Three tourists were found by the Mexican authorities on Friday, killed in the state of Baja California, in the north of Mexico.
It has been confirmed that it was the Australian brothers Jake (30) and Callum Robinson (33) and their American friend, Jack Carter Rhoad (30) who were found dead.
It has been confirmed after the families of those killed on Sunday went to Mexico to identify the bodies, writes the BBC.
The men had been wanted by the next of kin since April 27, before they were found.
Missing tourists found dead
Theory of theft
The authorities confirmed on Sunday that the three tourists were all found with gunshot wounds to the head.
On Friday, a burned-out car was first discovered, before the police found three bodies on a farm 65 kilometers away, according to CNN.
MISSING: The three tourists were reported missing at the end of April. Photo: The police
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To Australian 7News, Andrade says that the bodies were at the bottom of a 15-metre-deep well, close to the coastline.
Authorities believe the men were attacked while trying to fend off an attempted theft of their pickup truck.
The theory is that the perpetrators wanted to get hold of the car, specifically for the tyres. When the three men resisted, they were shot, according to Maria Andrade, the state attorney for Baja California.
Found another corpse
The group of friends were on a surfing trip in Ensenada in Baja California when they disappeared. The state is one of the country’s most violent, but tourist areas such as Ensenada are considered safer.
Life in the world’s most dangerous city
On Saturday, ABC News reported that three people have been arrested and charged in the case.
Rescuers worked for hours to free and retrieve the bodies, according to Australian media. They also had to use climbing equipment to reach the bodies at the bottom of the well.
Andrade adds that a fourth body was also found, but according to the public prosecutor, this person has been lying longer in the well, and the authorities do not believe that this body is connected to the murder of the three tourists.
The person has not been identified.
SURF HOLIDAY: The three men were on a surfing holiday in the area. Photo: AFP / NTB
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– Deeply disturbing
The US State Department issued a statement on Saturday about the deaths.
– We are aware of the reports, and follow the situation closely, the statement says, according to Reuters.
Australia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also says that Australian police are working closely with the Mexican authorities in the case.
Warns of life-threatening “medicines” in holiday paradise
The country’s health minister Mark Butler points out that they are working hard to obtain important information.
– This is deeply disturbing for Australian society, and especially for the family and friends of these two young Australians, says Butler during a press conference on Saturday.
Australian Callum was a professional lacrosse player, while Jake was a doctor. Just before the surfing holiday, they had been to the Coachella festival in California.
