Mexican officials say three bodies have been found in the same remote area of Baja California where two Australian brothers and their American friend disappeared while surfing last week.
The body was found south of the city of Ensenada, according to a statement from the State Attorney’s Office. The statement did not confirm the identity of the deceased but said authorities found the body while searching for the missing person.
Three people questioned in the case have been arrested and charged with kidnapping, the statement said.
The disappearances of Callum Robinson, 33, his brother Jake, 30, and his friend Carter Rhoad, 30, have prompted inquiries from local authorities, the FBI and the Mexican Navy A massive search involving Marines.
The men, all outdoor enthusiasts, crossed the border from the United States into Mexico last month to explore Baja California’s famous surfing spots.
High-level lacrosse player Callum Robinson documented the trip on social media, where he, his doctor brother and their friends drank coffee on the beach, befriended stray dogs and relaxed in a hot tub . Rod, who is from Atlanta, founded an online clothing company in San Diego, according to his Facebook profile.
The group was supposed to check into a hotel in Rosarito Beach last weekend after spending several days camping at a remote beach south of Ensenada, according to a social media post by the Robinsons’ mother, Debra Robinson. An Airbnb. But they never reported. Relatives last heard from the men on April 27.
Authorities conducted a search near the town of St. Thomas, where the men had been camping. They first found their tent and the burned-out remains of the white Chevy pickup truck the men were riding in.
Baja California’s rugged coastline has long attracted surfers and other visitors from north of the border. But in recent years, the state has had one of the highest rates of violence in Mexico. In 2023, authorities recorded 2,116 homicides in the state, many related to the drug trade.
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has vowed to reduce violence in Mexico. While homicides have declined slightly during his six years in office, they still hover near record highs.
