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Arrest made in case of missing American woman
Bahamian police detained a 59-year-old US citizen on Wednesday in connection with the disappearance of Lynette Hooker, who vanished after falling from a small boat near Elbow Cay, authorities confirmed.
Suspect identified as missing woman's husband
While officials did not release the man's name, US media reports-including CBS News-identified him as Brian Hooker, the missing woman's husband and the only other person on the boat at the time of the incident.
In a statement, Brian Hooker's attorney denied any wrongdoing, stating her client "has been cooperating with the relevant authorities as part of an ongoing investigation" and would not comment further.
Disappearance details emerge
According to Brian Hooker, his wife fell overboard from an 8-foot hard-bottom dinghy on Saturday evening while the couple traveled from Hope Town to Elbow Cay in the Abaco Islands. He claimed strong winds and currents separated them after she went into the water, taking the boat's keys with her.
Hooker told police he paddled the vessel to shore and reached the Marsh Harbour Boat Yard at approximately 04:00 local time (09:00 BST) on Sunday. He then reported his wife missing to a bystander, who alerted authorities.
Search efforts and family reaction
The Royal Bahamas Police Force confirmed a multi-agency search is underway, though they did not provide additional details about the arrest or investigation when contacted by the BBC.
The US Coast Guard has also opened a criminal probe into the disappearance but declined to comment on potential suspects.
"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 said in a statement on Wednesday. "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."
Lynette Hooker's daughter, Karli Aylesworth, told CBS her mother had over a decade of sailing experience and was a strong swimmer. She questioned how her mother could have fallen overboard and urged authorities to conduct a thorough investigation.
Ongoing investigation
Bahamian police have not disclosed the specific charges or evidence leading to the arrest. The case remains under active investigation by both local and US authorities.
