3 Arrested involving Missing Surfers - Talk Baja
There are reports of 3 people arrested for the disappearance of Australian brothers Jake and Callum Robinson along with Jack Carter Rhoad
talkbaja.com
FYI- BAJA NORTE VIOLENCE.
- Thread starter hankgs
- Start date
talkbaja.com
Really?
onemanarmy
Explorer
good. hope so. maybe they'll finish each other off in one big circular firing squad.
I have felt a sick feeling since this story broke almost a week ago about the "disappearence"... Then they found the burned out truck, blood stained tent and finally, the bodies of the 3 young men... I am so heartbroken and sad for the two families and their friends... I also shed a tear for myself as I will never beach camp on the Pacific side of Baja again... I may not take that remote road on the Sea of Cortez side and remote beach camp again either. Having just come back from the East Side of the peninsula and enjoyed the beauty and solitude, I thought about the vulnerability of it for a fleeting minute or two- now that has all sadly changed... I feel bad for the good people of Baja as this tragic and needless event will no doubt cause many not to visit, especially those who were "on the fence" about traveling down there, that will cost tourista dollars to many locals for at least a few years- This incident will be forgotten in a few, until another victim(s) arises to the public's knowledge. As a previous poster responded, I would not camp anywhere North of Guerro Negro on the Pacific side... The probability of bad players and activities are higher and higher... Really sad.
BajaRunner
Bandito
In what context? Hwy 5 was historically known for car jackings for years. A group of surfers were carjacked and left in the middle of the desert north of Gonzaga Bay just 2 summers ago! In reality, the highways are way more dangerous in general. Much higher risk of injury or death driving those roads vs camping in the middle of cartel country alone.
I've personally witnessed cartel-like drug transfers from boat to car or vise versa on two occasions. Both locations were about 75 miles offroad in the middle of nowhere. Hearing car and boat engines fire up out of the blue and come screaming towards you out of nowhere is not a great feeling. Both times they simply acted like I wasn't even there and went along. Both times I packed up and left!
This particular incident is becoming much more obvious that it wasn't necessarily cartel but individual meth head scumbags. There is a quote from the girl who was arrested stating that they went to take the truck, but when the guys resisted, they ended up shooting and killing them all. This is being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Extremely horrifying.
As many other Socal surfers, I grew up visiting the area for weekend trips with my dad and going down with my friends later. For whatever reason, the place never felt that safe, I always got bad vibes from the fishing co-op on the point. My buddies told me they had stuff stolen from them in the middle of the night once, and then the last time I went, I woke up to flashlights and guys going through my stuff as well. I didn't say anything and they just left (not sure if they even took anything). That was over 10 years ago and have not had a desire to go back to that spot.
I own land in Baja and it's been my life since I was 2 years old, I will continue to go, but this stuff makes me sick and will always be on the back of my mind.
Isn't "overlanding" just camping /camping remotely? Do you need a Sprinter Van to be qualified as an "overlander"....? Just asking.
I laughed too, but EP has defined "Overlanding" and "Expedition" travels and no, camping isn't overlanding. Driving your pickup to a camping site is a poor definition, next, driving to the grocery store will be the next adventure.
It was a low swipe to get attention of this forum membership calling a surfing trip an overlanding event.
It seems the land owner was killed in the same way earlier and his body was found along the other three victims. This was a crime spree with the same criminals repeating the killings on more than one occasion. Getting caught up in something like this is not a common occurrence to fear this reoccurs often. And the stupidity of the criminals to reuse the victims cell phone, lead to their capture. Did you notice how smart the Mexican authorities were to charge the criminals with kidnaping. Unlike US law enforcement would do. By charging the criminals with a oblivious and evidence available crime they can get a conviction easily. Buying the authorities more time to collect evidence of the murders. And in some cases authorities just lack convincing evidence for the act of murder.
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News
Also mentioned; the women said it was a car jacking, and the three men resisted, then were shot dead.
AbleGuy
Officious Intermeddler
A very sad reality…
“…the killers drove by and saw the foreigners' pickup truck and tents, and wanted to steal their tires. “Surely, they resisted,…and the thieves shot them to death.”
“…even experienced local expats are questioning whether it is safe to camp along the largely deserted coast anymore.
The moderator of the local Talk Baja internet forum, who has live(d) in the area for almost two decades, wrote in an editorial Saturday that “the reality is, the dangers of traveling to and camping in remote areas are outweighing the benefits anymore.”
(https://apnews.com/article/mexico-m...ican-surfers-94f03f0570312308a4989476435c3102)
“…the killers drove by and saw the foreigners' pickup truck and tents, and wanted to steal their tires. “Surely, they resisted,…and the thieves shot them to death.”
“…even experienced local expats are questioning whether it is safe to camp along the largely deserted coast anymore.
The moderator of the local Talk Baja internet forum, who has live(d) in the area for almost two decades, wrote in an editorial Saturday that “the reality is, the dangers of traveling to and camping in remote areas are outweighing the benefits anymore.”
(https://apnews.com/article/mexico-m...ican-surfers-94f03f0570312308a4989476435c3102)
