Three guys on a surf vacation in Mexico were brutally killed during a carjacking attempt to take their vehicle for its tires, a horrific tragedy that has shocked the surfing world. The victims, American Jack Carter Rhoad, 30, and Australian brothers Jake, 30, and Callum Robinson, 33, were last seen alive in Ensenada, Baja California, on April 27.
The criminals targeted the surfers after seeing their car and camping setup, according to Chief State Prosecutor of Baja California Maria Elena Andrade Ramirez, who disclosed the specifics of the crime at a news conference. The surfers approached the assailants, who were trying to take the car for its components, and this resulted in a violent fight. Ramirez claims that since one of the surfers first resisted, the assailants had to use deadly force, which is how all three guys died.
The perpetrators burned the victims’ tents after the killings and disposed of their remains in a 50-foot-deep hole four miles away from the area in an effort to hide their crimes. After that, boards were placed over the well, making it almost hard to find.
The wider surfing community, as well as the families and friends of these three young guys, have been profoundly impacted by their deaths. The surfers will always be recognized for their passion of the sport and their sense of adventure as they documented their idyllic journey around the Pacific Coast.
Three people have been taken into custody by the authorities in relation to the surfers’ disappearance: Jesús Gerardo Garcia Cota, his girlfriend Ari Gisel García Cota, and Cristian Alejandro Garcia, Jesus’ brother. Although there is evidence connecting these people to the disappearance, official murder charges have not yet been filed.
The investigation also revealed another disturbing finding: in the same well, the decaying remains of a nearby rancher who had gone missing two weeks earlier were discovered. This rancher had owned the land where the well is situated, which gives the case even more mystery and sorrow.
In an effort to bring this horrific murder to an end and put policies in place to avoid such catastrophes in the future, the surfing community and the families of the victims are still searching for justice.