Callum and Jake Robinson: Embassy, DFAT helping family ‘bring home’ bodies of Perth brothers slain in Mexico

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is liaising with Mexican authorities to help repatriate the bodies of murdered Perth brothers Callum and Jake Robinson.

As crowdfunding in support of the Robinson family topped $400,000, Australia’s ambassador to Mexico Rachel Moseley said the embassy, DFAT and the Australian Federal Police were “providing all possible support, including (the) journey home”.

”We continue to work with Mexico on the investigation, and we thank the authorities for their close cooperation at this very difficult time,” Ms Moseley said on X, formerly known as Twitter.

DFAT in Canberra said it was in regular contact with parents Martin and Debra Robinson, who formally identified the bodies of Callum, 33, and Jake, 30, on Sunday and are said to have now gone to the US.

The two Australians were fatally shot along with an American friend Jack Carter Rhoad while on a surfing trip in Mexico’s Baja peninsula after thieves targeted their pick-up truck for its tyres.

Jake, a doctor about to take up a job in Geelong, had flown from Australia to undertake the trip with Callum, who was living in San Diego.

While Australia’s foreign embassies cannot pay funeral or repatriation costs for Australians killed overseas, they do liaise with local authorities on behalf of grieving families.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Tuesday offered his condolences to the Robinsons, saying he would contact them at some stage.

“This is a terrible tragedy and my heart goes out to them,” Mr Albanese said.

“I’ve indicated that I wish to speak to them at an appropriate time of their choosing.

“To all of the family and the friends of these young Australians, the whole of Australia’s thoughts are with you at this difficult time.”

As of late Tuesday, Two GoFundMe pages set up in the US and Australia to help the Robinsons had raised more than $420,000 of a revised combined target of $500,000.

The US fundraiser had received more than 3300 donations, with friends and colleagues of Callum and Jake remembering “two beautiful, kind and exceptional boys”.

The donations included tens of thousands of dollars from US lacrosse bodies and players who recalled Callum’s “passion and energy for life” and his achievements in the sport at college in the US and later with professional teams in the country.

One donor, Roman Casciani, recalled the Australian as a good samaritan who had came to his rescue at Baltimore airport after overhearing an airline had lost his lacrosse sticks the day before a tournament.

“He took my dad and I to his apartment and gave me a stick,” Mr Casciani posted. “This moment will stick with me forever. I still have the stick.”

Wembley Lacrosse Club, where Callum got his start in the game, said in a Facebook post that he would “leave a legacy ... like no other.”

“His journey from being known as ‘the little guy’ at Floreat Oval to becoming a powerhouse in the sport, achieving numerous accolades and championships, is inspiring.

“His dedication to mentoring and supporting others, even while pursuing his own career, speaks volumes about his character.“

It has also emerged that Mr Rhoad was just months away from marrying his fiancée, Natalie Wiertz, when he joined the two Australians on the fatal surfing trip.

The couple were set to be married on August 17 in Ohio, according to their wedding website.

Three Mexicans, two men and a woman, have been detained on suspicion of involvement in the killings. One, Jesus Gerardo Garcia Cota, also known as El Kekas, has been charged with kidnapping.