The bodies of three men discovered near the Mexican fishing port of Ensenada have been identified as missing surfers from Australia and the U.S. who were apparently killed in a carjacking, authorities said Sunday.
According to a statement from the Baja California state attorney general's office, family members identified the remains in person at the request of state prosecutors. The bodies were recovered from a remote well approximately 50 feet deep, officials said.
"The Attorney General's Office of the State of Baja California confirms that the bodies found in the well in the area known as La Bocana, south of Ensenada, correspond to those of Jake and Callum Robinson, of Australian origin, as well as the American, Jack Carter," the statement said.
Authorities believe at least two of the victims were living in San Diego, according to NBC San Diego. The Ensenada medical examiner's office reported Friday that the three victims had been shot in the head.
During a Sunday news conference, prosecutors stated that the motive behind the killings was carjacking, suggesting that the attackers may have been particularly interested in the pickup truck's wheels used by the missing surfers. The bodies were found in a well in an area called La Bocana, authorities said.
The three men were camping during a fishing trip south of Ensenada, an area where the Baja coast becomes remote and offers rare surfing opportunities. Prosecutors mentioned that they discovered the trio's campsite, which included tents, spent shell casings, blood stains, and signs indicating that bodies were dragged.
Authorities have detained three individuals for questioning in connection with the case. Two of them, a man and a woman, are being held on suspicion of methamphetamine-related offenses, while the fourth person is the subject of a kidnapping warrant.
Chief state prosecutor Maria Elena Andrade Ramírez previously indicated that there might be evidence linking the trio to the case, such as a victim's cell phone found in possession of one of the suspects.
Another body was found with the three in the well, but authorities stated that it may be unrelated to the case. Andrade Ramírez met with the parents of the three men on Sunday to confirm the positive identification of the bodies and assured them of her commitment to ensuring that those responsible are brought to justice.
The three men were reported missing on April 27 when they failed to return to an Airbnb closer to the border in Rosarito, according to Debra Robinson, the mother of Jake and Callum Robinson, who shared the information on Facebook.
While Baja tourism has typically been associated with off-road-capable vehicles and camping, recent years have seen an increase in cartel-related violence, particularly in cities like Tijuana. The U.S. State Department has advised against travel to Baja due to this violence.