Man Arrested in Connection with Wife’s Disappearance at Sea

Police in Abaco have taken a 59-year-old American man into custody as investigations continue into the disappearance of his wife, Lynette Hooker, who reportedly went missing at sea over the weekend.

Authorities confirmed that shortly after 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, officers arrested the man in Marsh Harbour. He is currently being questioned in connection with the matter.

The arrest stems from an incident reported on Sunday, April 5, involving the disappearance of the female U.S. national who was said to have fallen overboard from an 8-foot hard-bottom dinghy while traveling between cays.

According to preliminary reports, the man told police that he and his wife departed Hope Town around 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 4, en route to Elbow Cay. During the journey, he alleged that his wife fell overboard while holding the boat’s keys, causing the engine to shut off.

He further reported that strong currents quickly carried her away, and he subsequently lost sight of her in the darkness. Unable to restart the vessel, the man stated that he paddled the dinghy to shore.

Authorities say he arrived at the Marsh Harbour Boat Yard around 4:00 a.m. on Sunday, where he informed an individual of the incident. Police were subsequently alerted.

In response, officers, along with members of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and Hope Town Fire & Rescue, launched an extensive search operation of the surrounding waters and nearby areas. The search remains ongoing.

Police are appealing to members of the public for any information that may assist in the investigation as efforts continue to determine the circumstances surrounding Hooker’s disappearance.