Last week, three bodies were found in Baja California, Mexico, and have been identified as three tourists from Australia and the United States who had disappeared days earlier. The bodies were confirmed to be those of two brothers from Perth, Australia, Callum and Jake Robinson, and Jack Carter Rhoad of San Diego. The Robinsons and Mr. Rhoad had been surfing and camping along the coast near Ensenada when they disappeared on April 27. The bodies were found in a 50-foot-deep water hole near La Bocana beach, each with a gunshot wound to the head.
The bodies of the tourists were identified without the need for genetic testing after their families were able to confirm their identities. Three suspects have been detained in connection with the killings, with one charged with forced disappearance. The suspect tried to rob the Robinson brothers and Mr. Carter of their pickup truck, and when they resisted, he shot them and disposed of their bodies. The other two suspects have been charged with possession of methamphetamine. Authorities have stated that there is no indication that any organized crime gangs were involved in the killings, and the hypothesis is that the suspects approached with the intent of seizing the pickup truck and then attacked the victims.
The bodies were found near a burned campsite in a remote and isolated area south of Ensenada, about four miles from where the bodies were discovered. A single shell casing and blood stains were found at the campsite, and the tourists’ burned pickup truck was abandoned nearby. The investigation is ongoing, and there may be more arrests related to the case as authorities continue to gather evidence and interview witnesses. The victims were in an inhospitable location where they were unable to call for help, according to María Elena Andrade Ramírez, the state’s attorney general.
The families of the Robinson brothers and Mr. Carter have expressed their grief and shock over the tragic deaths of their loved ones. The Australian and American governments have been in contact with Mexican authorities to assist in the investigation and to provide support to the families of the victims. The deaths of the tourists have highlighted safety concerns for travelers in Mexico, and authorities are working to ensure the safety of tourists in the region. The investigation into the killings will continue as authorities work to bring those responsible to justice and to provide closure for the families of the victims.
