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NASSAU, Bahamas — Bahamian authorities have arrested the husband of a U.S. woman who vanished last weekend while boating near the Abaco Islands.
Police said the 59-year-old man was taken into custody in Abaco late Wednesday and is being questioned. His name was not immediately released.
The disappearance involves Lynette Hooker, 55, who officials said was traveling Saturday night in an 8-foot motorboat from Hope Town to Elbow Cay. Her husband, Brian Hooker, 58, told authorities she fell overboard while holding the boat keys, which caused the engine to shut off. Police said he reported paddling to shore and notifying someone about the incident early Sunday.
“Strong currents subsequently carried her away, and he lost sight of her,” police said in a statement issued Saturday.
Authorities have not said whether charges have been filed. A spokesperson for the U.S. Coast Guard said a criminal investigation has been opened into the case.
Lynette Hooker’s mother, Darlene Hamlett, told The Associated Press she was “glad to hear” about the arrest but declined further comment, noting she is seeking more information. Earlier Wednesday, Hamlett said she wants to hear directly from Brian Hooker about how her daughter disappeared.
The couple, married more than two decades, lived in Onsted, Michigan, and often documented their sailing trips under the moniker “The Sailing Hookers.” Their daughter, Karli Aylesworth, told NBC News she doubts her mother “just fell” off the boat, saying she was an experienced sailor. Aylesworth described her parents’ relationship as volatile and said they “have a history of not getting along, especially when they drink.”
On Wednesday morning, Brian Hooker posted on Facebook that he was “heartbroken over the recent boat accident in unpredictable seas and high winds” and that his “sole focus” remained on finding Lynette.
Bahamian police said search and investigative efforts remain active.
