A fourth body has been discovered in a popular Mexican tourist area, where an American and two Australians went missing last week during a camping and surfing trip. The local prosecutor's office confirmed the discovery late on Friday.
The missing individuals, American Jack Carter Rhoad, 30, and Australian brothers Callum Robinson, 33, and Jake Robinson, 30, were last seen on April 27. They failed to arrive at their planned accommodation over the weekend.
While searching for the trio, investigators found three bodies dumped in a pit on Friday. The fourth body was discovered nearby, although it is unclear if it is connected to the other three. Forensic tests will be conducted to identify the bodies.
The bodies were found in a rugged hillside area near the town of Ensenada in Baja California. The site is currently under investigation, with authorities searching for additional evidence.
Three individuals have been arrested and charged with a crime equivalent to kidnapping. Ensenada Mayor Carlos Ibarra Aguiar mentioned that a 23-year-old woman was detained with drugs and a cellphone featuring a wallpaper photo of one of the missing men.
While drug cartels are active in the area, the chief state prosecutor emphasized that all lines of investigation are open. The Baja California Attorney General’s Office is in contact with the FBI and the victims' relatives.
The State Department's travel advisory lists Baja California under its 'reconsider travel' category due to crime and kidnapping concerns. The missing Australians' mother made a public appeal for help in finding her sons, one of whom is diabetic.
In 2015, two Australian surfers were killed in western Sinaloa state, highlighting the dangers posed by criminal activities in certain regions of Mexico.
