Husband arrested after wife vanishes overboard near Elbow Cay, Bahamas

Brian Hooker, 58, was arrested Wednesday after his wife Lynette, 55, went overboard near Elbow Cay in the Bahamas. A criminal investigation has been opened.

Michigan man arrested as search continues for wife lost at sea off Abaco Islands

Brian Hooker, 58, was arrested Wednesday evening after his wife, Lynette Hooker, 55, of Michigan, was reported missing in the Bahamas following an incident in which she fell from a dinghy, according to the Royal Bahamas Police Force. ABC30.com reports that the arrest came after multiple sources told ABC News a criminal investigation had been opened into whether any wrongdoing occurred.

The couple had departed Hope Town on the Abaco Islands bound for Elbow Cay at approximately 7:30 p.m. on Saturday aboard an 8-foot hard-bottom dinghy, en route to their yacht, "Soulmate." Brian Hooker told authorities that bad weather caused his wife to fall overboard, and that strong currents carried her out to sea.

Lynette Hooker was holding the boat key when she went overboard, causing the dinghy's engine to shut off, police noted. Her husband subsequently paddled the vessel back to shore, arriving at a marina at around 4 a.m. Sunday, where he reported his wife missing to an individual who then alerted police.

On Wednesday, Brian Hooker issued a statement on social media, saying he is "heartbroken over the recent boat accident." He described "unpredictable seas and high winds" as the cause of his "beloved Lynette" falling from the dinghy near Elbow Cay. "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," he said.

The search and rescue operation has involved multiple agencies conducting land, sea and air searches, including the U.S. Coast Guard and the Royal Bahamas Police Force. The U.S. Coast Guard will be leading the criminal probe, according to a source familiar with the investigation.

Brian Hooker thanked the agencies "who have worked tirelessly in an ongoing effort to bring Lynette back to us."

Lynette Hooker's daughter, Karli Aylesworth, has called for a "full and complete investigation" into her mother's disappearance. She told ABC News her mother is fit and a strong swimmer, and relayed what her stepfather had told her. "He said that my mom's missing and that she fell out of the boat and that he threw a life jacket to her or something, and he doesn't know if she got it or not," Aylesworth said. "I just hope we find her," she added.

The U.S. State Department said it is "aware of reports regarding a missing American near Elbow Cay" and is "working with Bahamian authorities to provide assistance," a spokesperson said. The Hookers are avid sailors who documented their travels on social media under the name "The Sailing Hookers."

The search for Lynette Hooker remains ongoing, police said.

Source: Google News BS — Crime