Abduction of Jack Carter Rhoads, Jake and Callum Robinson

On April 29, 2024, three tourists - American citizen Jack Carter Rhoads and Australian brothers Jake and Callum Robinson - went missing while visiting the Mexican state of Baja California. Their bodies were found on May 2 at the bottom of a well.[1][2]

Background edit

Rhoads and the Robinsons were on a surfing and camping trip together at the time of their deaths. Callum Robinson, aged 33, was a member of the Australian national Lacrosse team and a Stevenson University alumnus, who had lived in the US in an attempt to become a professional Lacrosse player. Jake Robinson, aged 30, was a doctor. All three travelled together in their jeep and posted photos of isolated beaches on social media.[3]

They were camped near the town of Ensenada, which is located about 60 miles from Tijuana in Baja California. All three went missing on April 29. Suspicions arose after they did not check in to the Airbnb they booked in the resort town of Rosarito. The mother of the Robinsons said she had last heard from her sons on April 27.[3]

Murder edit

A burned-out white pickup truck was found in a ranch in Santo Tomas about 40 miles from where the bodies were found. Local police confirm that the truck is the same one Callumn posted on Instagram a week before the trio went missing.[2]

The missing trio were found at a bottom of a well in a site that prosecutor Maria Elena Andrade Ramirez describes as "extremely hard to get to".[3] It took two hour to winch the bodies out. The three friends were later identified by their parents, without a need of a genetic test.[3]

The initial investigation of local authorities suggest the trio were kidnapped and murdered by thieves that wanted their truck tires.

Reactions edit

As the news of the killings spread out, it sparked outrage in the surf community of Ensenada, where about 500 people marched on Sunday[when?] to call for justice and better security.[3]

References edit

  1. ^ Magramo, Kathleen; Suarez, Karol (2024-05-06). "Bodies found in Mexico confirmed as those of missing American and Australian tourists". CNN. Retrieved 2024-05-06.
  2. ^ a b Pozzebon, Stefano; Bertha, Ramos (2024-05-05). "Murdered bodies 'most likely' those of missing surfers, Mexican investigators say". CNN. Retrieved 2024-05-06.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Australian brothers and US tourist who went missing on surfing trip in Mexico 'shot dead by thieves'". Sky News. Retrieved 2024-05-06.