Woman jailed for 20 years over murder of Australian surfer brothers

November 20, 2025

A 23-year-old woman named Ari Gisell received a 20-year prison sentence for instigating the murders of three tourists in Baja California, Mexico. She instructed her boyfriend to steal tires and a phone from Australian brothers Jake and Callum Robinson and their American friend Carter Rhoad during their surfing trip in April 2024. The boyfriend and two accomplices followed the victims to their campsite, robbed them, and fatally shot them, dumping their bodies in a well.

Who is affected

Jake Robinson (30, Australian, aspiring doctor)
Callum Robinson (33, Australian national lacrosse team member, San Diego resident)
Carter Rhoad (30, American, San Diego technology worker)
Debra Robinson (victims' mother)
Natalie Wiertz (Rhoad's fiancée)
Ari Gisell (23-year-old defendant, single mother sentenced to prison)
Jesús Gerardo, Irineo Francisco, and Ángel Jesús (three men awaiting trial)

What action is being taken

Ari Gisell is serving a 20-year prison sentence
Jesús Gerardo and Irineo Francisco are being held in El Hongo maximum-security prison
Ángel Jesús is being detained in a separate facility in Ensenada
The cases against the three male defendants are proceeding through the courts

Why it matters

This case highlights the serious risks tourists face in certain regions of Mexico, where violent crime can occur even during routine activities like camping. The brutal murders of three young men over vehicle parts demonstrates how petty theft can escalate to lethal violence. The tragedy had devastating impacts on multiple families who lost sons, brothers, and a future husband, and raises concerns about safety for international travelers visiting popular Mexican destinations near the US border.

What's next

The criminal cases against Jesús Gerardo, Irineo Francisco, and Ángel Jesús are continuing through the Mexican court system.

Read full article from source: BBC