Three men found guilty of murdering Jake and Callum Robinson and Carter Rhoad in Mexico. Sentences due on October 16
A Mexican judge in Ensenada, Baja California, on Friday convicted three men of the 2024 murders of Australian brothers Jake and Callum Robinson, aged 30 and 33, and their American friend Carter Rhoad, 30. The Guardian, BBC, CNN, ABC and Reuters reported the verdict, and Reuters cited a source at the court. AP named the men as Jesús Gerardo García, known as “El Kekas”, Irineo Francisco and Ángel Jesús, convicted of aggravated homicide, and said Judge Raúl Hernández Arellano will announce sentences on October 16. The BBC said the bodies were found at the bottom of a well. Prosecutors asked for “exemplary” sentences; AP says 210 years each and Newscord says up to 150 years, and we could not reconcile the two. Ary Gisell Silva Raya, García’s former partner, was sentenced earlier to 20 years for her part in the robbery of the group’s belongings.
It is the first court finding on one of the most closely followed overseas cases for Australians in recent years, and it tests whether Mexico’s justice system can deliver sentences that satisfy victims’ families in Australia and the United States.
If you are planning to surf or travel in Baja California, the DFAT Smartraveller advice for Mexico is the place to check before you go. The verdict itself does not change that advice.
The conviction shows that a case with international attention can be carried to a verdict in Mexico, and that the families’ campaign for accountability worked.
A verdict is not a sentence. Until the judge sets the terms on October 16, and any appeal is heard, the families do not yet have finality, and the conflicting reports on what prosecutors sought are a reminder that details are still emerging.
Watch October 16. The sentence, any appeal by the defence and a statement from the Australian Government are the three things still missing. We will not report a figure for the prosecution’s request until AP and Newscord agree.
DailyDrop Australia edition No. 7 · Morning · SUN., OCT. 11, 2026