Woman Sentenced to 20 Years for Role in Murder of 3 Surfers in Baja California

Baja California, Mexico — A Baja California court has sentenced 23-year-old Ari Gisell to 20 years in prison for her involvement in the killings of two Australian brothers and their American friend during a violent carjacking that shocked communities in Mexico, the U.S., and Australia in April 2024.

The victims — Callum Robinson, 33, Jake Robinson, 30, and Carter Rhoad, 30 — disappeared while on a surfing and camping trip near Ensenada. Their bodies were later found at the bottom of a remote, 15-meter agricultural well, each with gunshot wounds to the head.

How the Crime Unfolded

According to prosecutors, Gisell noticed the foreigners’ pickup truck and camper and became interested in the vehicle’s high-value tires. She reportedly told her then-boyfriend, Jesús Gerardo “N”, to “bring me a good phone and good tires for my pickup,” setting the violent chain of events in motion.

Gerardo, along with Irineo Francisco “N” and Ángel Jesús “N”, followed the tourists to their campsite. The attack escalated into an armed robbery before the three men executed the victims and dumped their bodies in the well.

The ongoing cases against the three male suspects remain before the courts.

Possible Cartel Links — but No Cartel Motive

Local investigations revealed that two suspects — Gerardo and Francisco — have alleged ties to the Sinaloa Cartel, one of Mexico’s most powerful criminal organizations. Both are being held in El Hongo, a maximum-security prison in Tecate.

Despite these connections, prosecutors told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) that they do not believe the murders were cartel-ordered or linked to organized crime operations. The incident is being treated as a violent robbery that turned into a triple homicide.

Families Deliver Heartbreaking Testimony

During Wednesday’s sentencing, the victims’ families appeared via video link to deliver emotional statements.

Debra Robinson, mother of Callum and Jake, said “We dreamed of seeing them grow older, of having children. That’s all taken now. We live with their absence.” Rhoad’s fiancée, Natalie Wiertz, told the court:
“He was my safety in the world. My life is now a nightmare.”

The three friends had been preparing for a weekend of camping and surfing along the Baja coast — a popular route for travelers from California and abroad.

Who They Were

• Callum Robinson, a standout athlete, played for Australia’s national lacrosse team and lived in San Diego.
• Jake Robinson, a doctor, had just arrived from Australia and was days away from starting a new medical job.
• Carter Rhoad, a San Diego resident, worked in tech and was planning his wedding.

Their deaths prompted international headlines and renewed scrutiny of traveler safety in remote parts of northern Mexico.

A Tearful Apology and a Final Judgment

In court, Gisell apologized to the families, saying she understood that “nothing I can say will compensate you or give you peace.” As a single mother, she told the judge she planned to seek rehabilitation while serving her sentence.

With the case against her now closed, attention turns to the remaining defendants — all accused of direct involvement in the shootings.