The search for a Michigan woman missing in the Bahamas took a dramatic turn Wednesday as local authorities arrested her husband just hours after he posted a heartbreaking message on social media.
Brian Hooker was taken into custody in Marsh Harbor, Abaco Islands, in connection with the disappearance of his wife, 55-year-old Lynette Hooker.
While the Royal Bahamas Police Force initially reported the arrest of an unidentified man, Brian’s attorney, Terrel A. Butler, confirmed her client was the one being questioned.
Lynette vanished Saturday night during what was described as a short trip in an 8-foot dinghy between Hope Town and Elbow Cay.
According to Brian’s initial account to the police, Lynette fell overboard, taking the boat’s keys with her and causing the engine to die. He told investigators that he watched as “strong currents subsequently carried her away” before he eventually paddled to shore to raise the alarm early Sunday morning.
The arrest comes as Lynette’s family raises serious doubts about the accidental nature of the incident. Her daughter, Karli Aylesworth, told reporters that her mother was an experienced sailor who spent her life on the water.
Aylesworth alleged a volatile history between the couple, claiming there had been previous threats to “throw her overboard.” “I do believe something might have happened to her,” Aylesworth told Fox & Friends, citing a history of physical altercations, especially when they drink.”
In a Facebook post shared shortly before his arrest, Brian Hooker maintained his innocence, writing that he was “heartbroken over the recent boat accident” caused by “unpredictable seas and high winds.”
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He claimed that “despite desperate attempts to reach her, the winds and currents drove us further apart.” His attorney reiterated this stance Thursday, stating that Mr. Hooker “categorically and unequivocally denies any wrongdoing” and is cooperating with the ongoing investigation.
The U.S. Coast Guard has now joined the case, opening its own criminal investigation and interviewing family members. Lynette’s mother, Darlene Hamlett, expressed relief at the news of the arrest while preparing to fly to the Bahamas.
“I’m going to be interested in what he says, because I haven’t heard from him in almost two days,” Hamlett said. She noted that while the family is holding out hope for a miracle, the circumstances remain grim.
The couple, known online as “The Sailing Hookers,” had lived in Onsted, Michigan, and had been married for over twenty years. Bahamian police say search operations remain active as they continue to question Brian Hooker.
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