The ‘Joe Cool’ Boat Murders

For this case I watched an episode of Dark Waters: Murder in the Deep. It’s season 2 episode 4, titled ‘Hijacked.’

Four members of a charter boat company are murdered on their way to Bahamas.

Background

Jake Branam was described as a natural water person. He loved to spend time on the water with his half-brother Scott. It was always Jake’s dream to start an upscale charter boat company. He purchased the ‘Joe Cool,’ and named it after his dad. He went into business with his cousin Jonathan, brother Scott, and friend Sam Kairy.

Jake met his future wife Kelley in 2003, and they soon started a family and got married.

Booming Business

By 2007, as Jake’s business took off, Kelley became a stay at home mom. Kelley stood by Jake, but he was always working.

The business was booming, but there was always a fear because of piracy, human and drug trafficking. However, the ‘Joe Cool’ members were known as the best in the business.

Scott was their mechanical person. He was a really good fisherman, and could bring in the equipment. Sam was the first mate of the ship.

The Disappearance

On September 22, 2007, Jake left for a job with Sam, Scott, and Kelley, who ended up joining the trip to the Bahamas to spend time with Jake. Kelley was very afraid of the water, and didn’t really spend time on the boat. Jonathan had to stay back to prepare for their next trip. The four of them were due back in the morning.

The four members who would never be seen alive again, were joined on the boat by Kirby Archer and Guillermo Zarabozo. The two men paid Jake $4,000 in cash to go to the Bahamas.

On September 23, 2007, the boat never arrived back. Jonathan said that he was angry at first because it was a big sale for their business, but by late afternoon, he started to panic. Jonathan ended up calling the Coast Guard to report an overdue vessel.

A Discovery

The Coast Guard started their search right away, and soon found the ‘Joe Cool’ abandoned in the water. The boat was empty, but Jonathan knew that the boat had to be steered the way that it was found.

The Coast Guard also discovered that the life raft was missing, the battery was dead and there was blood found in the back of the boat.

On September 24, 2007, a helicopter was launched, and an hour later, the life raft was discovered with two men on it. They were identified as Kirby Archer and Guillermo Zarabozo, who claimed to have been hijacked.

A Sinister Plot

Archer and Zarabozo were taken into custody, and asked to tell their stories.

Guillermo said they were attacked by three Cuban pirates, and that the four missing people were shot and executed. Kirby told the Coast Guard that he was forced to drive south towards Cuba at gunpoint.

The Coast Guard didn’t believe their stories. Kirby seemed emotional, but Guillermo was cold.

They also made another discovery, Kirby Archer was a fugitive from Arkansas. He was being investigated for child molestation and for stealing $92,000 from Walmart in Batesville, Arkansas.

The two men were transferred from Coast Guard custody to the FBI. They were able to charge Kirby Archer with unlawful flight from prosecution, and Guillermo Zarabozo with making false statements to the FBI.

Kirby, who was in his 30s, met Guillermo, an 18 year old security guard. Kirby told him he worked for the CIA, and that they could make money if they teamed up. The two of them knew that they were going to try to hijack the boat to go to Cuba. Kirby believed that he’d never be sent back to the U.S. to face his other crimes.

Kirby told Guillermo to shoot the four victims, and then their bodies were thrown over, as well as the gun. The bodies have never been recovered. Five shell casings were recovered, it matched the .9mm glock and ammunition that Guillermo used for his security job.

Convictions

On September 28, 2007, the Coast Guard called off the search for Kelley, Jake, Sam and Scott. As I said, their bodies have never been recovered.

Guillermo has blamed everything on Kirby, and said that he was afraid of what he was going to do.

In July 2008, Kirby pleaded guilty to murder, robbery, kidnapping and hijacking. Guillermo was being charged with the same, plus firearms violations.

They were both found guilty, and sentenced to five life sentences.

Other

Kelley’s family has custody of their kids.

In 2009, Sam’s family sued Sissy Baby Sport Fishing Inc., LR Alliance Manufacturing, Deep Sea Miami Inc., and Jeff Branam for failing to prevent this horrific incident. I couldn’t find any information on what happened with the lawsuit, only what the lawsuit was for.

FINAL THOUGHTS

This is such a sad case. Four innocent lives were taken because two low lives wanted to make money and kill people. Guillermo is a dumb ass, who believes that someone is a CIA agent. Maybe he was manipulated by Kirby Archer, but they both deserve the sentences they were given.

Kelley, Jake, Sam and Scott still deserve to be here today, and it’s even more sad that their bodies have never been found.

Sources

https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna27182930

https://www.foxnews.com/story/defendant-reveals-grisly-details-in-joe-cool-boat-murder-case

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirby_Logan_Archer

https://www.courthousenews.com/joe-cool-boat-owner-sued-over-2007-murders/