Updated April 14, 2026 — CBS News
Brian Hooker, 59, said he will continue searching for his wife Lynette, who vanished during a nighttime boat trip in the Bahamas. Getting emotional, Hooker told CBS News, “I won’t be able to stop looking,” and said only “someone with more authority” could tell him to stop. When asked if he believes Lynette is still alive, he answered, “I want to.”
Hooker was taken into custody by Bahamian authorities last Wednesday for questioning about his wife’s disappearance, his attorney Terrel Butler told CBS News. He has denied any wrongdoing and was released Monday night after five days in custody. The Royal Bahamas Police Force said prosecutors recommended that no charges be filed at this time pending the outcome of further investigations.
Lynette Hooker, 55, remains missing. Police say search-and-rescue efforts have transitioned into a search-and-recovery operation, and authorities have urged anyone with information to come forward.
Hooker said he believes there is still a chance Lynette survived. He told CBS News that people have been known to survive after falling overboard for days or even weeks, and that the Bahamas’ many islands, sandbars, atolls and spits of land leave open the possibility she could be ashore somewhere. “Of course you think about alternatives to that, but I’m not really capable of just turning away from this,” he said.
The Hookers, who live in Grand Rapids, Michigan, were experienced sailors. Brian Hooker said the couple had been sailing together for more than 12 years and had lived aboard their 46-foot boat, Soulmate, for about four years. The vessel has two bedrooms and two bathrooms; Hooker described it as “our floating home” and said they ran the boat as co-captains, each with specific duties.
Hooker told authorities the incident occurred the evening of April 4 while the couple were sailing from Hope Town to Elbow Cay. He said Lynette fell from their 8-foot dinghy — not from the larger boat — and was swept away by powerful currents along with the keys to the dinghy, which disabled its engine and prevented him from reaching her. He said he paddled to Abaco and docked at the Marsh Harbour Boat Yard around 4 a.m. on Sunday, April 5, where he told someone his wife was missing and that person then notified authorities.