
(Scypre.com) – In a tragic turn of events in Mexico’s Baja California province, three men on a surfing vacation met a violent end, reportedly at the hands of carjackers. The incident has shaken the local and international surfing community.
Jack Carter Rhoad, a 30-year-old from Georgia, and Australian brothers Callum Robinson, 33, and Jake Robinson, 30, were discovered deceased next to their incinerated white pick-up truck. The grim discovery was made nearly a week after the trio mysteriously disappeared from a beach camp at La Bocana, a famed surfing location favored by enthusiasts for its exceptional waves.
Local authorities, piecing together the likely sequence of events, believe the three were approached by local criminals intent on stealing their vehicle. María Elena Andrade Ramírez, Baja California’s chief prosecutor, detailed the encounter to Australia’s 7News, explaining, “The victims resisted the robbery, and the assailants, who were armed, apparently shot them.” Shockingly, the vehicle that was the apparent motive for the attack was not stolen but instead was torched at the site.
Despite finding shell casings at the scene, police have yet to officially determine the cause of death. However, the investigation took a darker turn with the recovery of three male bodies from a well at a nearby ranch, an operation that required several hours of delicate work by firefighters.
While Mexican authorities have stopped short of definitively identifying the bodies as those of Rhoad and the Robinson brothers, they noted a “high degree of probability” that the victims were indeed the missing surfers. Confirmation of their identities was provided by multiple sources to Reuters.
In a related discovery, a fourth body was identified as that of a local property owner who had been reported missing two weeks prior.
The case saw a significant development with the arrest of Jesús Gerardo Garcia Cota, known as El Kekas, his partner Ari Gisel García Cota, and Jesus’ brother Cristian Alejandro Garcia. Although not yet charged with murder, the trio was found in possession of methamphetamine and other illegal narcotics. Notably, Ari Gisel García Cota was found carrying one of the surfer’s mobile phones at the time of her arrest.
The last known sighting of the Robinsons and Rhoad was on April 27. They were enjoying the tropical climate and vibrant surf culture of the coast. Callum Robinson had even shared several posts on social media showcasing their adventurous exploits along the Pacific Coast, including images of them in wetsuits, enjoying local cuisine, and socializing at Rosarito Beach.
The trio had been traveling towards Ensenada, another 50 miles south, and were expected at an Airbnb rental, which they never reached.
Adding a personal dimension to the tragedy, Stevenson University in Baltimore, where Callum Robinson graduated in 2015 and was celebrated as a star lacrosse player before joining the Premier Lacrosse League, released a statement mourning his loss.
This incident highlights the ongoing issues of violence in Baja California, despite some tourist areas being deemed relatively safe. The local community and international visitors are left to reconcile the region’s natural beauty and appeal with the potential dangers that lurk, particularly for those unfamiliar with the area’s challenges.