The Mysterious Disappearance of the Joe Cool

The Joe Cool fishing vessel went missing on September 22, 2007, leaving investigators questioning a fugitive who once posed as a CIA agent. On board the vessel were four American crew members, including the captain, Jake Branam, and his wife, Kelley Branam. Additionally, two passengers paid $4,000 to Branam to take them on a charter fishing trip from Miami Beach to Bimini.

The Disappearance

After failing to return as scheduled, Branam’s uncle reported the group as “overdue” to the authorities. The United States Coast Guard conducted an official search and rescue operation with searches by air and sea, but there was no sign of the Joe Cool along the well-traveled route. It wasn’t until 36 hours later that the Commanding Officer of the Coast Guard’s Cutter Pea Island, which guarded the Key West, was alerted by a deck officer about a “target of interest” on the horizon.

The vessel’s conning tower told Carter that the boat was used for sports fishing, but it was spotted in an “unusual” location, about 30 miles north of Cuba and 140 miles off-course of the Joe Cool’s planned route. The stern door of the Joe Cool was open and swinging about, and the vessel’s 75-foot anchor lines had been let out, despite being in “well over 200 feet of water.” The Joe Cool was completely empty, raising considerable suspicion with the authorities.

The Investigation

When the Coast Guard boarded the vessel, they found car keys, wallets, and fishing poles in their fishing positions, which were “clear indications” that passengers had no intentions of leaving. The Coast Guard discovered blood on the scene, leading them to call in the FBI for assistance. As the waters between Miami and Bimini were known for drug smuggling and piracy – especially out of Cuba – the FBI and Coast Guard suspected foul play.

The search for survivors grew clouded with urgency as the threat of an impending monsoon loomed, and officials scanned sea and land through the night, including along Anguilla Cay. Later, air searchers found a covered lifeboat south of Anguilla Cay with the stenciled name “Joe Cool” on the side. The U.S. Coast Guard quickly lowered baskets into the water and saved the two passengers who were found inside. One of the passengers wrote a note saying, “West Bimini. We were abandoned in the boat. Hijacking. Four Killed.”

The Suspects

The two passengers were identified as Kirby Archer, a former Wal-Mart customer service manager who was reportedly accused of stealing thousands of dollars from his employer, and 18-year-old Guillermo Zarbozo, who lived with his family in South Florida and worked as an armed security officer. According to FBI interviews, Zarbozo claimed that three Cuban pirates, who later killed Jake Branam, Kelley Branam, Scott Gamble, and Sammy Kairy, hijacked the Joe Cool before forcing Archer to drive the vessel toward Cuba, where they ran out of fuel about eight hours later.

However, Archer’s claims differed from those of Zarbozo. Archer disclosed to investigators that he met Zarbozo at an auto body shop where he worked as a security guard. Archer presented himself as a CIA agent, recruiting Zarbozo to help him with a job in Cuba, according to true crime author Carol Cope. Pieces of evidence found on the Joe Cool did not add up with the stories from Archer’s account, and he later pleaded guilty to avoid the death penalty.

The Trial

Zarbozo went on trial on a 16-count indictment, including murder, robbery, overtaking a vessel, and other firearm charges. He remained steadfast that the quadruple murder was “part of a covert CIA operation.” The jury, however, unanimously found him guilty on all charges. Archer and Zarbozo are now serving five consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole.

Conclusion

The tragedy of the Joe Cool continues to haunt the loved ones left behind. Amie Gamble, the sister of one of the crew members, revealed that “not having any closure, there’s no grave to go to. The only place we can go is the ocean.” The Joe Cool’s disappearance remains an intriguing mystery, making it one of the deadliest disappearances in recent US history, and a reminder that the oceans can hold secrets of their own.

To learn more about this mysterious case, watch Deadly Waters with Captain Lee on Oxygen on Saturday, June 1 at 9/8c and the day after on Peacock.

Originally Post From https://www.oxygen.com/deadly-waters-with-captain-lee/crime-news/joe-cool-boat-hijacking-and-murders-story-explained

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