Agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are looking into claims that hijackers killed four missing crewmembers
of a vessel headed for Bimini over the weekend.
That is
according to an
affidavit sworn by Special Agent Richard Blais to the United States District Court, who said the Coast Guard interviewed suspect Guillermo Zarabozo, who claimed that unknown suspects hijacked the F/V Joe Cool and committed the act.
On Monday, the U.S. Coast Guard crews found two missing American boaters, Zarabozo, 19, and Kirby Archer, 35, 100 miles south of their destination in The Bahamas. However the search for four others continued.
Crewmembers went missing from a boat found adrift over the weekend near the Cay Sal Bank in The Bahamas, according to U.S. authorities.
A search was underway Wednesday from the north of Cuba to The Bahamas and South Florida for the captain, Jake Branam, 27; his wife Kelley Branam; his half brother, Scott Campbell, 30, and Samuel Kairy, 27, all of Miami Beach.
Zarabozo and Archer sought to charter the F/V Joe Cool to Bimini – from the Sissy Baby – a charter vessel business – to Bimini, claiming to be meeting their girlfriends on that island at the Big Game Resort and Yacht Club, according to the document.
The affidavit continued that on September 23 at approximately 6pm, the owner of the Sissy Baby contacted the Coast Guard to report the F/V Joe Cool was overdue, and that the last contact made with the vessel was on September 22, at about 3:30 pm.
The Coast Guard later discovered the F/V Joe Cool adrift 11 nautical miles southwest of Anguilla Cay, Bahamas and found the vessel to be in "disarray".
The search revealed Zarabozo’s Florida identification card, six marijuana cigarettes, multiple half opened packs of cigarettes, a laptop computer, computer accessories, luggage, a daily planner, clothing, cameras and a cellular phone, according to the affidavit.
A handcuff key was also reportedly found on the vessel’s bow, as well as a substance on the vessel’s stern that appeared to be blood.
According to the affidavit, Zarabozo said that upon boarding, hijackers immediately shot and killed the captain, then shot the captain’s wife because she was hysterical.
Zarabozo claimed that the hijackers then directed one of the crewmembers to throw the bodies overboard, but when he refused, the crewman was shot and killed.
The same request was made of the last crewmember, who also refused and faced the same consequence.
According to Zarabozo, the hijackers directed him to throw the bodies overboard and he complied.
The affidavit continued that once upon the Coast Guard vessel, both Archer and Zarabozo were provided with their Miranda warnings – which they waived; and the pair agreed to be interviewed.
On September 25, as the Coast Guard towed the F/V Joe Cool, law enforcement pointed to the F/V Joe Cool and asked Zarabozo if he recognized it, to which he responded that he did not and was not on that vessel.
A short time later, law enforcement asked Zarabozo again if he recognized the F/V Joe Cool and he gave the same response, despite the fact that the Coast Guard had discovered his identification onboard the vessel.
The affidavit continued that during the interview with Archer, he said that he knew a bench warrant had been issued previously for his arrest and that, as a result, he could not fly. The Circuit Court of Independence County, Arkansas, issued a bench warrant for Archer’s arrest on January 2007, on a felony charge of property theft.
Federal authorities were questioning Kirby and Zarabozo after they were rescued in the Florida Straits near Cuba.
Archer and Zarabozo were found in good condition Monday morning floating on a life raft, according to U.S. authorities.
The FBI has confirmed that the matter is under investigation, but it was not known whether Bahamian law enforcement authorities had joined the probe.