Three men sentenced in Mexico to 158 years each for slayings of surfers from San Diego, Australia

17 Oct 2026, 11:53 by Alexandra Mendoza · The Seattle Times

Three men were sentenced Friday by a Mexican court to more than 158 years in prison each for the 2024 murder of two Australian brothers and their friend from San Diego while they were on a surfing trip south of Ensenada.

Defendants Jesús Gerardo, known as “El Kekas,” Irineo Francisco and Ángel Jesús were found guilty last week of aggravated murder as well as armed robbery and armed vehicle theft. The three were identified publicly only by their first and middle names, as is protocol in Mexico in ongoing criminal cases. In November, a fourth defendant, Ary Gisell Silva, was sentenced to 20 years for armed robbery and vehicle theft.

Callum Robinson, 33, an Australian living in San Diego; his brother, Jake Robinson, 30, and their friend, Carter Rhoad, 30, a San Diego resident and Point Loma Nazarene University graduate, were found dead at the bottom of a well on May 3, 2024 — days after they were reported missing.

The three victims were camping in Punta San José, south of Ensenada, where they were shot by the defendants, who wanted to steal their Chevrolet Colorado and belongings. According to prosecutors, Silva told one of the defendants to rob them. The vehicle was later found burned with no tires.

Family members reported them missing when the group failed to check into the Airbnb in Rosarito that they had booked as part of their trip.

In court, Rhoad’s wife said that she used the Find My app to track her husband’s Apple devices, which appeared to be in different locations. She shared this information with the FBI, which then passed it on to the Mexican authorities. Her husband’s cellphone was later found in Silva’s possession.

The case drew international attention at the time, and it raised security concerns among tourists visiting the rural areas of Baja California for surfing.

The parents of the three victims, as well as Rhoad’s wife, were present for Friday’s hearing via livestream. After the judge read the decision, which will be finalized at a hearing next week, the families thanked him and the prosecutors.

“There can never be justice for the loss of a son,” said Page Rhoad, Carter’s mother, but added that she was glad the defendants won’t be able to hurt anyone else.

Baja California Attorney General María Elena Andrade said in a statement Friday that the outcome was “the result of a rigorous and swift investigation, which made it possible to obtain arrest warrants for the three suspects in just a few weeks.” She added that the prosecutor’s office remained committed during the investigation to bringing those responsible to justice.

The judge also ordered the defendants to provide restitution to the victims’ families, totaling about $88,000, which included funeral expenses.