Friends Launched Search Party for Missing Australians, Court Hears
ENSENADA, Mexico — September 19, 2026

A group of friends launched their own search for two Australian brothers and their American friend after they disappeared during a surfing trip in Mexico, a murder trial has heard.

Jake Robinson, Callum Robinson and American Carter Rhoad were reported missing in April 2024. Their bodies were later discovered in a well near Ensenada.

Three men are currently on trial in Mexico in connection with the killings. They face charges including aggravated homicide, aggravated robbery, violent robbery and grand theft auto.

Friends Began Searching for the Missing Men
A friend of the victims told the court that he became concerned after failing to hear from Callum and Carter.

He contacted the Airbnb where the men were expected to stay and learned that the hosts had not heard from them either.

The friend then contacted Carter Rhoad’s wife, Natalie Weirtz, who was able to identify the last known location of Carter’s phone near Ensenada.

A group of eight friends subsequently travelled from the United States into Mexico to search for the missing men.

Camp Found at Remote Coastal Location
The group eventually travelled to Punta San Jose, where the three men were believed to have planned to camp.

There, the friends discovered what appeared to be the remains of a burned tent.

The witness told the court that he recognized a mug belonging to Callum Robinson. The group also found a Birkenstock buckle and a glasses case believed to belong to Carter Rhoad.

They also discovered what appeared to be blood and a shell casing. Mexican authorities later treated the location as a crime scene.

Bodies Later Found in a Well
The court heard that the three men had been shot and that their bodies were eventually discovered in a well.

The prosecution alleges the killings were connected to a robbery.

However, defence lawyers have argued that there is insufficient evidence to establish the prosecution’s theory.

FBI Cooperation Revealed in Court
The trial also heard that the United States FBI had been cooperating with Mexican authorities during the investigation.

A colleague of the victims told the court that the FBI was involved in efforts to locate the missing men.

The FBI has not publicly commented on its reported involvement, while Mexican authorities have declined to confirm details of the cooperation.

Trial Continues
Three men — Jesús Gerardo, also known as “El Kekas”, Irineo Francisco and Ángel Jesús — are currently standing trial.

The judge-only trial is expected to continue for more than four weeks.

The case has attracted international attention as prosecutors present evidence about what happened to the three men during their 2024 surfing trip.

Source
ABC News Australia — Friends launched search party for missing Australians, court hears, September 9, 2026.