Bodies found in Mexico identified as American tourist, Australian brothers

May 6

Lauren Taylor Anchor

By Lauren Taylor (Anchor), Brock Koller (Senior Producer), William Jackson (Producer), Ian Kennedy (Lead Video Editor)

Three bodies found in a well in Baja California, Mexico, have been identified as a missing American tourist and two Australian brothers, according to Mexican officials. Early Friday, May 3, the FBI said authorities retrieved the three bodies from a 50-foot-deep water hole near La Bocana beach. A fourth unidentified male body unrelated to the case was also located.

Mexican authorities said the bodies — discovered about 90 minutes south of the U.S.-Mexico border — were identified by the families of American Jack Carter Rhoad and Australians Callum and Jake Robinson. The three friends, who were on a surfing trip, disappeared the week of April 29.

Officials said each was found with a gunshot wound to the head following an alleged carjacking incident. Mexican officials have arrested three suspects in connection with their deaths.

Authorities have detained Jesús Gerardo, an alleged suspect known as “el Kekas,” who has a criminal record, along with two others who are in preventive detention as the investigation continues.

The U.S. State Department is monitoring the situation and has a current travel advisory for Baja California, urging tourists to reconsider travel to the region due to crime and kidnapping risks.

Tags: Border, Crime, Mexico, State Department, U.S.-Mexico Border

[Lauren Taylor]

THREE BODIES FOUND IN MEXICO HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS THOSE OF A MISSING AMERICAN TOURIST AND TWO AUSTRALIAN BROTHERS.

THE FBI CONFIRMED THE THREE BODIES WERE FOUND ON FRIDAY IN A WELL IN THE MEXICAN STATE OF BAJA CALIFORNIA – ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF SOUTH OF THE U.S.-MEXICO BORDER.

MEXICAN AUTHORITIES RELEASED MORE INFORMATION SUNDAY NIGHT – SAYING THE FAMILIES OF AMERICAN JACK CARTER RHOAD AND AUSTRALIANS CALLUM “KAY-LUM” AND JAKE ROBINSON WERE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THEIR LOVED ONES.

THE THREE FRIENDS WERE ON A SURFING TRIP WHEN THEY DISAPPEARED LAST WEEK.

MEXICAN OFFICIALS SAID ALL THREE WERE FOUND WITH A GUNSHOT WOUND TO THE HEAD – AFTER AN ALLEGED CARJACKING INCIDENT.

AUTHORITIES SAY THREE SUSPECTS HAVE BEEN ARRESTED.

A FOURTH BODY WAS ALSO LOCATED WITH THE THREE OTHERS – BUT OFFICIALS SAY THE YET-TO-BE-IDENTIFIED VICTIM IS NOT RELATED TO THIS CASE.

THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS ITS CLOSELY MONITORING THE SITUATION.

THE DEPARTMENT CURRENTLY HAS A TRAVEL ADVISORY FOR THE BAJA CALIFORNIA REGION – ADVISING TOURISTS TO RECONSIDER TRAVEL DUE TO CRIME AND KIDNAPPING.