Brian Hooker's boat seized by coast guard after wife goes missing: report – National
US Coast Guard officials have reportedly seized a Michigan man's boat after his wife went missing after going overboard while in the Bahamas in April.
An official at the coast guard station in Fort Pierce, Fla., told NBC News, ABC News and CBS News that the boat used by Brian and Lynette Hooker – named “Soulmate” – left Marsh Harbor in the Bahamas on Friday and was on its way to the US when the coast guard detained it.
Global News reached out to the US Coast Guard military office in Miami, which said, “The Coast Guard cannot comment on an ongoing investigation.”
This incident comes a week after the Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS) in Miami asked the public for information on the disappearance of Lynette Hooker and to help identify the owners of a boat that may have been near the Hooker's ship the night she disappeared.
“CGIS is looking for the owner of a sailboat docked below near SV Soulmate. Ppl w/ info are asked to submit tips via the CG tips app,” US Coast Guard Southeast wrote in a post on X.
Hooker previously told authorities in the Bahamas that his wife, Lynette Hooker, 55, fell into the water on the night of April 4 while they were traveling in a 2.4-meter boat from Hope Town to Elbow Cay, a group of small islands in the eastern Bahamas.
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He said Lynette had put the boat keys on her person when she got out of the boat, which caused the boat's engine to shut down and she was forced to row ashore.
“He was swept away by strong floods, and he was never seen again,” said a police statement.
After reaching the beach, Hooker reported his wife's disappearance to someone the next morning, according to authorities.
Hooker has denied any wrongdoing in connection with his wife's disappearance, according to his attorney, Terrell Butler.
Bahamian police released Hooker on April 13 after he had been in police custody since April 8, being questioned by authorities.
“Police wish to inform the public that a 58-year-old US man who was arrested shortly after seven o'clock on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in Marsh Harbour, Abaco, has been released from police custody,” the Royal Bahamas Police Force said in a statement.
The police said the decision to release Hooker “was made following consultation with the Department of Public Prosecutions, which suggested that no charges be filed at this time pending the results of the ongoing investigation.”
“The police are appealing to members of the public who may have information that can help in this investigation,” the police said in a statement. “If you have relevant information, please contact 911, 919, your local police station, or the Criminal Investigation Department. Anonymous tips are also accepted through CRIME STOPPERS at 328-TIPS (8477).”
Hooker's lawyer, Butler, told reporters shortly before his release that “they had no evidence and had no choice but to release him. It is unfortunate that they had to spend all the time of the investigation to reach a conclusion.”
Hooker released a statement on April 8, saying his wife's disappearance had left him “heartbroken”.
“I am saddened by the recent boating accident at sea that was unexpected and strong winds caused my beloved Lynette to fall from our small boat near Elbow Cay in the Bahamas,” Hooker wrote on Facebook before his arrest. “Despite the hard efforts to find him, the wind and storms separated us a lot.
“Our family is very grateful for the help of the Bahamian people, especially the Hopetown Volunteer Fire & Rescue team, the Royal Bahamas Police Force, the Royal Bahamas Defense Force, and the US Coast Guard, who have worked tirelessly in the ongoing effort to bring Lynette back to us.
“Thank you to everyone for keeping Lynette in your thoughts and for your support of our family during this difficult time.”
The US Coast Guard has opened a separate investigation from the Royal Bahamas Police Force.
The US State Department's travel advisory says Americans should travel with caution in the Bahamas, including tourist areas, where theft and robbery are common, and warns against inter-island travel by boat.
“Water boats may not be safe, and some operators are not licensed or insured,” the advisor said. “Watercraft operators sometimes ignore weather forecasts. Always follow local weather and ocean warnings.”
The advisory also warns that boating is not well regulated in the Bahamas and that injuries and deaths have occurred.
It also warns of “risks associated with swimming,” as well as sexual harassment and armed robbery.
— via files from Global News by Rachel Goodman and The Associated Press
© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
