Mexican authorities have confirmed the death of three Australian tourists after they were shot in the head and their bodies dumped in a well.
Officials suspect the men were attacked while trying to prevent the theft of their pick up truck. On 27 April, Australian brothers Jake and Callum Robinson and their American friend Jack Carter Rhoad, all in their early thirties went missing while surfing in Ensenada.
Ensenada, located around 120km (75 miles) south of the US-Mexico border and noted for its surfing conditions, is a popular destination for California tourists due to its safety.
According to a state prosecutor, the remains of the three men were identified on Sunday by relatives who travelled to Mexico to assist investigators.
Baja California state prosecutor Maria Andrade stated the attackers wanted the vehicle for its tyres and shot the visitors when they protested.
Their bodies were discovered in a 4 metres deep well roughly 6 kilometres from the attack location in Santo Tomás on Friday. A burnt out white pickup truck, abandoned tents and a phone connected to the missing surfers were also discovered nearby.
A fourth body was discovered in the well, but it had been there for a longer period of time and had no connection to the case, officials added.
Baja California is one of Mexico's most dangerous states, with local drug gangs fighting territorial conflicts.Official records show that it had the country's second highest murder rate in 2023, trailing only Guanajuato.
Mexico: Three bodies of Australian surfers found in well, Mexico says likely to be carjacking
