{"id":318672,"date":"2026-04-14T20:49:41","date_gmt":"2026-04-14T15:19:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/?p=318672"},"modified":"2026-04-14T20:49:41","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T15:19:41","slug":"husband-of-woman-missing-in-bahamas-released-without-charges-national","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/2026\/04\/14\/husband-of-woman-missing-in-bahamas-released-without-charges-national\/","title":{"rendered":"Husband of woman missing in Bahamas released without charges – National"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Police within the Bahamas have released a Michigan man who said his wife disappeared after falling overboard from a small boat within the waters off the island nation.<\/p>\n

Brian Hooker, of Onsted in southern Michigan, had been in police custody since April 8 after being questioned by authorities.<\/p>\n

\u201cPolice want to advise the general public that the 58-year-old male of U.S. nationality who was taken into custody shortly after 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, eighth April 2026, in Marsh Harbour, Abaco, has been released from policy custody,\u201d the Royal Bahamas Police Force said in a news release<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Police said the choice to release Hooker was \u201cmade following consultation with the Department of Public Prosecutions, which really useful that no charges be filed presently pending the end result of further investigations.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\u201cPolice are appealing to members of the general public who could have information which will assist with this investigation,\u201d police added within the news release. \u201cIf you could have relevant details, please contact 911, 919, your nearest police station, or the Criminal Investigation Department. Anonymous suggestions are also welcomed through CRIME STOPPERS at 328-TIPS (8477).\u201d<\/p>\n

Hooker previously told police that his wife, Lynette Hooker, 55, fell overboard the night of April 4 as they were travelling in a 2.4-metre motorboat from Hope Town to Elbow Cay, a gaggle of small islands on the eastern end of the Bahamas.<\/p>\n

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He said Lynette had the boat\u2019s keys on her person when she went overboard, causing the boat\u2019s engine to shut off and forcing him to paddle ashore.<\/p>\n

\u201cStrong currents subsequently carried her away, and he overlooked her,\u201d police said in a press release.<\/p>\n

After reaching shore, Hooker alerted someone about his wife\u2019s disappearance early the next day, based on authorities.<\/p>\n

Hooker has denied any wrongdoing in relation to his wife\u2019s disappearance, based on his lawyer, Terrel Butler.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat they had no evidence and so they had no alternative but to release him. It\u2019s unlucky they’d to exhaust your entire investigative period to return to the conclusion,\u201d Butler told reporters shortly before Hooker\u2019s release<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Hooker issued a press release on April 8, saying his wife\u2019s disappearance left him \u201cheartbroken.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI’m heartbroken over the recent boat accident in unpredictable seas and high winds that caused my beloved Lynette to fall from our small dinghy near Elbow Cay within the Bahamas,\u201d Hooker wrote on Facebook<\/a> before his arrest. \u201cDespite desperate attempts to succeed in her, the winds and currents drove us further apart. We proceed to go looking for her and that’s my sole focus.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur family is deeply grateful for the Bahamian people\u2019s assistance, especially that of the Hopetown Volunteer Fire & Rescue team, Royal Bahamas police force, Royal Bahamas Defense Force, and the US Coast Guard, who’ve worked tirelessly in an ongoing effort to bring Lynette back to us.<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks to everyone for keeping Lynette in your thoughts and to your support of our family during this difficult time.\u201d<\/p>\n

The U.S. Coast Guard has opened an investigation separate from the one being conducted by the Royal Bahamas Police Force.<\/p>\n

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