By James Simons-
ENSENADA, BAJA CALIFORNIA — A Mexican woman has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for her pivotal role in the murders of two Australian brothers and their American friend. Ari Gisell, 23, was identified as the instigator of a fatal carjacking that resulted in the senseless deaths of Callum and Jake Robinson and Jack Carter Rhoad in April of last year. The sentence, handed down by a Baja California court, is the first conviction in a case that shocked the local community and garnered international headlines, highlighting the pervasive issue of violence in certain regions of Mexico despite the area’s reputation as a serene surfer’s paradise.
Callum Robinson, 33, a professional lacrosse player living in San Diego, was hosting his younger brother Jake, 30, a doctor who had travelled from Australia for a holiday before starting a new job. They were joined by their friend Jack Carter Rhoad, 30, a fellow San Diego resident, for a a camping and surfing trip on the Baja California peninsula.
The trio shared photos on social media of their isolated, picturesque campsites in the days before they vanished on April 27. A desperate search ensued over several days, ending in heartbreak when their bodies were found dumped in a 15-metre-deep (50ft) cliffside well near the town of Ensenada. Authorities confirmed each man had been killed by a single gunshot to the head. A fourth body in the well was determined to be unconnected to the case.
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Prosecutors outlined a chilling sequence of events, stating the men were likely murdered while trying to stop thieves from stealing the tyres of their pickup truck. According to court testimony, Ari Gisell instigated the attack after noticing the tourists’ vehicle and telling her boyfriend, Jesús Gerardo, that she liked the tyres. The group of attackers reportedly confronted the surfers, and when met with resistance, shot them and attempted to hide the bodies, even burning the victims’ tents.
Gisell became a key prosecution witness after telling investigators that Jesús Gerardo, known locally as “El Kekas”, confessed to her the day after the killings, telling her he had murdered “three gringos”. She was found in possession of one of the victim’s mobile phones at the time of her arrest.
According to Mexican newspaper La Silla Rota, Jesús Gerardo and Irineo Francisco have ties with the powerful drug cartel Sinaloa, which was for many years led by the notorious drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán.
Because of these links, both men are being held in El Hongo, a maximum-security prison in Baja California. Ángel Jesús has been detained in a separate facility in the city of Ensenada.
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Jesús Gerardo, also known as “El Kekas”, faces a possible sentence of 378 years. (Supplied: Mexican police handout)
Irineo Francisco has links to the Sinaloa cartel, according to court documents. Image: Supplied
In court on Wednesday, Gisell offered a tearful apology to the victims’ families, who were present via video link from Australia and the United States.
“Nothing I can say will compensate you or give you peace,” she said, as quoted by local reports. “I am focused on being a better person, and I am very sorry for your losses”.
Family Tributes and The Long Road to Justice The sentencing brought a measure of justice for the grieving families, who have spoken publicly about their profound loss.
In an emotional statement to the court, the mother of the Australian brothers, Debra Robinson, described how their lives had been irrevocably altered. “We dreamed of seeing them grow older, of having children. That’s all taken now,” she said. “We live with their absence”.
Jack Carter Rhoad’s fiancée, Natalie Wiertz, also shared her grief. “He was my safety in the world,” she told the court. “My life is now a nightmare”.
The case prompted vigils and protests in Ensenada, with local surfers holding a “paddle-out” ceremony to honour the men and demand safer beaches.
Ari Gisell is the first person to be sentenced in the case. Three men, including Jesús Gerardo, Irineo Francisco, and Ángel Jesús, have been charged with aggravated homicide and forced disappearance in connection with the murders. They have all rejected plea deals and the matter is proceeding to trial, with prosecutors requesting potential jail terms of over 200 years for each man due to the severity of the charges.
The investigation remains ongoing, though prosecutors currently do not suspect ties to organised crime, maintaining the motive was a robbery gone wrong. The case continues to underscore the risks faced by tourists in regions grappling with high rates of violence, even in areas generally considered safe.
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