Husband arrested in Bahamas after wife vanishes from boat, denies wrongdoing

Brian Hooker, 59, was arrested in Abaco after his wife Lynette disappeared from a motorboat near the Bahamas. His lawyer says he denies any wrongdoing.

American man held in Abaco as search continues for missing wife

Brian Hooker "categorically and unequivocally denies any wrongdoing" following his arrest in Abaco, Bahamas, his attorney Terrel Butler said Thursday, as reported by wdbj7.com. Hooker has been cooperating with authorities, Butler added, noting that his client could not comment further while investigations are ongoing.

Bahamian authorities said the 59-year-old — whom they initially declined to name — was arrested on Wednesday and is being questioned. Neither police nor Butler confirmed whether formal charges had been filed. The U.S. Coast Guard told The Associated Press it has opened a criminal investigation into the case.

Officials said Lynette Hooker, 55, had been traveling in an 8-foot motorboat from Hope Town to Elbow Cay late Saturday night when her husband told authorities she fell overboard, taking the boat keys with her, causing the engine to shut off. Brian Hooker said he then paddled to shore and alerted someone about her disappearance early Sunday morning.

"Strong currents subsequently carried her away, and he lost sight of her," Bahamian police said in a statement issued Saturday.

Family members raise questions

Lynette Hooker's mother, Darlene Hamlett, told the AP on Wednesday evening that she was "glad to hear" about the arrest, but declined to elaborate, saying she was still seeking more information. Earlier that day, she said she wanted to hear directly from her son-in-law about the circumstances of her daughter's disappearance. The couple had been married for more than two decades and lived in Onsted, Michigan.

"I'm going to be interested in what he says, because I haven't heard from him in almost two days," Hamlett said, speaking during a six-hour drive back from the Bahamian Consulate in Miami, where she obtained a passport to travel to the Caribbean nation.

"Our family grew up on water, and so Lynette her whole life has been near lakes, on boats, sailing and swimming," she said. "It would be a miracle if she's rescued, but I'm still counting on one."

Lynette's daughter, Karli Aylesworth, told NBC News she found it unlikely her mother would "just fall" off the boat, describing her as an experienced sailor. The couple had documented their sailing voyages on social media under the name "The Sailing Hookers." Aylesworth also told NBC that the couple's relationship was volatile and that they had a "history of not getting along, especially when they drink."

Butler's statement directly addressed those claims, saying Hooker's denial of wrongdoing applies in particular to "the allegations recently made by Karli Aylesworth."

Hooker speaks on Facebook

On Wednesday morning, Brian Hooker posted a statement on Facebook describing the incident as a "boat accident in unpredictable seas and high winds" that caused his "beloved Lynette to fall from our small dinghy near Elbow Cay in the Bahamas."

"Despite desperate attempts to reach her, the winds and currents drove us further apart," he wrote. "We continue to search for her and that is my sole focus."

Aylesworth's attorney, Ron Marienfeld, confirmed to the AP that the U.S. Coast Guard interviewed her on Wednesday as part of its investigation. "We are pleased to see it is being investigated, and hopefully more answers will come to give the family some closure," Marienfeld said via email.

Bahamian police said search operations and investigative efforts remain active.

Source: Google News BS — Crime