Accused killers of American and Australian surfers go on trial in Mexico
September 7, 2026 / 10:37 PM EDT / CBS/AFP
TL;DR
- Three men are on trial in Mexico for the murder of two Australian surfers and an American.
- The victims, brothers Jake and Callum Robinson and Jack Carter Rhoad, were killed in April 2024 during a suspected robbery attempt.
- The accused allegedly attempted to steal the surfers' pickup truck, which was found burned.
- The bodies, bearing gunshot wounds, were found dumped in a cliff-top shaft several days after the victims went missing.
- A witness described one of the accused as violent, and his girlfriend admitted to instigating the robbery to steal the truck's tires.
- The crime sparked outrage and grief in Australia and the United States, with families galvanizing a social media search.
- Baja California is known for organized crime and drug trafficking, though tourists are not typically targeted.