Three Men Convicted in Killings of Surfers in Baja California
Wertynews.com – A judge in Ensenada, Baja California, has convicted three men over the deaths of two Australian brothers and their American friend, bringing a major phase of a case that drew attention far beyond Mexico to a close.
Judge Raúl Hernández ruled Friday that Jesús Gerardo García, known as “El Kekas,” Irineo Francisco “N” and Ángel Jesús “N” were responsible for the killings of Callum Robinson, Jake Robinson and Carter Redd Rhoad. The three victims had traveled to the region in April 2024 for a surfing trip.
In addition to the murder convictions, the defendants were found guilty of armed robbery and violent vehicle theft. A final sentencing decision is scheduled for Oct. 16. Prosecutors in Baja California have asked the court to impose 210-year prison terms on each of the three men.
A trip that ended in tragedy
Callum and Jake Robinson, both from Australia, and Rhoad, an American, arrived in Baja California intending to surf along the coast. They were last known to have been near Punta San Jose, a community roughly 50 miles from Ensenada.
After contact with the friends was lost, concern grew among relatives and authorities. Their bodies were discovered in a well on May 3, 2024. The case became a source of deep grief for the victims’ families and prompted international concern over the fatal attack.
García was arrested in May 2024, along with his former partner, Ary Gisell Silva Raya, Irineo Francisco “N” and Ángel Jesús “N.” The three men who chose to contest the allegations remained in custody for more than two years before the conclusion of their trial.
Testimony described the alleged attack
Proceedings lasting about a month included disturbing testimony about what happened at the campsite. Silva Raya told the court that García had confessed to arriving at the foreigners’ tent carrying a 9 mm handgun.
She said the victims threw their belongings toward him after seeing him, apparently in an effort to avert an attack. One of the men pleaded to be spared, but the plea did not stop the assailant, she testified.
Authorities said Silva Raya traveled to Punta San Jose on April 27, 2024, met the three visitors and encouraged one of the people with her to rob them. The robbery was carried out the following day, prosecutors said.
Silva Raya was found with one of the victims’ mobile phones. In November 2025, she received a 20-year prison sentence after accepting guilt in a fast-track process involving aggravated robbery with violence and vehicle theft with violence. García and the other two defendants instead proceeded to a full trial.
Parents speak of an irreversible loss
Debra Robinson and her husband, Martin Robinson, attended the trial in Ensenada. For the family, the criminal proceedings have involved confronting the loss of two sons while seeking accountability for all three victims.
“It’s hard for a parent to lose a son, and we lost two sons,” Martin Robinson said.
Debra Robinson told the courtroom that the killings had taken away the future the family had envisioned with Callum and Jake.
“The future we had imagined with them,” she said.
The convictions establish the court’s finding that the defendants were responsible for the deaths, though the case is not fully complete until sentencing is announced. The Oct. 16 hearing will determine the prison terms the men will serve.
The tragedy also underscores the vulnerability of travelers in remote coastal areas, where communication can be limited and emergency help may be far away. Punta San Jose’s appeal for surfers lies in its proximity to Baja California’s Pacific coastline, but its distance from larger cities became part of the context as authorities searched for the missing men.
For the Robinson and Rhoad families, the ruling represents a legal milestone after a prolonged and painful process. It does not lessen the loss of three friends whose trip was meant to be centered on surfing, travel and time together, but it moves the case toward its final judicial outcome.
Related Reading
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 3 men found guilty of killing?
3 men found guilty of killing is the main topic of this guide. The article explains the context, practical details, and next steps readers should understand.
Why does 3 men found guilty of killing matter?
3 men found guilty of killing matters because readers are looking for a useful answer, not just a short summary. Good content should match search intent and help them decide what to do next.