The arrest of an American man who informed authorities his spouse fell overboard whereas on a dinghy in tough waters in the Bahamas has introduced larger scrutiny to his account of what occurred as the seek for her enters a fifth day.
Brian Hooker was arrested by the Royal Bahamas Police Force on Wednesday in reference to the disappearance of 55-year-old Lynette Hooker, his lawyer confirmed to NCS.
He was arrested “for additional questioning based on some probable cause we have,” Royal Bahamas Police Force Assistant Commissioner Advardo Dames informed Reuters. He was taken into custody as a suspect, Dames mentioned, although no expenses have been introduced.
Brian Hooker “categorically and unequivocally denies any wrongdoing” in his spouse’s disappearance, his legal professional, Terrel Butler, mentioned in a press release. “He has been cooperating with the relevant authorities as part of an ongoing investigation.”
The Michigan couple, each US nationals, have been crusing collectively for greater than a decade, documenting their life at sea throughout social media.
The US Coast Guard mentioned it opened a prison investigation into Lynette Hooker’s disappearance as her household has known as for a deeper probe into what occurred.
Here is what officers and relations have mentioned as the seek for Lynette Hooker continues:
An ‘accident in unpredictable seas,’ husband says
Brian Hooker told authorities his spouse fell from an 8‑foot dinghy close to Elbow Cay in the Abaco Islands Saturday night as the couple was touring again to their yacht, “Soulmate,” in response to police.
“Strong currents subsequently carried her away,” and “he lost sight of her,” police mentioned Brian Hooker informed them. Lynette Hooker was sporting the keys, also called an engine security lanyard, when she fell off the dinghy, which made the boat lose energy, so he tried to paddle to shore, in response to his account shared by police.
Brian Hooker mentioned he final noticed his spouse swimming towards the shore, in response to Richard Cook, fireplace crew lead with Hope Town Volunteer Fire and Rescue.
The dinghy drifted towards Marsh Harbour, the place it finally was beached, and Brian Hooker “traversed through the bush till he made it to Marsh Harbour Boat yards where he made contact with the local Police,” Cook mentioned.
Hope Town Volunteer Fire and Rescue was notified at 5:12 a.m. and “searched extensively for 6 hours” however wasn’t capable of finding her, Cook mentioned.
Before his arrest Wednesday, Brian Hooker supplied a press release to NCS describing what he mentioned was a boating mishap in deteriorating circumstances.
“I am heartbroken over the recent boat accident in unpredictable seas and high winds that caused my beloved Lynette to fall from our small dinghy,” Brian Hooker mentioned in the assertion. “Despite desperate attempts to reach her, the winds and currents drove us further apart. We continue to search for her and that is my sole focus.”
NCS has reached out to police for extra info.
Lynette Hooker wasn’t sporting a flotation gadget when she went overboard, in response to Cook. On Tuesday, her daughter, Karli Aylesworth, informed NCS Brian Hooker left her a voicemail saying authorities had discovered a flotation gadget he threw to his spouse after she went overboard.
Aylesworth mentioned in a press release she had been given little details about what occurred and needed legislation enforcement companies to rigorously study the circumstances surrounding the incident.
“My sole concern is to find out what happened to my mother and make sure a full and complete investigation is performed into her disappearance,” Aylesworth mentioned. “If this truly was an accident, I can understand and live with it. However, there needs to be an intensive review of the facts and circumstances of this tragic incident before that can be determined.”
Her mom and stepfather have been married for about 25 years and are skilled sailors, Aylesworth informed NCS in an interview Tuesday.
The couple have been in the Bahamas for a few month, she mentioned.
“It just doesn’t add up why she was swimming away from the boat or why she had the keys,” she informed NCS. “I have known past issues between them have not been good, so it’s just weird that this is happening now.”
Lynette Hooker’s mom, Darlene Hamlett, has additionally known as for solutions, telling NCS in a quick assertion the household is in shock and continues to hope for readability.
“We have many unanswered questions,” Hamlett mentioned. “We are still holding on for a positive outcome to this tragedy.”
NCS has reached out to Hamlett, Aylesworth and Aylesworth’s legal professional for touch upon Brian Hooker’s arrest.
Authorities launched an intensive search after Lynette Hooker was reported lacking early Sunday morning involving the Royal Bahamas Police Force, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and Hope Town Volunteer Fire & Rescue scouring the water and land close to Elbow Cay.
The US Coast Guard additionally performed an aerial search of the space, a spokesperson mentioned.
After days with out finding her, officers mentioned Tuesday the effort had shifted from an energetic rescue to a restoration mission.
The Coast Guard on Wednesday mentioned it had opened a prison investigation in the case. The identical day, the company’s Detroit sector interviewed Aylesworth for 2 hours, her legal professional mentioned. NCS has reached out to the Coast Guard for extra info on its investigation, together with particulars on what jurisdiction it has in the Bahamas.
The US State Department has mentioned it’s conscious of studies relating to a lacking American close to Elbow Cay and is working with Bahamian authorities to supply help. The division advises vacationers to train elevated warning in the Bahamas, which is under a Level 2 journey advisory. “Boating is not well regulated. Injuries and deaths have occurred,” it mentioned in a March 2025 advisory.