Jesus Gerardo : “Mexico surfers murder: accused confesses to girlfriend”

A man taken into custody in connection with the tragic deaths of two Australian surfers and their American companion in Mexico has reportedly confessed to the killings to his partner.

The suspect, known only by his first names of Jesus Gerardo in accordance with Mexican law, supposedly disclosed to his girlfriend that he had committed the murders of the trio, prosecutors allege.

The bodies of brothers Callum and Jake Robinson were discovered in an isolated well after they were allegedly killed by car thieves during a surfing and camping expedition in Baja California, just across the border from San Diego.

The brothers, aged 33 and 30 respectively, were found deceased alongside their friend, US national Jack Carter Rhoad.

Authorities had identified three individuals as potential suspects in the homicides, two of whom were apprehended with methamphetamines in their possession. One of them, a female, was found with one of the victims’ cellphones at the time of her arrest.

Prosecutors stated that the two suspects were detained on drug-related charges but remain under suspicion in connection to the murders. They have been identified as 23-year-old Ari Gisell and Cristian Alejandro Garcia.

Jesus, the third individual taken into custody, currently faces charges equivalent to kidnapping, although this was before the discovery of the bodies. It is anticipated that the charges will be escalated to murder in the near future.

Prosecutors revealed that he has a criminal record that includes drug trafficking, auto theft, and domestic abuse. He has not yet entered a plea in relation to the disappearance of the three men.

According to Australian news outlet ABC, Jesus, also known as “El Kekas”, appeared in a court in the Mexican city of Ensenada on Wednesday.

He was dressed in an orange jumpsuit and white sneakers, with his hands and feet restrained to the floor, as reported by the publication.

The court was informed of the state’s case, in which Jesus’s former partner, Ari, has become a key witness for the prosecution. Allegedly, Ari Gisell, whose surname has been withheld, informed authorities that her ex-partner had admitted to the killings.

The court heard that she informed investigators that Jesus arrived at her residence on Sunday and confessed, “I messed up three gringos.” When she asked for clarification, he reportedly responded, “I killed them.”

Prosecutors alleged that he then handed her a mobile phone, stating, “Look what I got you,” before showing her the new tires on her car that had reportedly been stolen from the victims’ vehicle.

Mexican authorities previously suggested that the three men were targeted for their tires, cash, and electronic devices.

Chief state prosecutor María Elena Andrade Ramírez stated that she believed the perpetrators came across the surfers’ pickup truck and tents, intending to steal the tires. However, a confrontation ensued when the victims discovered them, leading to a tragic outcome.

Following the killings, the alleged assailants transported the bodies to a remote location and disposed of them in a well known to them, concealing the site with boards.

“It was nearly impossible to locate,” Ms. Andrade Ramírez remarked, adding that it took two hours to retrieve the bodies from the well.

A fourth body was found alongside the young men, believed to be the remains of a rancher who owned the property and had gone missing two weeks prior. Authorities do not suspect his death is linked to the case.

Ms. Andrade Ramírez mentioned that investigators have not ruled out the possibility that the same suspects were responsible for depositing the fourth body in the well as part of a previous crime.

On Tuesday, Debra Robinson, the mother of Callum and Jake, delivered a heartfelt eulogy for her sons at a beach in San Diego.

“Our hearts are shattered, and the world has dimmed for us,” expressed Ms. Robinson, struggling to hold back tears. “They were young men revelling in their shared love for surfing.”

She recounted how her son Callum considered the United States his second home, while Jake’s passion for surfing led him to work in hospitals near the coast as a doctor.

With tears welling up, Ms. Robinson imparted a final message aligning with her sons’ adventurous spirits. “Live larger, shine brighter, and love fiercer in their memory,” she concluded.