MEXICO CITY â Two Australians and an American were doing what they loved on the stunning, largely isolated stretch of Baja Californiaâs Pacific coast. Their last images on social media showed them sitting and gazing at the waves, contemplating the breaks.
What happened to end their lives may have been as random as a passing pickup truck full of people with ill intent. The surfers were shot in the head, their bodies dumped in a covered well miles away. How it unfolded was the stuff of nightmares.
Brothers Jake and Callum Robinson from Australia and American Jack Carter Rhoad had apparently stopped to surf the breaks between Punta San JosĂŠ, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Ensenada, and La Bocana, further north on the coast. They were attacked there on April 28 or 29.
READ: Bodies found in Mexico likely those of missing surfers: authorities
As soon as police arrived at their last known camp site, it was clear that something had gone violently wrong.
There were bloodstains and marks âas if heavy objects had been dragged,â leading to suspicions of an attack, the Baja California state prosecutorâs office said in an attempt to reconstruct the scene.
Chief state prosecutor MarĂa Elena Andrade RamĂrez described what likely would have been moments of terror that ended the trip for the three men.
She theorized the killers drove by and saw the foreignersâ pickup truck and tents and wanted to steal the truckâs tires and other parts. But âwhen (the foreigners) came up and caught them, surely, they resisted.â
She said thatâs when the killers would have shot the men. She said they were likely not attacked because they were tourists. âThe evidence suggests they (the killers) did not know where they were from.â
Andrade RamĂrez said the reconstruction of events was based on the forensic examinerâs reports, noting all three had bullet wounds to the head.
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There was a hurried attempt to destroy evidence. The foreignersâ tents were apparently burned. The pickup truck was driven miles away and burned. The assailantsâ truck was later found with a gun inside.
Then, at âa site that is extremely hard to get to,â the bodies were dumped into a well about 4 miles (6 kilometers) away. Investigators were surprised when, underneath the bodies of the three foreigners, a fourth body was found that had been there much longer.
âThey had to have previous knowledge of it,â Andrade RamĂrez said of the attackers, acknowledging the possibility they were behind the previous killing.
The well had been covered with boards. âIt was literally almost impossible to find it,â Andrade RamĂrez said. It took two hours to winch the bodies out.
Prosecutors have said they were questioning three people in the killings. Two were caught with methamphetamines. One of them, a woman, had one of the victimsâ cellphones when she was caught. Prosecutors said the two were being held pending drug charges but continue to be suspects in the killings.
A third man was arrested on charges of a crime equivalent to kidnapping, but that was before the bodies were found. It was unclear if he might face more charges.
The third man was believed to have directly participated in the killings. In keeping with Mexican law, prosecutors identified him by his first name, JesĂşs Gerardo, alias âel Kekas,â a slang word that means quesadillas, or cheese tortillas.
Andrade RamĂrez said he had a criminal record that included drug dealing, vehicle theft and domestic violence, adding, âWe are certain that more people were involved.â
She emphasized that she could not discuss anything related to the suspects, or their possible statements, because that was not allowed under Mexican law and might prejudice the case against them.
Andrade RamĂrez noted that the victimsâ families said the brothers and Rhoad had come many times to the seaside spot and never had any problem. This time, however, âthere was no way to ask for help when the attackers showed up.â
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Tuesday he had requested an opportunity to speak to the brothersâ parents Deborah and Martin Robinson.
âThis is a terrible tragedy and my heart goes out to them. To identify these wonderful young men and they have been travelling in Mexico. Weâve been dealing with them through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Iâve indicated that I wish to speak to them at an appropriate time of their choosing,â Albanese told reporters in the Queensland state town of Rockhampton.