The Aporia
The Aporia
Cruz, F. J., & Sánchez, F. (2026, October 17). 3 men sentenced to more than 158 years for the killings of Australian, US surfers in Mexico. Toronto Star. https://www.thestar.com/news/world/americas/3-men-sentenced-to-more-than-158-years-for-the-killings-of-australian-us-surfers-in-mexico/article_f8fa4c26-84be-5600-a39a-0e4d5e344a89.html
Cruz, Francisco Javier, and Fabiola Sánchez. “3 men sentenced to more than 158 years for the killings of Australian, US surfers in Mexico.” Toronto Star, 17 Oct. 2026, https://www.thestar.com/news/world/americas/3-men-sentenced-to-more-than-158-years-for-the-killings-of-australian-us-surfers-in-mexico/article_f8fa4c26-84be-5600-a39a-0e4d5e344a89.html.
Cruz, Francisco Javier, and Fabiola Sánchez. “3 men sentenced to more than 158 years for the killings of Australian, US surfers in Mexico.” Toronto Star, October 17, 2026. https://www.thestar.com/news/world/americas/3-men-sentenced-to-more-than-158-years-for-the-killings-of-australian-us-surfers-in-mexico/article_f8fa4c26-84be-5600-a39a-0e4d5e344a89.html.
Dated from the outlet's own feed. Check the original for its byline.
A Mexican judge on October 16 sentenced three men to more than 158 years each in prison for the murders of two Australian brothers, Callum Robinson (30) and Jake Robinson (33), and their American friend, Jack Carter Rhoad (30), during a surf trip in Baja California state in May 2024. The defendants were identified as Jesus Gerardo Garcia, alias "El Kekas," Irineo Francisco "N", and Angel Jesus "N". Each was found guilty of homicide, robbery with violence, and vehicle theft with violence.
The victims' bodies were discovered on a beach after a days-long search assisted by the FBI. The case highlighted safety concerns for foreign tourists in Mexico, leading to a significant drop in tourism, particularly among surfers. The judge ordered compensation for the victims’ families and rejected the prosecution's request for an exemplary sentence of 210 years.
The sentencing concluded a lengthy legal process that began with the arrest of at least four people, including Gisell Silva who was sentenced to 20 years in prison for her role in the crime. Jake Robinson was originally from California, while Callum had been living and working in Australia before his tragic death. Their deaths and the subsequent legal proceedings have drawn international attention to the risks faced by foreign visitors in Mexico.
The Baja California State Attorney General's Office welcomed the sentences as a strong message against such crimes. The surfers’ association president Antonio Otanez stated that "justice has been served," acknowledging the impact of the killings on local tourism, particularly among surfers who frequent the region’s beaches.
