A Mexican woman has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for her role in the murders of three tourists—two Australian brothers and their American friend—during a surfing trip in Baja California.
The defendant, 23-year-old Ari Gisell Silva Raya, pleaded guilty to charges of robbery and violent vehicle theft in connection with the deaths.
According to a statement from the Baja California State Attorney General’s Office, Raya waived her right to a trial, leading to her conviction on November 19. In addition to the prison term, she was ordered to pay a fine of $54,000 pesos.
Authorities explained that Raya admitted to orchestrating a robbery that escalated into homicide. Her role involved befriending the tourists to check their valuable possessions. Hours after she met them, three assailants (including her boyfriend) arrived at the location between 11:00 PM and 2:00 AM, robbing the victims before murdering them.
The victims were identified as Australian brothers Callum Robinson, 33, and Jake Robinson, 30, along with their American friend, Jack Rhoad, 30. The three had been on a surfing vacation in April 2024 when they disappeared.
Their families alerted local authorities after the men failed to check into their rented Airbnb in Playas de Rosarito.
The case sparked a massive search, which ended tragically when the bodies of all three men were discovered in a remote well.
While the current sentence relates specifically to the robberies, the Attorney General’s Office indicated that further charges in the homicide case are possible.
