Mexico City, Mexico – Mexican authorities revealed on Friday the discovery of three bodies in a rugged area of Baja California, a region where two Australians and an American had disappeared during what appeared to be a camping and surfing expedition. The state prosecutors’ office, without confirming the identities of the bodies, disclosed that they were found during the search for the missing individuals. Additionally, three individuals who had been under scrutiny in connection with the missing trio were apprehended and charged.
The bodies were located south of Ensenada, in an area of challenging access, as part of the ongoing search for the two Australians and one American, initially reported missing. Near the township of Santo Tomás, the discovery site was close to where the missing men’s tents and vehicle were located earlier in the week on a distant coastal stretch. The brothers from Australia, Jake and Callum Robinson, along with American Jack Carter Rhoad, vanished over the weekend and failed to arrive at their intended destination.
Authorities had been questioning three individuals relating to the case, leading to their subsequent arrest and prosecution on charges akin to kidnapping. Evidence found near the abandoned tents was linked to these suspects, indicating a potential connection to the disappeared foreigners, according to María Elena Andrade Ramírez, the chief state prosecutor. Despite the presence of drug cartels in the area, all possible leads are being examined, emphasizing the urgent need to locate the missing trio.
While the missing Australians’ mother, Debra Robinson, reached out for support on social media platforms, expressing concern over her sons’ whereabouts since late April, authorities have been coordinating efforts with Australian and U.S. officials. The situation has been compounded by the delay in reporting the disappearance, as crucial time was lost. In a separate incident in 2015, two Australian surfers were tragically killed in western Sinaloa state, underscoring the dangers that can be encountered in certain regions of Mexico.
As investigations continue in Baja California, the urgency to find the missing campers and surfers remains paramount, with authorities pursuing all avenues to bring clarity to the situation and ensure justice for the affected families.