Woman sentenced to 20 Years in Connection with Murders of Australian Brothers and American Friend in mexico
A Mexican court has sentenced Ari Gisell, 23, to 20 years in jail for her role in a deadly robbery that claimed the lives of three men, including Australian brothers Jake and Callum Robinson, during a surfing trip in Baja California last year. Ari Gisell, 23, is the first individual to be sentenced in connection with the horrific killings, which shocked the international community.
The case centers around the deaths of jake, a 31-year-old doctor from Perth, his brother Callum, 32, who had resided in the US for 12 years, and their american friend, Carter Rhoad. The three men were reported missing in April 2024 after traveling to Mexico for a camping and surfing excursion.
According to prosecutor raúl Gerardo Cobo Montejano, Gisell instigated the attack on the tourists. She received a 14-year sentence for robbery of a vehicle with violence, and an additional six years for robbery with violence, along with a fine of 54,285 Mexican pesos (approximately $AU4,563).
The emotional toll of the tragedy was palpable as the victims’ families addressed Gisell directly via video link. Callum and jake’s father,Martin Robinson,while accepting the sentence,expressed his profound disbelief,stating,”I would never understand why you had to rob these young men.” Their mother, Debra Robinson, described the devastating loss of her sons’ futures, remembering Jake as a compassionate doctor and Callum as a strong athlete. “Now it’s only silence in our house. The grief is constant,” she shared, adding that over 1,000 people attended their sons’ funeral.
Natalie Rhoad, the widow of Carter Rhoad, poignantly described her husband as “the love of my life” and “my safety in the world,” now living in a “nightmare.” Carter’s mother, Paige Rhoad, revealed a dream visitation from her son urging her to forgive Gisell, though she admitted she wasn’t yet able to do so, continuing to pray for her son’s peace.
Gisell, who was initially considered a cooperative witness, addressed the court in English, offering an apology to the families while acknowledging the inadequacy of her words. She stated she had lost her own family as a result of her involvement. Prosecutors allege that Gisell, along with three men – Jesús Gerardo, also known as “El Kekas,” irineo Francisco, and Ángel Jesús – encountered the victims at a beach near Ensenada. A witness reportedly overheard Gisell expressing a desire for the tires of the tourists’ car to her then-boyfriend, Jesús Gerardo.
Following this encounter, prosecutors claim that Gerardo, Francisco, and Jesús followed the victims to their remote campsite, robbed them, and ultimately shot them dead. A fourth individual, present during the events, is cooperating with authorities and is not believed to have directly participated in the murders or robbery. Authorities are currently searching for a fourth suspect, known only by a nickname that authorities are withholding from the public.
A prosecutor is seeking a 210-year prison sentence for each of the three accused men, with Jesús Gerardo facing an additional 168 years for the forced disappearance of the victims. The men have rejected plea deals that would have resulted in sentences of 47 to 52 years.
The investigation has revealed potential links to organized crime. while the official prosecution hypothesis initially dismissed any connection to cartels, reports in July indicated that court documents suggested Jesús Gerardo and Irineo Francisco had ties to the notorious Sinaloa cartel. The Sinaloa cartel, currently embroiled in internal conflict, has recently been under increased scrutiny following a deal struck by a son of the cartel’s former leader, El Chapo, with US prosecutors. The accused men are currently held in separate facilities – Gerardo, Francisco, and Jesús in high and lower-security prisons, respectively – due to concerns about their alleged cartel affiliations.
The full identities of the defendants remain withheld under Mexican legal conventions, and their trial date has yet to be set. The case underscores the dangers faced by tourists in certain regions of Mexico,particularly Baja California,which is known for high levels of cartel activity.
