Authorities in the Bahamas continue to search for a Michigan woman who disappeared at sea earlier this month, as her husband has temporarily left the country, according to his attorney.
Brian Hooker, the husband of missing 25-year-old wife Lynette Hooker, departed the Bahamas following what his legal team described as a family emergency involving his mother’s serious illness. His attorney said he traveled to the United States on a commercial flight and intends to return to the islands.
The Royal Bahamas Police Force has not publicly commented on his departure.
Woman disappeared during boating trip near Abaco Islands
Lynette Hooker was reported missing on April 4 after allegedly falling overboard from a dinghy while traveling between Hope Town and Elbow Cay in the Abaco Islands. According to police accounts, her husband told investigators that she fell into the water while holding the keys to the small boat, which caused the engine to shut down.
He also reported attempting to paddle for several hours before reaching a marina in Marsh Harbour, where authorities were contacted. A large-scale search operation has been underway since her disappearance.
Husband previously detained, later released
Brian Hooker, 58, was briefly taken into custody by Bahamian authorities last week in connection with the investigation. He was released without charge on Monday evening, though officials have indicated he remains a person of interest as the inquiry continues.
Shortly after his release, Hooker publicly stated that he had no involvement in his wife’s disappearance and said his priority was helping locate her.
In a statement released Wednesday, his attorney said Hooker left the Bahamas due to “urgent word of his mother’s grave illness” and emphasized that police had been informed of his travel.
Family members question circumstances
While investigators have not announced any evidence of foul play, members of Lynette Hooker’s family have expressed doubts about the account of an accidental fall. Her daughter has previously said she struggles to believe her mother could have simply gone overboard during the trip, urging authorities to continue a thorough investigation.
The case has drawn attention in both the United States and the Bahamas as search efforts continue without confirmed results.
Background on the couple
Court and police records also show that Lynette Hooker had a prior domestic-related arrest in 2015, though charges were ultimately not pursued due to insufficient evidence regarding the incident.
Authorities have not suggested that the earlier case is directly connected to her disappearance.
Search efforts continue
Bahamas police and search teams are continuing maritime operations in the waters around Abaco as investigators work to reconstruct the timeline of events leading up to her disappearance. Officials have not released a timeline for when search efforts may conclude.
For now, the case remains unresolved, with authorities treating the incident as an active missing-person investigation.
