Kirby Logan Archer - Arrest, Guilty Plea and Sentence

Arrest, Guilty Plea and Sentence

Archer was later arrested and charged with the murders of the four crew members during the hijacking of the "Joe Cool" charter boat. 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 4 murder charges, and he was also given five life sentences.