Authorities have located three bodies in northern Mexico, not far from where an American and two Australian brothers vanished during a surf trip over the weekend, according to reports.
Two sources with knowledge of the investigation confirmed the discovery to Reuters on Friday, nearly a week after Jack Carter Rhoad and Australian brothers Callum and Jake Robinson were seen in the Pacific Coast state of Baja California. They were last spotted on Saturday near a popular camping spot in Punta San Jose, near the port city of Ensenada.
The three, all in their early 30s, were reported missing two days later, after they failed to show up at their booked accommodations.
They traveled to the area, about an hour and a half south of the U.S.-Mexico border, for a weekend of surfing. While it’s a popular tourist spot thanks to its magnificent beaches, Baja California is also plagued with cartel violence and organized crime.
On Thursday, authorities announced that they found tents and “other evidence” they linked to the missing surfers. They also confirmed investigators had questioned three people in connection with the case, but María Elena Andrade Ramírez, the state’s chief prosecutor, would not say whether they were involved in the disappearance of the men.
Earlier this week, Debra Robinson, the mother of the missing brothers, took to social media, calling on Facebook users for help in finding her sons. She said Callum is diabetic and identified Rhoad as their companion.
Ramírez later confirmed her office has been in contact with Australian and U.S. officials, but she suggested that the time that had passed might make the missing men harder to find.
“Unfortunately, it wasn’t until the last few days that they were reported missing. So, that meant that important hours or time was lost,” she said.
The investigation is being coordinated with the FBI and the Australian and U.S. consulates, the prosecutor’s office added.
With News Wire Services
