Judge Raul Hernandez in the coastal city of Ensenada ruled that Jesus Gerardo Garcia, known as "El Kekas", Irineo Francisco "N", and Angel Jesus "N" were responsible for the deaths of Australians Callum Robinson, 30, and Jake Robinson, 33, and American Carter Redd Rhoad, 30. The defendants, who had been in custody for more than two years, were also found guilty of armed robbery and armed carjacking.
The victims travelled to Baja California in April 2024 to surf and camp near Punta San Jose, about 80 kilometres from Ensenada. They were reported missing shortly after arriving; their bodies were found on May 3, 2024, in a well, all with gunshot wounds to the head. Garcia was arrested in May 2024 along with his former partner Ary Gisell Silva Raya, Irineo Francisco, and Angel Jesus.
During the monthlong trial, Silva Raya testified that Garcia confessed to arriving at the victims' tent with a 9mm pistol. She said the victims threw their belongings to prevent an attack and one begged for his life, but Garcia ignored this. She also said Garcia bragged about "how beautifully" the victims cried and about items he stole from them. The state prosecutor's office reported that Silva Raya met the foreigners on April 27, 2024, and instigated a robbery, which occurred the following day. Silva Raya was sentenced in November 2025 to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to aggravated robbery and vehicle theft in an expedited proceeding. Garcia and his accomplices opted for trial.
Martin Robinson, father of the two Australian brothers, said: "Today's guilty verdict is a significant moment in our long and painful journey to seek justice for our beautiful sons, Callum and Jake, and their friend Carter Rhoad, whose lives were so cruelly taken from them in 2024." He added: "No outcome can ever undo this tragedy, but we hope today marks an important step towards justice and allows us to continue honoring their lives and the extraordinary young men they were. They will never be forgotten."
The judge will announce the final sentence on October 16. The Baja California State Attorney General's Office has requested a sentence of 210 years in prison for each defendant, described as an "exemplary sentence".