# Three Men Sentenced to 158 Years Each for Surfer Murders in Baja California

> A Mexican judge handed down lengthy prison terms to three men convicted of the 2024 murders of Australian brothers and an American friend during a surfing trip.

By PrimaryBrief newsroom · Published 2026-10-17T13:12:32.445172Z
Canonical: https://primarybrief.com/article/three-men-sentenced-to-158-years-each-for-surfer-murders-in-baja-california-10376c58

Three men, Jesús Gerardo García ("El Kekas"), Irineo Francisco "N," and Ángel Jesús "N," were sentenced on October 16, 2026, to 158 years and nine months each in prison for the murders of Australian brothers Jake and Callum Robinson and their American friend Jack Carter Rhoad in Baja California, Mexico [6][8]. Their conviction a week prior stemmed from charges of aggravated homicide, violent robbery, and vehicle theft with violence [8].

The lengthy sentences mark a significant outcome in a case that drew international attention and sparked concerns about safety for tourists in the region [5][16][19]. The killings caused a "major drop" in tourist visits, especially by surfers, to Baja California, and prompted a US State Department warning for travelers [14][25][28].

## What the records show
On October 16, 2026, a Mexican judge in Ensenada, Baja California, sentenced Jesús Gerardo García ("El Kekas"), Irineo Francisco "N," and Ángel Jesús "N" to 158 years and nine months in prison each [6][8]. They were convicted on October 9, 2026, for the murders of Jake and Callum Robinson, Australian brothers, and their American friend, Jack Carter Rhoad [8]. The charges included aggravated homicide, violent robbery, and vehicle theft with violence [8]. The motive was a botched robbery to steal tires from the victims' pickup truck [9]. A 9mm bullet found in Jake Robinson's thigh was linked to one of the defendant's firearms [13]. Separately, Ary Gisell Silva Raya, García's ex-partner, received a 20-year sentence in November 2025 for instigating the robbery [11]. The judge ordered compensation for the victims' families, but monetary damages must be pursued through civil proceedings [2].

## The timeline
The victims were attacked on April 27, 2024, in a remote beachside area near Punta San José [10][24]. Their bodies were discovered on May 3, 2024, in a well [9][30]. Jesús Gerardo García ("El Kekas") was arrested in May 2024, along with his ex-partner Ary Gisell Silva Raya, Irineo Francisco "N," and Ángel Jesús "N" [12]. The trial for the three men began on September 7, 2026, and they were convicted on October 9, 2026 [8][19]. Sentencing took place on October 16, 2026 [3][6].

## What changed and for whom
The convictions and sentences offered closure to the victims' families [21]. Martin and Debra Robinson, parents of the Australian brothers, called it an "important step towards justice and accountability" [21]. Jack Carter Rhoad's mother, Page Rhoad, stated, "There will never be justice for the loss of a child, but these men will never hurt anyone else again" [21]. The case drew international condemnation [5][19]. Antonio Otanez, president of the Baja California surfers' association, noted a "major drop" in tourist visits, especially by surfers, to the region, despite welcoming the sentences [25][28][29]. The US State Department advised Americans to reconsider travel to Baja California due to crime risks [14].

## What the subject has said publicly
The available evidence does not include public statements from Jesús Gerardo García ("El Kekas"), Irineo Francisco "N," or Ángel Jesús "N" regarding their conviction or sentencing.

## What we could not confirm
The specific reasons for the rejection of monetary damages during sentencing and whether civil proceedings have been initiated for compensation could not be confirmed [2]. The full extent of tourism impact, such as specific figures for canceled trips, is not detailed [14][25].

