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Three people have been charged after Mexican authorities found bodies they said were “very, very likely” to be two missing Australian brothers and their American friend.
Officials are awaiting DNA results and the brothers’ parents, Martin and Debra Robinson, are on their way to Mexico from Perth.
The bodies were found at a depth of 10 meters in a well.
“I’m saying it’s very, very likely that it’s them,” Baja California Attorney General Maria Elena Andrade Ramirez told 9News.
“They were in a state of decomposition. That’s why we need to do the genetic testing.”
Baja California prosecutors said Thursday (local time) that they are questioning three people in the case.
On Friday, the office announced that the three had been arrested and charged with a crime tantamount to kidnapping.
It is unclear if they may face further charges.
Ramirez said evidence found with the abandoned tents was linked to the three people questioned about the missing foreigners
“A task force (of investigators) is at the location where they were last seen, where tents and other evidence were found that could be linked to these three people that we are investigating,” Ramirez said Thursday.
“There is very important information that we cannot make public.
Although drug cartels are active in the area, she said, “all lines of inquiry are open at this time.”
The US State Department said: “We are aware of these reports (of bodies) and are monitoring the situation closely. We have no further comment at this time.”
One of the three Mexicans arrested in connection with the trio’s disappearance was previously identified as 23-year-old Ari Gase.
The mobile phone of one of the missing men was found in it.
It’s understood she turned on the phone, which caused it to ping a local cell tower and allowed authorities to track her down.
Surfers in the area told 9News they have seen increased drug distribution on the beaches by the cartels, but could not speak on camera for fear of retribution.
9News understands that three bodies were found on a cliff by the ocean, about 2km from what is believed to be a men’s campsite.
It is known that the fourth body was found deeper in the well and had been there longer.
“Mexican authorities who are conducting the search say this is the last place they were seen,” Santo Tomas Police Cmdr told 9News.
9News’ Alison Piotrowski traveled to the site and described the road near the campground as “very treacherous.”
Three abandoned tents were also discovered along with the remains of a campfire.
“There was a very heavy police presence and an army presence. There were at least 100 soldiers and officers there,” Piotrowski said.
“None of them were authorized to confirm whether or not these were the bodies of the three men.”
Mexican authorities told 9News that once the bodies are recovered and transported back to the city, they will provide the media with an update.
Callum had moved to the US to play lacrosse in college and later played the sport professionally.
Jake was visiting his brother before starting a new job at a hospital in Geelong, Victoria.
The friends were at the Coachella festival in California before heading to Mexico.
In 2015, two Australian surfers, Adam Coleman and Dean Lucas, were killed in the western state of Sinaloa, across the Gulf of California – also known as the Sea of Cortez – from the Baja Peninsula.
Authorities said they were victims of highway robbers.
Three suspects have been arrested in the case.
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