Three bodies were discovered in a popular Mexican tourist area, where American Jack Carter Rhoad and Australian brothers Callum Robinson and Jake Robinson had gone missing on an apparent camping and surfing trip. The bodies were found in a pit, but officials have not confirmed if they belong to the missing men, and forensic tests are pending to determine the identity. The bodies were discovered in a rugged hillside area near Ensenada, about 90 minutes south of the U.S.-Mexico border. Investigators are continuing to search the area for more evidence, and it is unclear how the victims died or what injuries they suffered.
Three people have been arrested and charged with a crime equivalent to kidnapping in connection with the case, although it is unclear if they may face additional charges. A 23-year-old woman was detained with drugs and a cellphone that had a wallpaper photo of one of the missing men, but the exact connection to the investigation has not been revealed. The Baja California prosecutor’s office began investigating as soon as reports began circulating on social media, and have stated that drug cartels are active in the area, leaving all possible leads open in the case.
The State Department’s travel advisory lists Baja California under its “reconsider travel” category due to crime and kidnapping. The missing Australians’ mother, Debra Robinson, made an appeal for help in finding her sons, with Callum noted as diabetic. Jake is reported to be a doctor, while Callum resides in San Diego and is a member of Australia’s lacrosse team. The Baja California Attorney General’s Office has been in contact with the FBI and relatives of the victims through consular agencies to aid in the investigation.
In 2015, two Australian surfers were killed in western Sinaloa state, across the Gulf of California from the Baja peninsula, after falling victims to highway bandits. The current investigation has kept all possibilities open until more information is gathered, and the Baja California Attorney General’s Office is working with authorities and agencies to bring the case to a resolution. The bodies discovered in the pit are undergoing forensic testing to confirm their identities while investigators continue to search for more evidence in the rugged area near Ensenada where the men’s abandoned tents and burnt vehicle were found.
The chief state prosecutor dismissed any claims that the bodies found were connected to the drug cartels in the area, without ruling out any leads until further evidence is gathered. The rugged terrain where the bodies were discovered has been cordoned off by police, and investigators are working to unveil the circumstances that led to the men’s disappearance and deaths. The missing persons report was filed 48 hours after the men were last seen, prompting a swift response by the prosecutor’s office to launch an investigation into the case.
The tragic discovery of the bodies near Santo Tomás has sparked an international investigation with the involvement of various agencies and authorities. The whereabouts of the missing men have been unknown since April 27 when they failed to reach their planned accommodation in the popular tourist area. The rugged terrain of Baja California continues to present challenges to investigators as they search for clues in the mysterious disappearance and deaths of the American and Australian men, leaving a community in shock and mourning as they await further developments in the case.
