– My heart is broken

The short version

• Three suspects have been arrested
• Police believe they were killed after resisting when the suspects tried to steal their car
• The area is popular for surfers, but also has the highest incidence of car theft in Mexico
• The victims’ families are in mourning, and share photos and texts on social media

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On Friday, they were found in a waterhole off the beaten track at Santo Tomas in Baja California.

Now the girlfriend of one of the brothers, Callum Robinson (33), shares a few words on Instagram:

– My heart is broken into a million pieces. Right now I have no words, writes Emily Horwath.

She also shares several photos of them together:

“I will love you forever”, she writes as text for one of the pictures. To another: “I would have done anything to get another koala hug.”

Callum Robinson, his brother Jake (30) and their American friend Jack Carter Rhoad (33) were last seen on 27 April.

The three surfing buddies were shot in the head, Mexican authorities believe.

They were probably killed after resisting when the suspects tried to steal their car.

The brothers Jake and Callum Robinson were from Perth in Australia. Jake was a doctor, while Callum played on the Australian national lacrosse team.

Together with his friend Jack Carter Rhoad, they had traveled to the peninsula on the west coast of Mexico. The plan was to surf and camp. The week before, they had been to the famous music festival Coachella in California.

They were reported missing on Monday 29 April. Then their mother hadn’t heard from them for two days.

Two men and a woman have been arrested and suspected of being involved in the murders. One of those arrested has a history of violence, drug dealing and robbery, according to the authorities.

The water hole they were found in is 15 meters deep, and the rescue team had to use climbing equipment to bring the bodies to safety:

In the same waterhole, the remains of a fourth person were also found. This person has not been identified.

The police’s theory is that the three were killed after a man tried to take their car. When they resisted, they were shot, dumped – and the car burnt. The man who the Mexican police believe is the culprit has been arrested.

Baja California is known for its beautiful beaches, and the state’s proximity to the California border makes it a favorite destination for American tourists. The state is also among Mexico’s most violent, but the drug cartels’ activity rarely affects foreign tourists.