Fourth Suspect Charged in Murders of Australian Surfers in Mexico
Authorities in Mexico have officially named a fourth suspect in connection with the brutal killings of Australian brothers Callum and Jake Robinson, and their American friend Jack Carter Rhoad.
Irineo Francisco has been charged with aggravated homicide and is expected to be tried alongside three others already facing multiple charges, including murder, aggravated robbery, grand theft auto, and forced disappearance.
The trio of friends—Callum, 33, Jake, 30, and Jack, 30—vanished during a surfing trip in Baja California, a remote region often linked to cartel violence. Their bodies were later discovered on May 3, 2024, in an abandoned well approximately 10 to 15 meters deep, nearly a week after being reported missing.
Initial investigations determined the victims were murdered execution-style after resisting an attempted vehicle theft. While speculation swirled about cartel involvement, Mexican prosecutor Miguel Ángel Gaxiola Rodríguez has maintained that the motive was a robbery gone wrong—not organized crime.
“It appears that the perpetrators identified an opportunity for robbery when they encountered the foreigners in a highly isolated location,” Rodríguez told the ABC. “These individuals exploited the circumstances to perpetrate the robbery, resulting in the fatal shooting.”
The case gained traction on May 1, 2024, when 23-year-old Ari Gisel was arrested during a traffic stop in Ensenada. She allegedly tossed a bag of meth from the vehicle and attempted to flee. A search of the car revealed an iPhone belonging to victim Jack Rhoad.
Following her arrest, Gisel reportedly cooperated with authorities, implicating her partner, Jesus Gerardo Garcia Cota, also known as “El Kekas,” and his brother Cristian Alejandro. Gisel claimed Garcia Cota confessed, saying he had “f***ed up three gringos,” and later showed her new tires allegedly stolen from the Australians’ white ute.
While Gisel is not charged with forced disappearance, she faces aggravated homicide and robbery charges like her male co-defendants.
The case is set to return to court next week, as prosecutors continue to pursue the robbery-based theory in the killings that shocked communities in both Mexico and Australia.
