The trial of three men accused of killing two Australian brothers and their American friend during a surfing trip in Mexico began Monday in Ensenada, more than two years after the three travelers disappeared from Baja California.
Australian brothers Jake Robinson, 30, and Callum Robinson, 33, and their American friend Jack Carter Rhoad, 30, were killed in April 2024 while camping near Punta San José, a remote coastal area south of Ensenada.
Their deaths followed an alleged attempt to steal their pickup truck and other belongings. Investigators say the vehicle was later found burned, while the victims’ bodies were discovered several days after they were reported missing.
The Robinson brothers’ parents, Martin and Debra Robinson, traveled from Australia to Ensenada for the start of the proceedings.
Martin Robinson said the family wanted to be present for the brothers and hoped the trial would help answer questions that have remained since their deaths.
Debra Robinson became emotional inside the courtroom as she looked toward the accused men.
What prosecutors say happened
The three travelers were reported missing on April 27, 2024, after they failed to return as expected from their trip along Baja California’s Pacific coast.
According to the investigation, the group was staying at a remote beachside campsite in the Punta San José area. Prosecutors allege that an attempted robbery escalated into violence when the men were confronted at the campsite.
The victims were found on May 3, 2024, in a shaft near the area where they had been camping. Authorities said they had suffered fatal gunshot wounds.
The investigation has centered on an alleged effort to take the travelers’ vehicle and other possessions.
Three men are now facing trial in connection with the deaths.
Witness describes events at campsite
During the opening proceedings, witnesses gave testimony about what allegedly happened that night.
One witness, the stepson of a defendant, testified from a separate room with his face concealed. He said he had accompanied the accused to the area but stayed nearby when the confrontation began.
He described hearing a disturbance before leaving the area. According to his testimony, he later returned after being contacted by the group.
The witness also told the court that he was threatened and warned against speaking about what had happened.
His testimony is expected to form part of the evidence examined as the trial continues.
Woman already sentenced in related case
A woman connected to the case, Ary Gisell Silva Raya, was sentenced to 20 years in prison in November 2025 after accepting responsibility for robbery-related offenses linked to the incident.
Investigators said Silva Raya had encountered the three travelers before the attack and recognized that they had valuable belongings. Prosecutors alleged that she encouraged others to rob them.
The Baja California state prosecutor’s office said the evidence showed that Silva Raya went to Punta San José on April 27, 2024, where she came into contact with the victims before leaving. Prosecutors said other participants returned later that night and allegedly attacked the travelers.
Silva Raya’s conviction was for violent robbery and vehicle robbery. The three men currently on trial remain the defendants facing the homicide proceedings.
Families have waited more than two years for answers
The killings triggered a large search in both Australia and the United States after the three men disappeared.
Callum Robinson had played professional lacrosse in the United States, while his younger brother Jake was pursuing a medical career in Australia.
Rhoad, who was from the United States, was also preparing for his wedding when he was killed.
For the Robinson family, the start of the trial marks a significant step in a case that has remained unresolved for more than two years.
The proceedings began in Ensenada on September 7 and are continuing as witnesses and evidence are presented.
The case has drawn international attention because the victims were foreign visitors traveling to Baja California for surfing when they became the targets of a violent robbery.
The trial is expected to focus on the events surrounding the men’s deaths, the alleged robbery and the evidence connecting the three defendants to the attack.
