Michigan man arrested over wife's disappearance on Bahamas boat trip

A 59-year-old American man has been arrested in Abaco, Bahamas, in connection with the disappearance of his wife, Lynette Hooker. A US Coast Guard criminal investigation is now underway.

Husband arrested after American woman vanishes from dinghy near Elbow Cay

Authorities in the Bahamas have arrested a 59-year-old American man in connection with the disappearance of Lynette Hooker, a US woman who went missing while aboard a small boat, the Royal Bahamas Police Force announced on Wednesday. The man was taken into custody in Abaco and was being questioned, according to usatoday.com.

US media, including CBS News, identified the arrested man as Brian Hooker, the woman's husband, who was on the boat with her at the time of her disappearance. The Royal Bahamas Police Force did not name him in its official statement.

A lawyer for Brian Hooker said her client "categorically and unequivocally denies any wrongdoing" and has been "cooperating with the relevant authorities as part of an ongoing investigation." The lawyer declined to comment further.

A US Coast Guard official confirmed to the BBC on Wednesday that a criminal investigation had been opened into Lynette Hooker's disappearance. The Coast Guard said it could not comment on the specifics of the case, including potential suspects.

Brian Hooker had earlier told police that his wife fell overboard from an 8-foot (2.4-metre) hard-bottom dinghy on Saturday evening, after the couple departed Hope Town for Elbow Cay in the Abaco Islands. He said strong winds and currents swept her away before he could reach her. He reportedly paddled the vessel to shore, arriving at the Marsh Harbour Boat Yard at around 04:00 local time on Sunday, where he informed another person that his wife was missing. That person then notified authorities.

In a statement released Wednesday, Brian Hooker said he was "heartbroken" over the incident. "The recent boat accident in unpredictable seas and high winds caused my beloved Lynette to fall from our small dinghy near Elbow Cay," he said. "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 that her mother had been sailing for over ten years and was an experienced swimmer. Aylesworth said she could not understand how her mother fell overboard and disappeared, and called on authorities to thoroughly investigate the incident.

The Royal Bahamas Police Force confirmed that multiple agencies have been involved in the search for the missing woman. The force did not immediately respond to a request for further details about the arrest.

Source: Google News BS — Crime