In December 2007, Guillermo Zarabozo and Kirby Archer were arrested for the murders of the Joe Cool crew members.
On July 18, 2008, it was announced that Archer is expected to plead guilty to the murder charges.CNN.com: Defendant in Boat Shootings to Plead Guilty (July 18, 2008) However, Zarabozo claims he was lured onto the boat by Archer and did not take part in the killings. Zarabozo has reportedly passed two polygraph tests.NBC6: Boat Murder Defendant Blames Other Suspect (May 2, 2008)
Charter Boat Murder Timeline
- September 22, 2007: Zarabozo and Archer paid the Joe Cool crew $4,000 in cash to take them from Miami to the BahamasMiami Herald: Ghost Boat Suspects to Stay in Jail (October 24, 2007)
- September 23, 2007: The crew of the Joe Cool was reported missingCoast Guard News: Coast Guard Suspending Search... (September 27, 2007)
- September 23, 2007: The Joe Cool was found by U.S. Coast Guard floating approximately 60 miles south of the island of Bimini and a few hours later, Zarabozo and Archer were found approximately 10 miles away on a life raft CNN.com:Defendant in Boat Shootings to Plead Guilty (July 18, 2008)
- September 25, 2007: According to an affidavit, Zarabozo told authorities that hijackers took control of the Joe Cool, fatally shot the captain, the captain's wife and the other two crew members. Zarabozo claimed that he was allowed to live because he agreed to throw the bodies overboardCNN: The Wire (September 27, 2007)
- September 27, 2007: Coast Guard suspended their search for the missing Joe Cool crewCoast Guard News: Coast Guard Suspending Search... (September 27, 2007)
- September 27, 2007: Zarabozo was charged with lying to a federal agent, while Archer was charged with unlawful interstate flight from the suspected theft of more than $90,000 from a Wal-Mart in Arkansas CNN: The Wire (September 27, 2007)
- December 18, 2007: Zarabozo and Archer entered not guilty pleas to a 12-count indictment that contains several counts that would make them eligible for the death penaltyMiami Herald: Crews Relatives Spent a Cheerless Christmas (December 31, 2007)
- July 2008: No gun has been foundCNN.com: Defendant in Boat Shootings to Plead Guilty (July 18, 2008)
References
Fast Facts
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Age at the time of the murder
19
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Fact:
Zarabozo and Archer paid $4,000 to charter the Joe Cool to the Bahamas
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Fact:
TheJoe Cool is a 47-foot charter fishing boat
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Fact:
Met Archer in a refugee camp on the U.S. military base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba when Zarabozo was 8-years-oldNewTimesBroward.com Six Set Sail on the Joe Cool... (January 24, 2008)
