BOSTON - A federal grand jury on Thursday indicted a Mexican national for the Sept. 23 murder of a crew member aboard a fishing vessel 55 miles off the coast of Massachusetts.

Franklin Freddy Meave Vazquez, 27, is charged with single counts of second-degree murder, attempted murder and assault with a dangerous weapon, according to the office of U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Andrew E. Lelling.

Vazquez, who entered the United States illegally, was working as one of seven crew members on the Captain Billy Haver, a scallop vessel based in Newport News, Virginia. He is accused to killing one crewman, identified as Javier Rangel Sosa, 54, with a hammer and assaulting another with a knife.

The attack caused the captain of the boat to broadcast a call for help over the distress channel. "Mayday mayday mayday! Can anyone hear me?" the captain can be heard in a recording of the distress call. "We have a man gone crazy here on the boat, man."

A passing German cruise ship responded to give assistance. Vazquez was taken into custody by the U.S. Coast Guard in Boston. He remains in custody.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Vazquez entered the United States illegally 17 years ago. On March 9, he was arrested in Newport News, Virginia for abduction by force, intimidation, and deception.

Those charges stem from a compliant from his wife that he attacked her.

He was released on bail.

If convicted he faces a charge of up to life in prison on the murder charge. If he is released from prison, he is subject to deportation hearings.