Kirby Logan Archer

In September 2007, Kirby Logan Archer and Guillermo Zarabozo were found adrift in a lifeboat off Miami under suspicious circumstances. They were later found to have hijacked the fishing charter vessel Joe Cool, and murdered the vessel's crew.

Found adrift On September 22, 2007, Archer (born October 24, 1971) and Guillermo Zarabozo chartered the Joe Cool, a 47-foot Miami-based fishing charter, asking to be transported to Bimini.

Arkansas warrant Archer had previously worked as the customer service manager at an Arkansas Walmart, where he was accused of stealing $92,000. Before Arkansas law enforcement officials could arrest him for the alleged theft, Archer fled the state, resulting in the issuance of a fugitive warrant for his arrest. Archer, who was also facing allegations of sexual abuse against young boys in Arkansas (including his own children), made his way to Miami, where he hired the charter boat, paying cash to cover the $4,000 charge for the two-hour trip. Prosecutors alleged that Archer hijacked the boat and headed for Cuba to escape the intensifying child molestation and theft investigations in Arkansas. In July 2008, Archer pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, robbery, kidnapping, and hijacking. By pleading guilty, Archer avoided a possible death sentence. On October 14, 2008, Archer was sentenced to five consecutive life terms in prison.

Archer's co-defendant, Guillermo Zarabozo, was tried on the same charges of murder, robbery, kidnapping, hijacking, and weapons charges and was initially found guilty of firearms violations. However, the jury deadlocked on the piracy and murder counts, with some jury members believing Zarabozo's claims that the hijacking and murders had been planned and initiated by Archer without Zarabozo's knowledge. At his retrial, Zarabozo was found guilty on four murder charges on February 19, 2009. On May 7, he was given five life sentences plus 85 years.

Archer is serving his sentence at FCI Jesup.