(ABACO, Bahamas) - The disappearance of a Lenawee County woman in the Bahamas has now shifted into a criminal investigation, with her husband under arrest.
Bahamian police say Brian Hooker, 59, was taken into custody in Abaco late Wednesday after his wife, 55-year-old Lynette Hooker of Lenawee County, vanished during a nighttime dinghy trip near Elbow Cay. Authorities say he is being questioned, though officials have not yet announced whether formal charges have been filed.
Investigators say Lynette Hooker was traveling in an 8-foot motorboat from Hope Town to Elbow Cay Saturday night when Brian Hooker told authorities she fell overboard with the boat key, shutting off the engine. He told police strong currents quickly carried her away and he later paddled to shore to report her missing.
Search efforts involving Bahamian authorities, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and the U.S. Coast Guard have now shifted from rescue to recovery operations, with only a flotation device recovered so far.
The U.S. Coast Guard confirmed it has opened a criminal investigation, a major escalation in the case involving the longtime Onsted couple, who had documented their sailing travels online.
The arrest comes after Lynette Hooker's daughter publicly called for a more intensive investigation, saying the family needed a full review of the facts and circumstances surrounding the disappearance before it could be considered an accident.
Family members from Lenawee County have since traveled to Florida and the Bahamas as they continue seeking answers in the case.