Mexico Sentences 3 Men to 158 Years for Murder of Australian and US Surfers
Three Mexican men will serve 158 years and nine months each in prison for murdering two Australian brothers and their American friend during a 2024 surf trip, bringing a definitive legal close to a case that severely damaged the tourism industry along Mexico’s Baja California coast.
Ensenada Judge Sentences Three Men for Homicide and Robbery
A Mexican judge in the coastal city of Ensenada handed down the lengthy prison terms on Friday, October 17, 2026. The ruling penalizes Jesus Gerardo García, known as “El Kekas,” along with Irineo Francisco “N” and Ángel Jesús “N,” for homicide, robbery with violence, and vehicle theft with violence. The state prosecution had originally requested a 210-year sentence for each defendant.
The court also ordered the defendants to pay financial compensation to the families of the victims. While prosecutors requested more than $100,000 in damages, the judge ruled that any compensation must be pursued through separate civil proceedings. In a separate, earlier fast-track proceeding in November 2024, an accomplice named Gisell Silva received a 20-year prison sentence for aggravated robbery and vehicle theft.
The 2024 Killings in Baja California
The case began in late April 2024 when Australian brothers Callum and Jake Robinson, aged 33 and 30, and their 30-year-old American friend Jack Carter Rhoad traveled to Mexico for a surfing trip. On the night of April 27, 2024, the three men camped in a remote beachside area at Punta San Jose, roughly 80 kilometers south of Ensenada.
State prosecutor María Elena Andrade stated that the attackers targeted the victims to steal the tires from their pickup truck. When the foreigners resisted the robbery, the assailants drew a gun, killed the person resisting, and then shot the other two. The attackers then dumped the bodies into a well more than 15 meters deep. Authorities located the victims on May 3, 2024, following a multi-day search aided by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Impact on Tourism and Regional Safety
The murders sent immediate shockwaves through Ensenada and the wider Baja California peninsula, which relies heavily on international travelers and surfers drawn to its Pacific beaches. Antonio Otañez, president of the Baja California surfers’ association, welcomed the sentencing by stating that justice had been served, while acknowledging that the killings caused a major drop in tourist visits to the region.
While Ensenada is considered relatively safe, Baja California remains one of Mexico’s most violent states due to organized crime and drug trafficking. Following the killings, the United States State Department urged travelers to reconsider visiting the state due to crime and kidnapping risks.
Victims Families React to the Guilty Verdict
Family members of the victims spoke out following the conclusion of the trial. Page Rhoad, mother of Jack Carter Rhoad, said via Zoom after the sentencing that there will never be justice for the loss of a child, but that the men will never hurt anyone else again. Martin and Debra Robinson, parents of Callum and Jake Robinson, traveled from Australia for the month-long trial that began on September 7, 2026, and returned home after the guilty verdict.
Martin Robinson described the experience of losing both sons as hell, while Debra Robinson stated that what hurt most was how their sons were treated with cruelty in their final hours. To honor their sons, the Robinson family established the Callum and Jake Robinson Foundation, which aims to help people live bigger and love harder, continuing a legacy that includes Callum’s passion for coastal cleanups and Jake’s dedication to medicine and sport.