A trio of tourists on a surf trip in Mexico lived an idyllic life. They posted photos of themselves on the beach, on rooftops, drinking beer, listening to music while exploring the country's picturesque coastline.
Then they disappeared.
Here's what we know about what happened:
Who were they?
The men killed were Australian brothers Callum Robinson, 33, his brother Jake, 30, and their American friend Jack Carter Rhoad, 30.
Callum was a high level lacrosse player. He played Division III college lacrosse at Stevenson University in Maryland.
“He lived an extraordinary life, but the most impressive thing about Callum is how loyal he was. “Once you were her friend, you were her friend for life,” said Stevenson University lacrosse team coach Paul Cantabene.
“My heart is shattered into a million pieces,” Callum Robinson's girlfriend Emily Horwath wrote in an Instagram post.
His brother Jake was a doctor and Jack Carter Rhoad founded an online clothing company in San Diego called Loma Apparel. He also worked for a consulting company called ITCO Solutions.
Rhoad had recently proposed to his girlfriend, and his last Facebook post, from July 2023, showed images of the proposal.
What were they doing in Mexico?
The three men were on a surf trip in Baja California and were expected to check into an Airbnb in Rosarito on April 27, but they never showed up, according to Debra Robinson, Callum and Jake's mother.
The three arrived in Mexico on April 26 for their idyllic trip to the beach. Callum Robinson posted photos of the trio drinking beer on a rooftop, as well as photos of the men on the beach and in a rooftop jacuzzi.
His disappearance triggered a manhunt and investigation by local Mexican police, the FBI and the Mexican navy.
What happened?
Mexican authorities have determined that the three men were murdered by thieves who were looking to steal their white truck to sell their tires.
The Chevrolet truck appeared in the first photo Callum Robinson shared when the men arrived in Baja California on April 26. It had a California license plate.
The victims' bodies were found about 4 kilometers from where they were murdered, just south of the city of Ensenada. A tent where the men were staying was found nearby, as well as their burned truck.
María Elena Andrade Ramírez, attorney general for the state of Baja California, said investigators discovered their bodies 50 feet deep in a remote well.
Inside the well there was also a fourth body, he said.
Three Mexicans are detained in connection with the case, the prosecutor said.
What does it mean for tourists?
The killings have sparked heated debates about security, as well as the priority of solving the homicides of other tourists killed in Mexico.
In the Talk Baja Facebook group, concerned surfers and potential visitors to the northern Mexican state have discussed whether they should still visit the area.
The US State Department said in its 2023 report that Americans should “reconsider” traveling to Baja California due to kidnapping and crime. The “reconsider” category is the second worst category, after the department’s “do not travel to” recommendation.
