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From Citizendium, the Citizens' Compendium

Kirby Logan Archer is an American citizen who was found adrift in circumstances that triggered suspicion.^[1][2]

Found adrift

Archer, 35, and Guillermo Zarabozo, 19, had chartered the Joe Cool, a 47 foot Miami-based fishing charter.^[1] The boat was found adrift, deserted. Archer and Zarabozo were adrift, in the lifeboat, with their luggage -- with no sign of the vessel's crew: Jake Branam; Kelley Branam; Scott Gamble; and Samuel Kairy.

Archer's account said that the vessel was hijacked, and that the hijackers let him and Zarabozo go.

Archer is suspected of chartering the vessel in order to flee an Arkansas arrest warrant, and seek asylum in Cuba.^[1] He served in the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, and speaks Spanish. Zarabozo is a native of Cuba.

Zarabozo claimed he was never aboard the chartered vessel.^[1] He was armed with knives, and blow darts, when the men were rescued. He has been charged with making a false statement.

Arkansas warrant

Archer was the manager of an Arkansas Walmart.^[1][3] He stands accused of a theft of $97,000 from the Walmart. He had already fled Arkansas for Florida prior to his arrest warrant being issued.

According to the Miami Herald^[3]:

"Archer, who was also running from sexual-abuse allegations against boys in Arkansas, peeled off $4,000 in cash for the two-hour trip."

References

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4} Rash Madkour. "Bullet casings found on boat; 4 crewmembers still missing", Associated Press, October 3 2007. Retrieved on 2007-10-03.
2. ↑ Curt Anderson. "Mystery at sea in missing boater case", USA Today, September 25 2007. Retrieved on 2007-10-03.
3. ↑ ^3.0 3.1 Luisa Yanez. "Judge prods prosecutors in ghost ship case", Miami Herald, October 3 2007.