More than two years after three surfers were brutally murdered during a trip to Baja California, Mexico, their families have finally received a measure of justice.
On Friday, October 16, a Mexican judge sentenced three men to 158 years and nine months in prison each for the murders of Australian brothers Jake and Callum Robinson and their American friend, Jack Carter Rhoad.
The three were camping and surfing near Punta San José, south of Ensenada, when they were attacked on April 27, 2024.
According to The Guardian, the convicted killers were Jesús Gerardo, nicknamed “El Kekas,” Irineo Francisco, and Ángel Jesús.
What happened that night was horrifying.
Prosecutors said the attackers approached the surfers intending to steal tires from their pickup truck. When the victims resisted, the robbery turned deadly.
“The attackers pull out a gun they were carrying and kill the person who initially resisted the robbery, then turn on the other two,” prosecutor María Elena Andrade explained, according to the Associated Press.
All three surfers were shot in the head. Their bodies were dumped into a well approximately 50 feet deep, where authorities discovered them on May 3 following a massive search. Their vehicle was found burned nearby.
The crime sent shockwaves through the international surfing community.
Related: Woman Gets 20 Years in Jail for Surfers Murdered in Baja
According to the BBC, the brothers’ mother, Debra Robinson, told the court that the murders had stolen “the future we had imagined with them.”
In a statement reported by 7NEWS, their father, Martin, said, “No outcome can ever undo this tragedy.”
The three men were convicted of aggravated homicide and robbery-related offenses. A fourth accomplice, Ary Gisell Silva Raya, previously received a 20-year sentence for her involvement.
Jake was a doctor preparing for a new position in Australia, while Callum was a former professional lacrosse player.
Their parents have since established the Callum and Jake Robinson Foundation to honor their sons.
Although the defendants’ lawyers intend to appeal, the sentences mark a significant chapter in a tragedy that devastated families and the surfing world.
Related: Baja Surfer Killer “El Kekas” Was a Professional Hitman, Girlfriend Testifies (Video)
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