Authorities in the Bahamas have taken a 59-year-old American man into custody as the search continues for his missing wife, Lynette Hooker, who vanished during a late-night boat trip near Elbow Cay.
The man, identified by his attorney as Brian Hooker, was arrested Wednesday by the Royal Bahamas Police Force. His lawyer, Terrel A. Butler, said Hooker “categorically and unequivocally denies any wrongdoing” and has been cooperating with investigators.
Hooker initially told police that the couple had gone out Saturday night in a small dinghy when his wife, 55, fell overboard while holding the boat’s keys. According to his account, the engine stopped, and strong currents quickly carried her away. He said he spent hours paddling before reaching the Marsh Harbour Boat Yard around 4 a.m. Sunday.
Search efforts in the Abaco Islands have since shifted toward recovery, while the U.S. Coast Guard has opened a criminal investigation. Officials say the case is still in its early stages.
Lynette’s daughter, Karli Aylesworth, has publicly challenged Hooker’s version of events, raising doubts about key details. She noted that her mother was an experienced swimmer and longtime sailor, making it difficult to believe she would simply fall overboard. “For one, I don’t understand how she got the key,” Aylesworth said. “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.” Aylesworth has also pointed to the couple’s turbulent past, saying they had a pattern of separating and reconciling. She has called for a thorough investigation, adding, “There needs to be an intensive review of the facts and circumstances of this tragic incident before that can be determined.”
Her concerns are echoed by a 2015 police report from Michigan, which documented a domestic dispute between the couple. In that incident, both accused each other of assault after a night of drinking. Brian Hooker reportedly had a bloody nose and claimed his wife struck him multiple times, while Lynette alleged he choked and punched her. She was arrested at the time, though charges were not pursued due to insufficient evidence.
Aylesworth has alleged additional past abuse, including claims that Hooker once threatened to throw her mother overboard—an accusation that has intensified her skepticism about what happened. She also questioned Hooker’s demeanor after the incident, saying he sounded “monotone and relaxed” when he finally contacted her nearly a day later.
Meanwhile, Butler said his client spoke with authorities for hours earlier in the week after being told he was not a suspect and that police only needed assistance. Hooker, who acknowledged having legal counsel but did not call an attorney at the time, was initially released before being arrested later that same day. No charges have been filed so far. In a social media post, Hooker described the incident as a tragic accident, writing, “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,” adding that he made desperate attempts to reach her as the current pulled them apart.
As the investigation continues, Aylesworth says she is focused on finding answers: “I just want to know the truth.”
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