American surfer and Australian Brothers were likely killed in carjacking incident in Mexico - Times of India

Jack Carter Rhoad body was discovered alongside the two brothers at the bottom of a well at a ranch in Mexico.Hal Rhoad/Facebook

Authorities have theorized that the once idyllic trip took a tragic turn when local bandits approached the men at their beach camp in the popular surf spot known as La Bocana.

"When they tried to get the vehicle, the victims opposed the robbery, the robbers were armed with a firearm and apparently shot the victims," Baja California's chief prosecutor María Elena Andrade Ramírez told Australia's 7News.

Australian brother Callum and Jake Robinson. (Callum Robinson/Instagram)

The perpetrators didn't even take the car they likely targeted the trio for; instead, they chose to set it ablaze at the campsite. While police haven't confirmed the cause of death, they discovered shell casings at the campsite.

Firefighters spent several hours recovering three male bodies from the bottom of a well at a nearby ranch. Although Mexican officials haven't officially confirmed the identities of the victims as Georgia resident Rhoad and the Robinson brothers, they stated there was a "high degree of probability" they were executed.

The fourth body was identified as the property owner who had been reported missing two weeks prior, according to officials.

Jesús Gerardo Garcia Cota, also known as El Kekas, along with his partner Ari Gisel García Cota, and Jesus' brother Cristian Alejandro Garcia, were later apprehended by police in connection with the disappearance of the men. However, they have not yet been charged with

murder

.

Upon their arrest, all three were found in possession of methamphetamine and other illegal narcotics. Local reports indicate that Ari Gisel Garcia Cota, 23, was carrying one of the surfer's phones at the time of her arrest.

The Robinsons and Rhoad were last seen on April 27, enjoying the tropical climate of the coast. However, they were not formally reported missing until several days later when they failed to arrive at an Airbnb they had rented further south.

In the hours preceding their disappearance, Callum shared a series of social media posts depicting what seemed to be an exhilarating vacation along the Pacific Coast.

The men were spotted wearing wetsuits, savoring local cuisine, and enjoying beers at Rosarito Beach, where they surfed and camped before journeying another 50 miles south to the port city of Ensenada.

A snapshot captured the white pick-up truck, believed to be the same one found burned at the abandoned camp.

Stevenson University in Baltimore released a statement mourning the loss of Callum Robinson, a 2015 graduate and standout lacrosse player at the school who later played for the Premier Lacrosse League.

Despite Baja California being one of Mexico's most violent states, tourist areas like Ensenada are generally considered safer.