## Evidence cited
1. Three men jailed for 158 years each for murdering Australian and US surfers in Mexico (www.bbc.co.uk) — https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3kgqjkzw29wo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
2. Mexican judge sentences three men to 158 years in prison for murders of Australian and US surfers (The Guardian) — https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/oct/17/mexican-judge-sentences-three-men-to-158-years-in-prison-for-murders-of-australian-and-us-surfers-ntwnfb
3. Three Mexicans jailed for 158 years each for killing Australian, US surfers (www.aljazeera.com) — https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/10/17/three-mexicans-jailed-for-158-years-each-for-killing-australian-us-surfers?traffic_source=rss
4. Killers of Perth brothers Jake and Callum Robinson sentenced in Mexican court (www.abc.net.au) — https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-10-17/jake-callum-robinson-mexico-murder-trial-sentence/107271152
5. Mexico sentences killers of US, Australian surfers to 158 years each in prison (www.dw.com) — https://www.dw.com/en/mexico-sentences-killers-of-us-australian-surfers-to-158-years-each-in-prison/a-79685975?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf
6. Mexican judge sentences three men to 158 years in prison for murders of Australian and US surfers (Associated Press) — https://apnews.com/article/mexico-surfers-killed-sentence-baja-california-a1e6b8f36c4b26097e3a391f1b62f02f
7. Prosecutor Seeks 210-Year Sentences for Murderers of Jake Robinson, Callum Robinson, Jack Carter Rhoad (The Inertia) — https://www.theinertia.com/surf/prosecutor-seeks-210-year-sentences-for-murderers-of-jake-robinson-callum-robinson-jack-carter-rhoad/
8. Three men found guilty of murdering Australian brothers and US friend in Mexico (Lipstick Alley) — https://lipstickalley.com/threads/three-men-found-guilty-of-murdering-australian-brothers-and-us-friend-in-mexico.5539567/
9. Mexico police: motive for missing surfers' murder was truck theft (The Express) — https://www.the-express.com/news/world/151241/Mexico-police-motive-missing-surfers-murder-truck-theft
10. Why were three foreign surfers murdered in Mexico and what did the court decide? (news.az) — https://news.az/news/why-were-three-foreign-surfers-murde-red-in-mexico-and-what-did-the-court-decide
11. Ary Gisell Silva Raya sentenced for murder of 3 surfers in Mexico (Indiatimes) — https://www.indiatimes.com/news/world/ari-gisell-silva-raya-sentenced-for-murder-of-3-surfers-in-mexico-616117.html
12. Fourth Person Charged in Baja Surfer Murders (The Inertia) — https://www.theinertia.com/surf/fourth-person-charged-in-baja-surfer-murders/
13. Prosecutors link firearm to one of Mexican surfer murders (Courthouse News Service) — https://courthousenews.com/2026/09/24/prosecutors-link-firearm-to-one-of-mexican-surfer-murders/
14. Three sentenced to 158 years in Mexico for murder of Australian, US surfers (KSL.com) — https://www.ksl.com/article/50993081/three-sentenced-to-158-years-in-mexico-for-murder-of-australian-us-surfers
15. Three men sentenced to over 158 years in Mexico for murder of Australian and US surfers (CNN) — https://edition.cnn.com/2026/10/17/americas/mexico-sentencing-surfers-killings-explainer-intl/index.html
16. Three Mexicans jailed for 158 years each for killing Australian, US surfers (Al Jazeera) — https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/10/17/three-mexicans-jailed-for-158-years-each-for-killing-australian-us-surfers
17. Three men jailed for 158 years each over murders of Australian surfers in Mexico (Malay Mail) — https://www.malaymail.com/news/world/2026/10/17/three-men-jailed-for-158-years-each-over-murders-of-australian-surfers-in-mexico/183182
18. Mexican judge convicts three men of murders of foreign surfers (AFP) — https://www.afp.com/en/news/15/mexican-judge-convicts-three-men-murders-foreign-surfers-doc-1807x5
19. Mexico surfers murder trial: Australian, American victims (CBS News) — https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mexico-surfers-murder-trial-australian-american-baja-california/
20. Three men sentenced to 158 years each for killing surfers in Mexico (operativmm.az) — https://operativmm.az/news/three-men-sentenced-to-158-years-each-for-killing-surfers-in-mexico-20261017072314546
21. Parents of Australian surfing brothers murdered in Mexico say no outcome can ever undo this tragedy as three men convicted of killings (The Guardian) — https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/oct/09/parents-of-australian-surfing-brothers-murdered-in-mexico-say-no-outcome-can-ever-undo-this-tragedy-as-three-men-convicted-of-killings
22. Mexico surfers' deaths: What it means for Baja California travel (travelweekly.com) — https://travelweekly.com/
23. 3 bodies in Mexican well identified as Australian and American surfers killed for tires (latimes.com) — https://www.latimes.com/
24. Mexico judge sentences three men to 158 years in prison for murder of surfers (independent.co.uk) — https://www.independent.co.uk/
25. Three Mexican men sentenced to more than 158 years in prison each for the 2024 murders of two Australian brothers and their American friend (KVUE) — https://www.kvue.com/article/news/crime/three-mexican-men-sentenced-murder-surfers/269-87399e6c-7f55-46aa-a38c-30b151199344
26. Ensenada judge finds 3 men guilty in 2024 murder of foreign surfers (mexiconewsdaily.com) — https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/ensenada-judge-finds-3-men-guilty-in-2024-murder-of-foreign-surfers/
27. Three Mexicans jailed for 158 years each for killing Australian, US surfers (www.aljazeera.com) — https://aljazeera.com/news/2026/10/17/three-mexicans-jailed-for-158-years-each-for-killing-australian-us-surfers
28. Mexico sentencing surfers killings explainer intl (aroundprague.cz) — https://aroundprague.cz/news/2026/10/17/mexico-sentencing-surfers-killings-explainer-intl
29. Killers of Perth brothers Jake and Callum Robinson sentenced in Mexican court (kyfreepress.com.au) — https://kyfreepress.com.au/news/2026/10/17/mexico-surfers-murder-trial-sentence-jake-callum-robinson/
30. Killers of Perth brothers Jake and Callum Robinson sentenced in Mexican court (corowafreepress.com.au) — https://corowafreepress.com.au/news/2026/10/17/mexico-surfers-murder-trial-sentence-jake-callum-robinson/