The parents of two Perth brothers who disappeared in Mexico are flying to the area where they were last seen to join the search, amid mounting signs that they and their friend may have been involved in foul play .
Callum, 33, and Jake Robinson, 30, and their American friend Jack Rhoad, 30, have not been heard from since April 27.
Three locals have been arrested by Mexican authorities, who say there is more evidence than has been publicly released linking the trio to the missing surfers.
The Perth brothers’ parents, Debra and Martin Robinson, fly out to visit the locations the trio depicted in their latest social media posts, which excitedly documented the start of their journey in Baja California.
Those social media posts showed them at Rosarito Beach, where they were believed to be surfing and camping.
The group was reportedly planning to move to Ensenada, but they were unable to check into the Airbnb stay they had booked for Sunday.
The last image posted to Callum’s Instagram page showed them on a beach in Ensenada before they disappeared from the radar.
Jake left Australia two weeks ago to visit his US-based brother.
“It was the trip of a lifetime to see his brother before he soon started a new job at Geelong Hospital in Victoria,” the parents said.
‘Callum and Jake are wonderful people. We love them so much and this breaks our hearts.”
The parents of two Australian surfers who disappeared during a trip to Mexico fly to the spot where they were last seen (Jake, left and Callum, right, with their parents)
Callum last posted from Ensenada, where they failed to check into an Airbnb on Sunday
Callum also shared images of the sights they were exploring and the meals they were eating
A chilling photo shows a white Chevrolet Colorado pickup on the beach in Rosarito
Jake and Callum are said to have gone missing in the Baja California region, near Ensenada
They said Jake had worked in regional hospitals across Australia.
Jake and Callum had attended the Coachella music festival before heading to Mexico to surf.
“Jake is such a gentle soul and would mean no harm,” his parents said.
“Our only consolation right now is that they were doing something together that they love passionately.
“We ask that people keep them in their thoughts and prayers and continue to respect our privacy during this difficult time.”
Earlier on Friday, Baja California Attorney General Maria Elena Andrade Ramirez said three Mexicans had been arrested: one woman and two men.
Local media also reported that Mexican police arrested a 23-year-old woman who had a phone belonging to one of the brothers.
A woman and two men, all Mexican, have been arrested in connection with the case, Baja California Attorney General María Elena Andrade Ramírez (center) told reporters
Three people have been arrested in connection with the investigation. Mexican officials are seen at a checkpoint in Ensenada on Thursday
According to local media, blood was discovered at three abandoned tents where the brothers and their American friend stayed before they disappeared. A truck, believed to belong to Jake or Callum, was also found burnt out on a nearby farm (pictured)
Traces of blood were also reportedly found at a campsite the group had used.
“A team is working at the site where they were last seen, where tents and other evidence have been found that could be linked to the three people we are investigating,” Ms Ramirez said.
‘There is a lot of important information that we cannot make public. We don’t know what condition they are in.
‘All lines of inquiry are currently open. We can’t rule anything out until we find them.’
A burnt-out white Chevrolet Colorado pickup was found on a farm in the Santo Tomás area after the ranch manager called 911 on Thursday (local time), according to local media TalkBaja.
A check of the vehicle’s VIN reportedly identified the vehicle as belonging to one of the three missing surfers, and it was pictured in their social media posts.
Three tents have been discovered south of the Ensenada region and local authorities have searched hundreds of square kilometers of land in the area.
Jake and Callum had attended the Coachella music festival before heading to Mexico to surf. Photo: Instagram
The brothers were traveling with American Jack Carter Rhoad, 30, seen in an image uploaded by Callum on Saturday
Australian brothers Jake, 30, (right) and Callum Robinson, 33, disappeared without a trace in Mexico’s Baja California region
Callum, an avid social media user, is pictured here at a festival with a friend who has nothing to do with his disappearance. He is described as an ‘Australian lacrosse star’
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it was continuing to provide consular assistance to the family.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the brothers’ disappearance as “a very worrying situation.”
“Our embassy in Mexico is also working with local authorities to determine what happened here,” he told Seven’s Sunrise program on Friday.
‘We certainly hope that these brothers are found safe, but there is great concern that they are missing.
“Their mother is clearly very sad about this and we’re just hoping for a positive outcome.”
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed they were helping the family.
“The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular assistance to the family of two Australians reported missing in Mexico,” a spokesperson said.
‘Due to our privacy obligations, we are unable to comment further.’
Jake (left) and Callum Robinson (right) haven’t been heard from for days after they went missing during a surfing trip to Mexico (pictured with their parents)
Debra Robinson asked for the public’s help Thursday in the search for her sons
Lacrosse Australia has released a statement on social media expressing its concerns about the whereabouts of Jake, Callum and their friend Jack Carter Rhoad.
It described Callum as an ‘Australian lacrosse star’.
‘We urge the Australian lacrosse community and our global lacrosse family to continue sharing the message from Callum’s friends and family (found on LA’s Facebook and Instagram story) in the hope that Callum, Jake and Jack stay safe and are found,” the statement said. .
‘Our thoughts are with the families and friends of the Callum, Jake and Jack at this incredibly stressful time.’
Ramírez said her office was in contact with Australian and American officials, but suggested the passage of time could make it more difficult to find them.
‘Unfortunately they were only reported missing in the last few days. So that meant that important hours or time were lost,” she said.
Baja California has been plagued by cartel violence in recent months.
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 say they were victims of highway bandits. Three suspects have been arrested in that case.