U.S. Man in Bahamas Custody as Coast Guard Probes Woman’s Disappearance

Bahamian authorities have taken a 59-year-old U.S. citizen into custody and are questioning him in connection with the disappearance of Lynette Hooker, a 55-year-old American woman who went missing after reportedly falling from a boat near Elbow Cay in the Abaco Islands. The Royal Bahamas Police Force has not released the man’s name, citing policy, and has not disclosed any charges. The arrest occurred Wednesday evening in Marsh Harbour, a town in the Abaco Islands.

Lynette Hooker’s husband, Brian Hooker, told police that the couple set sail on Saturday night aboard an 8-foot hard-bottom dinghy from Hope Town to Elbow Cay. According to Brian Hooker, his wife fell overboard during rough seas while holding the keys to the boat, which caused the engine to shut off. He said strong currents carried her out to sea, and he lost sight of her. Brian Hooker paddled the dinghy for hours before reaching Marsh Harbour Boat Yard at 4 a.m. Sunday, where he reported the incident to authorities.

The Royal Bahamian Defense Force has since shifted the search effort to a recovery operation. Meanwhile, the U.S. Coast Guard has launched a criminal investigation into the case, with the Coast Guard’s Criminal Investigative Service leading efforts in coordination with the U.S. Attorney’s Office. A U.S. official confirmed the investigation is in its early stages but declined to provide further details. The Coast Guard typically handles crimes on U.S.-flagged vessels in international waters. The Royal Bahamian Defense Force has not requested assistance from the U.S. Coast Guard for the search.

Lynette Hooker’s daughter, Karli Aylesworth, has expressed doubts about the circumstances described by her father. In an interview, she said her mother was an experienced swimmer and sailor with over a decade of experience. Aylesworth questioned how her mother could have had the boat keys, stating, “Brian’s always driving. So he basically is in charge of the key. So the fact that my mom had it doesn’t make any sense.”

Brian Hooker has declined to answer questions from the media but posted a statement on social media Wednesday expressing heartbreak over the incident. “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 near Elbow Cay in the Bahamas,” he wrote. “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.”

The couple, both U.S. nationals from Michigan, have been sailing together for more than ten years, starting with a small two-person sailboat and later acquiring a larger vessel. The Royal Bahamas Police Force has confirmed the timeline and details of the trip and disappearance but has withheld the identities of those involved in official statements.