Three foreign surfers were murdered while on a surf trip through Baja California, Mexico.
The bodies of Australian brothers Callum and Jake Robinson and their American friend Jack Carter Rhoad were found six kilometers from the camping site where they were supposedly killed.
The victims were buried in a 50-foot-deep well and displayed signs of gunshots to the head.
A fourth body was also found in the same place, and according to the Mexican authorities, it had "been there for a long time."
The families of the victims have already identified the bodies.
The trio's disappearance was reported after they failed to check in to their pre-arranged accommodation in Rosarito, Mexico.
They were last seen alive on the April 28-29 weekend at K-38, a surf spot 15 kilometers south of Rosarito.
Killed for Tires
The investigation led by the state's attorney general, María Elena Andrade Ramírez, believes the surfers were attacked by thieves who wanted to steal their car, possibly motivated by a desire for the tires.
"The attackers drove by [the travelers' campsite] in their vehicle," Andrade Ramírez said.
"They approached, with the intention of stealing their vehicle and taking the tires and other parts to put them on the older-model pickup they were driving."
"Upon approaching and surprising [the missing men], there was surely resistance, and these people, the attackers, took out a firearm they had and took their lives."
"When what was meant to be a robbery had got out of control, they tried to dispose of the bodies by throwing them into a well."
"They were not attacked because they were tourists - the intent was to steal their vehicle."
According to the Baja California attorney general, the assassins burned the tents and covered the well with the surfboards.
The missing surfers' truck, a white Chevrolet Colorado, was found burned in a nearby ranch.
Three Mexican nationals have been detained - a local man, his girlfriend, and his brother - with one facing charges of kidnapping.
The remaining two are detained on suspicion of possessing crystal methamphetamine, although Andrade Ramírez has not ruled out the possibility of their involvement in the crime.
She emphasized that additional individuals likely participated in the attack.
Among the suspects, it is believed that at least one directly engaged in the fatal actions.
Per Mexican legal protocol, prosecutors have identified this individual solely by his first name, Jesús Gerardo, also known as "El Kekas," a colloquial term referencing quesadillas or cheese tortillas.
30,000 Homicides in One Year
Randy Dible, a San Diego-based photographer and close friend of Callum Robinson, shared his regret with the Australian press over directing Callum to a surf spot in Baja called La Bocana.
Due to a last-minute commitment, Dible couldn't join the trio and instead provided Callum with directions, even drawing a map on a napkin.
Reflecting on his decision, stated, "I told him about this place because I'd been traveling down there all over that country for 30 years so I know it like the back of my hand and I knew just where to go."
"I wish I'd never met up with him that day. I feel really bad. I feel guilty. It's just starting to hit home."
Callum, 33, was a professional lacrosse player living in San Diego.
Jake, 30, was a doctor who had flown from Australia two weeks ago to accompany his brother to the Coachella music festival in California.
Subsequently, they embarked on a journey across the border from San Diego into Mexico, joined by Rhoad, to surf the Baja California coastline.
Jack Carter Rhoad, 30, was an apparel designer and lived in San Diego.
In 2023, Mexico recorded over 30,000 homicides, marking the sixth consecutive year with such alarming figures. Moreover, 100,000 individuals remain missing.
The Baja California surfing community has held paddle-outs in memory of their fellow wave riders.
Words by Luís MP | Founder of SurferToday.com
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