on May 3 at the bottom of a water well. Each had been shot in the head. The pickup truck they were traveling in was found burned out several kilometers away.
A fourth defendant already sentenced
In November 2024, Gisell Silva — then 23 — was sentenced to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to aggravated robbery with violence and vehicle theft with violence in a fast-track proceeding. She was arrested just days after the foreigners' bodies were discovered.
The families' words
The Robinson brothers' parents, Martin and Debra Robinson, followed the sentencing hearing remotely, having returned to Australia last week after the initial guilty verdict. After sitting through 24 hearings, they described their sons' deaths as "hell" and an "incredibly difficult" experience.
Jack Rhoad's mother, Page Rhoad, addressed the court via Zoom after sentencing:
"There will never be justice for the loss of a child, but these men will never hurt anyone else again."
The backdrop
While the Ensenada area is considered relatively safe, Baja California ranks among Mexico's most violent states. Following the killings, the U.S. State Department urged Americans to reconsider travel to the state due to crime and kidnapping risks.
Source: Reuters (reporting by Lizbeth Diaz and Yolanda Morales; writing by Raúl Cortés).
Source: Reuters — read the original report
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