A Mexican court on Wednesday ordered the alleged murderer of two Australians and an American charged killed during a surfing trip to be prosecuted, when chilling details emerged about the suspect's alleged confession.
It followed a hearing for Jesus Gerardo 'N' – aka 'El Kekas', a slang word meaning quesadillas – in Ensenada, Baja California, where the bodies of brothers Callum and Jake Robinson, and their friend Jack Carter Rhoad, were found. found last Friday.
The suspect's girlfriend told the court he admitted to killing the three friends after returning home from their campsite, the BBC reported. The 23-year-old woman told investigators that he showed up at her home on April 28 and told her he had done something with “three gringos,” the outlet reported.
She said she asked what he meant and he replied: “I killed them,” the court was told.
He then showed her new tires that were allegedly stolen from the three surfers, the BBC reported, citing prosecutors.
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The suspect will be prosecuted for the crime of “disappearance committed by private individuals,” and murder charges are expected to be filed later, the prosecutor's office said.
The three were camping in a remote beach area when they were killed in what investigators believe was an attempt to steal their pickup truck.
Their bodies were found in a shaft at the top of a cliff, with gunshot wounds to the head.
Prosecutors have said they are gathering evidence to charge two other suspects, who remain in custody for alleged possession of methamphetamine.
Located just south of California, Baja California is popular with American tourists thanks to its inviting beaches.
It is also one of the most violent states in Mexico due to organized crime gangs, although tourists are not usually targeted.
On Tuesday, forensics delivered the victims' bodies to a funeral home in Baja California, which will transfer them to the United States where families await them.
The parents of the two Australian brothers urged well-wishers to use their memories as inspiration to “live bigger, shine brighter and love harder.”
From California, Debra and Martin Robinson said that “the world has become a darker place since the deaths.”
Martin thanked friends and family in Australia and the United States who have provided “overwhelming support” since the men went missing.
With the ocean at their backs, mom Debra struggled to read through prepared remarks.
“It is with heavy hearts that we share the news that Callum and Jake have been murdered,” she began, her voice bursting with emotion. “Our hearts are broken and the world has become a darker place for us.”
She described Callum, 33, as a “sweet, larger-than-life character” who played professional lacrosse in the United States, where he became known as “the big koala.”
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The American Premier Lacrosse League dropped a message on its website saying the lacrosse world was “heartbroken by the tragic loss” of the trio.
Callum also played lacrosse at Stevenson University in Maryland. Head lacrosse coach Paul Cantabene told CBS Baltimore he was devastated when he heard the news.
“I had a good cry, and then I had to make some tough calls and let some people know about the situation,” Cantabene said. “That was even harder.”
On social media, his devastated girlfriend shared a black and white photo of the couple kissing, with the message: “You are one of one. I will love you forever.” In another photo she shared of the two embracing, she wrote: “My heart is broken into a million pieces. I have no words for it now.”
Jake, aged 30, was described as a “happy, gentle and compassionate soul, who was pursuing a career in medicine” and had a great love of surfing and cricket.
“They were young men enjoying their passion together: surfing,” Debra said. “Now it's time to take them home to family and friends and to the waves of the ocean in Australia.”
Rhoad was engaged to marry Natalie Weirtz on August 17 in Columbus, Ohio. Zola online wedding registry. A GoFundMe launched to “raise support for Natalie” had raised more than $80,000 as of Thursday morning.
“In the wake of the heartbreaking loss of Carter Rhoad, Callum Robinson and Jake Robinson, our hearts ache with sorrow for their families, friends and communities,” reads a separate GoFundMe setup for Rhoad's family.
