ELBOW CAY, BAHAMAS – A 59-year-old Michigan man who was released from police custody in the Bahamas is still being considered a “person of interest” in the disappearance of his wife that occurred earlier in April while the couple were travelling through the Bahamas.
According to reports, Brian Hooker and his wife, Lynette, were travelling from Hope Town to Elbow Cay in the Bahamas on April 4th on their yacht when, according to Hooker, his wife fell overboard and he subsequently lost sight of her. Hooker reportedly told authorities that he and his wife were in their dinghy, a smaller boat used for a variety of reasons where a larger vessel would be impractical, when the incident occurred.
At the time of Lynette allegedly falling overboard, she was wearing the dinghy keys on an engine safety lanyard, which cut the power to the smaller boat. Hooker claims that he threw a flotation device to his wife, but that the “currents subsequently carried her away.”
Stranded in a boat without power, Hooker claims he attempted to paddle to shore, eventually landing ashore hours after the incident near Marsh Harbor and made his way through some brush before finding a boatyard and contacting authorities.
Hope Town Search and Rescue subsequently located the flotation device that Hooker claims he threw toward his wife, but no sign of Lynette has since been discovered. Hooker was arrested on April 8th by the Royal Bahamas Police Force in connection to his wife’s disappearance but was released from custody on April 13th.
In a press release from the Royal Bahamas Police Force regarding Hooker’s release from custody, the agency stated, “The decision to release the individual was made following consultation with the Department of Public Prosecutions, which recommended that no charges be filed at this time pending the outcome of further investigations.”
An attorney representing Hooker, Terrel A. Butler, issued a statement in light of the growing speculation of foul play, saying her client “categorically and unequivocally denies any wrongdoing,” and that Hooker is focused solely on searching for his missing wife.
According to reports, Brian Hooker and his wife, Lynette, were travelling from Hope Town to Elbow Cay in the Bahamas on April 4th on their yacht when, according to Hooker, his wife fell overboard and he subsequently lost sight of her. Hooker reportedly told authorities that he and his wife were in their dinghy, a smaller boat used for a variety of reasons where a larger vessel would be impractical, when the incident occurred.
At the time of Lynette allegedly falling overboard, she was wearing the dinghy keys on an engine safety lanyard, which cut the power to the smaller boat. Hooker claims that he threw a flotation device to his wife, but that the “currents subsequently carried her away.”
Stranded in a boat without power, Hooker claims he attempted to paddle to shore, eventually landing ashore hours after the incident near Marsh Harbor and made his way through some brush before finding a boatyard and contacting authorities.
Hope Town Search and Rescue subsequently located the flotation device that Hooker claims he threw toward his wife, but no sign of Lynette has since been discovered. Hooker was arrested on April 8th by the Royal Bahamas Police Force in connection to his wife’s disappearance but was released from custody on April 13th.
In a press release from the Royal Bahamas Police Force regarding Hooker’s release from custody, the agency stated, “The decision to release the individual was made following consultation with the Department of Public Prosecutions, which recommended that no charges be filed at this time pending the outcome of further investigations.”
An attorney representing Hooker, Terrel A. Butler, issued a statement in light of the growing speculation of foul play, saying her client “categorically and unequivocally denies any wrongdoing,” and that Hooker is focused solely on searching for his missing wife.
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