The girlfriend of a man accused of murdering three tourists in Mexico was allegedly found with methamphetamine and one of the men’s phones after a routine stop.
The remains of brothers Perth Callum, 33, and Jake Robinson, 30, and their friend Jack Carter Rhoad, 30, were found dumped in a 45-metre-deep well in the Mexican province of Baja California in early this month.
Mexican authorities allege that the perpetrators saw the trio’s Chevrolet Colorado and wanted to steal the tires, and the victims were killed when they resisted.
Three Mexican citizens have been arrested; the alleged ringleader Jesús Gerardo, his brother Cristian Alejandro and Gerardo’s girlfriend, Ari Gisel, 23 years old.
Gisel was detained by police officers on a routine patrol in Ensenada on May 1, when she allegedly threw a small bag containing 100 grams of methamphetamine to the ground and tried to flee. Newscast reported.
Perth brothers Callum (left) and Jake (right) are pictured.
Jack Carter Rhoad from the USA joined the Perth brothers on their surfing holiday in Mexico
Ari Gisel (pictured) was arrested following a routine patrol on May 1.
An iPhone belonging to Mr Rhoad was also allegedly found following a search of the vehicle.
It was previously reported that Gisel had come to the attention of authorities after she turned on Mr Rhoad’s phone, which then pinged a local mobile tower.
A Baja California investigator said they had contacted US authorities in San Diego to obtain the victims’ phone numbers.
“We tracked the devices, until one of them turned on and we had a location,” they told The Daily Beast.
“That’s when we found this woman who was in possession of the American’s cell phone.”
Gisel had previously told the court that Gerardo had admitted to killing the three men after returning home from the camp where they were last seen alive on April 27.
The court heard Gerardo tell Gisel: ‘Basically, I screwed three gringos.’
Gisel asked what he meant by that, to which Gerardo replied: ‘I killed them.’
She claimed he then showed her his vehicle, which had sport tires that had allegedly been stolen from the white Chevrolet Colorado the trio was driving.
The Attorney General’s Office is now tasked with proving that Gisel was in possession of methamphetamine with the intent to sell the illegal drug.
Gerardo will remain detained until his next hearing in November.
Mexican authorities allegedly discovered an iPhone belonging to Mr. Rhoad and 100 grams of methamphetamine in Gisel’s vehicle during a patrol on May 1.
The remains were found in a well (pictured) more than 15 meters deep next to a cliff in Punta San José in Santo Tomás, in the municipality of Ensenada.
Baja California investigators previously said the trio died after thieves broke into their truck.
“The tourists refused and tried to defend themselves, but the robbers were armed,” they said.
“When the criminals took out their weapons the three (tourists) tried to calm the situation, but it was too late, they beat them and then shot them in the head.”
The brother’s parents, Martin and Debra Robinson, traveled to the region and spoke from San Diego, where they shared their grief over the deaths of their children.
“It is with great sadness that we share the news that Callum and Jake have been murdered,” Mrs Robinson said.
‘Our hearts are broken and the world has become a darker place for us.
‘We are also saddened by the loss of Carter Rhoad, a close friend.
‘They were young people who enjoyed their passion for surfing together.
‘Now is the time to bring them home, to family and friends, and to the waves of the ocean in Australia. Please live bigger, shine brighter and love stronger in her memory.’
Baja California has been plagued by cartel violence in recent months.
In 2015, two Australian surfers, Adam Coleman and Dean Lucas, died in the western state of Sinaloa, across the Gulf of California from the Baja California peninsula.