Protest marches and displays of solidarity have emerged following the violent events that claimed the life of Jack Carter Rhoad, who was vacationing with the Robinson brothers of Australian origin.
SAN DIEGO — Outpourings of solidarity and affection have surfaced amidst the indignation and anger triggered by the violent events that led to the tragic death of San Diegan Jack Carter Rhoad, alongside the brothers of Australian descent, Callum Robinson and Jake Robinson, while vacationing on the Mexican beaches of Baja California.
ACTIVE AND PHILANTHROPIC
Originally from San Diego, California, Jack Carter Rhoad was only weeks away from marrying Natalie Weirtz, 32, a clothing designer for Vanity Fair Brands in San Diego. His last Facebook post depicted him kneeling on a beach at sunset, slipping a ring onto his fiancée’s finger. They had already secured a venue in Columbus, Ohio, for their wedding on August 16.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Rhoad, a former professional soccer player, had been employed in the management and technology services industry as the director of labor solutions at ITCO from 2019 to 2021. He founded Loma Apparel and graduated from Point Loma Nazarene University. He also actively volunteered for organizations such as Young Life Leader and Medical Mission in Guatemala, often taking him to Mexico.
Rhoad had joined the road trip south after the Robinson brothers had enjoyed the Coachella Festival.
Information from the Robinson brothers reveals that Callum had been residing in the country, where he was known as an accomplished lacrosse player with the moniker “The Big Koala.” In contrast, his brother Jake, a worker in regional hospitals in Australia, had flown to San Diego two weeks before the visit.
Social media posts by Callum just before their disappearance depicted the trio relaxing at Playas de Rosarito, where they were said to be surfing.
Information from the Robinson brothers reveals that Callum had been residing in the country, where he was known as an accomplished lacrosse player with the moniker “The Big Koala.” In contrast, his brother Jake, a worker in regional hospitals in Australia, had flown to San Diego two weeks before the visit.
Social media posts by Callum just before their disappearance depicted the trio relaxing at Playas de Rosarito, where they were said to be surfing.
VALUED FRIENDS
“I’m Aubrey Byers, a close friend of Carter and Natalie. We’ve set up this GoFundMe page for two purposes: to garner support for Natalie during this unimaginably difficult time and to provide essentials such as housing, food, transportation, and more. The second purpose is to honor Carter by raising funds for scholarships and causes that he was passionate about,” reads the GoFundMe portal where Byers opened an account (gofund.me/8de3e39f).
With similar intentions, user JT FitzGerald called for a fundraiser (gofund.me/c402e868) on the same website to support the family of the Robinson brothers.
“Their presence brought immeasurable joy, love, and kindness to those around them, leaving an indelible mark on our lives. In memory of them and to support their families, we have created this page,” the portal states.
SHOCK AND OUTRAGE
Debra Robinson, the mother of Jake and Callum, voiced her concern in a Facebook group on April 28, seeking help in locating her children after not hearing from them since April 27, sparking alarm within the border community.
Days later, Mexican authorities reported the discovery of a vehicle and tents while searching the La Bocana area, where the trio was last seen.
Following a search operation, the bodies were found on May 3 with gunshot wounds to the head inside a nearby well, and their identities were later confirmed by their families.
According to the Border Zoom agency, the Attorney General of Baja California, María Elena Andrade, explained at a press conference last Sunday that “it is believed that the assailants attempted to steal the tires from the surfers’ van,” which was found burnt in the area of Santo Tomás. She indicated that “the brothers Jesús Gerardo García Cota and Cristian Alejandro García were arrested, as well as Ari Gisel García Cota,” who was found in possession of one of the missing people’s mobile phones. The investigation remains ongoing.
HONORING THEIR MEMORY AND DEMANDING ACTION
On the afternoon of the same Sunday, the surfing community of Playas de Rosarito and Ensenada “gathered on San Miguel beach at the entrance to Ensenada to perform a ritual to bid farewell to the Robinson brothers and Jack Carter,” reported Border Zoom.
“This ritual is conducted worldwide whenever a member of the surfing community loses their life, not necessarily through violence; it serves as a way to remember, honor, and bid them farewell,” the report explained.
As part of the responses to the deaths of these young individuals, residents, tourists, and the broader community participated in a public demonstration expressing their grief and demanding both resolution of the case and action to enhance security in the municipalities and the state.