One of the suspects believed to be connected to the murders of two Australian brothers and an American, who were on a surfing trip in Mexico, allegedly admitted to his girlfriend that he killed all three, according to her. 

During a court hearing on Wednesday, the BBC reported that Ari Gisel, the girlfriend of suspected killer Jesús Gerardo Garcia Cota, allegedly showed up at her house on April 28 and told her he did something to “three gringos.” Gringo is a slang term used to describe English-speaking foreigners. 

When she asked what he meant, Gisel stated that Garcia Cota said “I killed them.” 

In keeping with Mexican law, prosecutors identified him by his first name, Jesús Gerardo, alias “el Kekas,” a slang word that means “quesadillas,” or cheese tortillas. 

MOTHER OF AUSTRALIAN SURFERS KILLED IN MEXICO DELIVERS TOUCHING EULOGY AT SAN DIEGO BEACH

After admitting to the crime, Garcia Cota reportedly took Gisel outside to show her his vehicle, which reportedly had the tires on it that were allegedly stolen from the victims’ truck, Gisel explained in court. 

Mexican authorities believe the surfers were all killed because thieves wanted the tires from their truck. 

The three men, brothers Jake and Callum Robinson from Australia and American Jack Carter Rhoad, were on a camping and surfing trip along a stretch of coast south of the city of Ensenada when they went missing last weekend.

Chief state prosecutor María Elena Andrade Ramírez theorized the killers drove by and saw the foreigners’ pickup truck and tents and wanted to steal their tires. But “when [the foreigners] came up and caught them, surely, they resisted.”

MEXICAN AUTHORITIES REVEAL BIZARRE REASON THEY BELIEVE AUSTRALIANS, AMERICAN WERE MURDERED ON SURFING VACATION

Locals march to protest the disappearance of foreign surfers in Ensenada, Mexico, Sunday, May 5, 2024.  (AP Photo/Karen Castaneda)

The thieves then allegedly went to what she called “a site that is extremely hard to get to” and allegedly dumped the bodies into a familiar well. A fourth body was also found inside the well.

Ramírez said investigators were not ruling out the possibility the same suspects also dumped the first, earlier body in the well as part of previous crimes.

All three bodies had a gunshot wound to the head, Reuters reported, citing a source from the attorney general’s office.

The mother of the Robinson brothers delivered a moving tribute to her sons Tuesday at a beach in San Diego.

“Our hearts are broken, and the world has become a darker place for us,” Debra Robinson said, fighting back tears. “They were young men enjoying their passion of surfing together.”

FOURTH BODY FOUND IN SEARCH FOR US AND AUSTRALIAN SURFERS WHO MYSTERIOUSLY VANISHED IN MEXICO

In this image taken from video, Australia’s Debra Robinson with her husband Martin, address the media on the beach in San Diego, Tuesday, May 7, 2024 following the deaths in Mexico of their two sons during a surfing trip. The sons, Callum and Jake, and U.S. friend Jack Carter Rhoad, were allegedly killed by car thieves in Baja California, across the border from San Diego, somewhere around April 28 or 29. (Channel 9/POOL via AP)

During her speech, Robinson noted that her son Jake loved surfing so much that, as a doctor, he liked to work in hospitals near the beach.

“Jake’s passion was surfing, and it was no coincidence that many of his hospitals that he worked in were close to surfing beaches,” she said. “Live bigger, shine brighter, and love harder in their memory,” she said.

Garcia Cota will be prosecuted for the crime of “disappearance committed by private individuals,” and homicide charges are expected to be filed later, the BBC reported. 

The prosecution added that it is continuing to gather evidence in an effort to charge two other suspects, who remain in custody for alleged possession of methamphetamine.

Fox News Digital’s Bradford Betz and The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

The European Union and its citizens, it remains a strained relationship. One full of mixed perceptions and mistrust, yet with high expectations. 

Sounds like the recipe for some serious marriage counselling or the script of the better Hollywood rom-com? No, it’s just a European reality. 

From love to hate, hate to love. It’s reminiscent of the Facebook relationship status, “It’s complicated”.

Taking stock of the last five years, a large-scale Euroconsumers survey shows little consumer satisfaction with the EU’s overall track record. 

While people appreciate how Europe handled the COVID-19 pandemic, the EU’s approach to inflation and the cost of living crisis merely gets a staggering 12% approval rate. 

This goes with an equally low level of trust in our EU institutions to address citizens’ major concerns for the future.

A recipe for disaster, one would think? Here’s where it becomes interesting. When presented with some concrete consumer measures, perception takes a remarkably sharp turn. 

Having a right to get products repaired? Very important. Better protection against energy providers? Great. Protecting minors on social media? We love it.

Unknown equals unloved

Yet very few citizens are aware they have the European Union to thank for this. Even less feel properly informed about it. 

Okay, 7 out of 10 know it is the EU that is putting a limit to their cars’ CO2 emissions, but when it comes to better cybersecurity and product safety, not so much.

Even longer-lasting and well-established consumer wins, like the right to send back a product when shopping online, no more roaming charges, or compensation in case of flight delays, don’t seem to ring an EU bell with half of Europe’s citizens. 

That is baffling, knowing that most consumer-empowering rules originate from solid European legislation.

Consumers were certainly not lying when they indicated in the survey they knew very little about the European Union. 

Of course it doesn’t help they feel little informed by their national media. And it for sure doesn’t help some national policymakers tend to blame Europe when something goes bad but claim it when it goes well.

That’s not what people want and expect from their leaders. On the contrary, 69% want them to act as Europeans first, and half want more Europe, not less. 

That’s the funny thing: despite consumers’ scepticism and mistrust, they also express high hopes and big expectations.

Access to affordable medicines, sustainable and affordable food or fighting financial scams? Yes, please.

With 75% and more deeming this very important, citizens are giving the EU a clear mandate to deliver this for them. Together with a clear mandate comes a clear message: Europe, we count on you to rise to the challenge.

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Your vote matters

On 9 June, it is up to European citizens to rise to the challenge and cast their vote.

Europe matters. What happens there does have an impact on our daily lives, more than we are aware of, more than we credit them for. If we want Europe to lead for consumers, it is up to consumers to show the right direction.

Treating it like a second-rate election would not do it right. That’s why it is striking that at the time of the Euroconsumers’ survey, nearly half felt poorly or not informed at all about the different political election programs, and one out of three would just vote for the same party they vote for nationally.

With one month to go to the European election, it’s not too late yet. 

To use the language of Taylor Swift, one of the most influential women of today, whether we’ll end up with a “Lover” or rather a “Tortured Poets Department” is up to our new European leaders and to the European people. 

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Els Bruggeman is Head of Advocacy and Enforcement at Euroconsumers. At Euronews, we believe all views matter.

Contact us at view@euronews.com to send pitches or submissions and be part of the conversation.

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