Bahamian police arrested Brian Hooker, 58, Wednesday in connection with the disappearance of his wife, 56-year-old Lynette Hooker of Michigan, who vanished Saturday night from a small motorboat near Elbow Cay in the Abaco Islands. The arrest has turned a search-and-rescue operation into a criminal investigation involving the U.S. Coast Guard.
According to initial reports, the couple was traveling in a dinghy around 7:30 p.m. Saturday when Lynette fell overboard. Brian Hooker told authorities she had the ignition key, causing the engine to stop; he paddled to shore and reported her missing early Sunday morning. Recovery efforts continue, but no trace of Lynette has been found.
Hooker’s stepdaughter, Karli Aylesworth, publicly questioned her stepfather’s account, alleging a history of domestic violence against her mother. Bahamian authorities took Hooker into custody late Wednesday for questioning. He denies any wrongdoing through his lawyer.
The case has drawn intense U.S. media attention as friends and family demand answers. Coast Guard officials confirmed they are assisting in what is now a criminal probe. As of Thursday morning, searches continued in the waters off Elbow Cay, but officials have not released further details on evidence leading to the arrest. The development has shocked the tight-knit boating community in the Bahamas, a popular destination for American tourists.
