The missing men – brothers Jake and Callum Robinson from Australia and American Jack Carter Rhoad – went missing last week. They did not show up at their planned accommodations last weekend.
A missing persons poster for Australian brothers Jake and Callum Robinson and American Jack Carter Rhoad.Supplied
While there has not yet been forensic confirmation,physical characteristics – including hair and clothing – point to a high likelihood the bodies are those of the three tourists,local TV network Milenio reported,citing chief state prosecutor María Elena Andrade Ramírez.
“It is presumed that[the bodies] are the ones being investigated,” an employee of the state prosecutors’ office who was not authorised to be quoted by name.
The prosecutors’ preliminary theory is that the attack was a robbery gone wrong and that one of the attackers shot them after they refused to hand over their car.
The bodies were discovered outside Santo Tomás,near the remote seaside area where the missing men’s tents and truck were found Thursday along the coast.
Investigators searching for three missing tourists in Mexico say they have found three bodies.
They were found in a well,where investigators also found another body that authorities said would be investigated.
“A fourth body was located. It is not related to the three foreigners. The fourth body had been there for a long time,” the official added.
Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong reiterated that the Australian government was doing everything it could to support the family.
“I can indicate that our embassy in Mexico,as well as the Australian Federal Police,are working in support of local authorities,that my department is providing consular support to the families concerned,” she said.
The US State Department said:“We are aware of those reports[of bodies] and are closely monitoring the situation. At this time we have no further comment.”
Baja California prosecutors said on Thursday that they were questioning three people in the case. On Friday,the office said the three had been arrested and charged with a crime equivalent to kidnapping. It was unclear if they might face more charges.
Andrade Ramírez,the chief state prosecutor,said evidence found along with the abandoned tents was linked to the three people being questioned about the missing foreigners.
Milenio reported that she said the suspects appeared to have stolen the surfers’ truck and some of its parts were found in another truck belonging to one of the suspects.
On Wednesday,the missing Australians’ mother,Debra Robinson,posted on a local community Facebook page an appeal for help in finding her sons. Robinson said Callum and Jake had not been heard from since April 27. They had booked accommodations in the nearby city of Rosarito.
Jake and Callum Robinson from Perth vanished while on a surfing trip with an American friend and police have located the remains of four people.
Robinson said one of her sons,Callum,was diabetic. She also mentioned that the American who was with them was named Jack Carter Rhoad,but the US Embassy in Mexico City did not immediately confirm that. The US State Department said it was aware of reports of a US citizen missing in Baja,but gave no further details.
In 2015,,across the Gulf of California – also known as the Sea of Cortez – from the Baja peninsula. Authorities said they were victims of highway bandits. Three suspects were arrested in that case.
AP
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