U.S. Coast Guard officials reportedly seized a Michigan man’s boat after he said his wife disappeared after falling overboard while in the Bahamas in April.
An official from the Coast Guard station in Fort Pierce, Florida, said NBC News, ABC News and CBS News The sailboat used by Brian and Lynette Hooker – called “Soulmate” – left Marsh Harbor in the Bahamas on Friday and was en route to the United States when it was detained by the Coast Guard.
Global News reached out to the Miami office of the U.S. Coast Guard’s military branch, which said, “The Coast Guard cannot comment on the ongoing investigation.”
This development comes a week after the Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS) in Miami asked the public for information about Lynette Hooker’s disappearance and help identifying the owners of sailboats that may have been near Hooker’s ship the night she disappeared.
“CGIS is searching for the owner of the sailboat anchored below near the SV Soulmate. People with information are urged to submit tips through the CG Tips app,” U.S. Coast Guard Southeast he wrote in a post on X.
Hooker had previously told authorities in the Bahamas that his wife, Lynette Hooker, 55, fell overboard on the night of April 4 while they were traveling on a 2.4-meter motorboat from Hope Town to Elbow Cay, a group of small islands at the eastern tip of the Bahamas.
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He said Lynette was holding the keys to the boat when it sank into the sea, causing the boat’s engine to shut off and forcing him to paddle to shore.
“After that, she was swept away by strong currents, and she lost her sight,” the police said in a statement.
After arriving at the beach, Hooker alerted someone that his wife was missing early the next day, according to authorities.
Hooker has denied any wrongdoing in connection with his wife’s disappearance, according to his attorney, Terrell Butler.
Police in the Bahamas released Hooker on April 13 after he had been in police custody since April 8, for questioning by authorities.
“Police wish to inform the public that a 58-year-old man with US citizenship who was taken into custody shortly after 7:00pm on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in Marsh Harbour, Abaco, has been released from police custody,” Royal Bahamas Police Force He said in a press release.
The police said that the decision to release Hooker “was taken after consultation with the Public Prosecution, which recommended that no charges be brought at the present time pending the outcome of additional investigations.”
“Police are appealing to members of the public who may have information that may assist in this investigation,” police added in the press release. “If you have relevant details, please call 911, 919 or the nearest police station or CID. We also welcome anonymous tips through CRIME STOPPERS at 328-TIPS (8477).”
Hooker’s attorney, Butler, He told reporters shortly before his release “They had no evidence and had no choice but to release him. It is unfortunate that they had to exhaust the entire investigation period to reach a conclusion.”
Hooker issued a statement on April 8, saying his wife’s disappearance left him “devastated.”
“I am saddened by the recent boat accident at sea and the unpredictable, high winds that caused my beloved Lynette to fall from our small boat near Elbow Cay in the Bahamas,” Hooker said. he wrote on Facebook Before his arrest. “Despite desperate attempts to reach her, the wind and currents kept us apart. We continue to search for her and that is my sole focus.
“Our family is deeply grateful for the assistance being provided by the people of The Bahamas, especially the assistance of the Hopetown Volunteer Fire and Rescue Team, the Royal Bahamas Constabulary Forces, the Royal Bahamas Defense Forces, and the U.S. Coast Guard, who have worked tirelessly in an ongoing effort to return Lynette to us.
“Thank you everyone for keeping Lynette in your thoughts and supporting our family during this difficult time.”
The US Coast Guard opened a separate investigation from the investigation conducted by the Royal Bahamas Police Force.
US Department of State Level 2 Travel warning It states that Americans should travel with caution in the Bahamas, including tourist centers, where thefts and burglaries occur, and warns against moving between the islands by boat.
“Watercraft may not be safe, and some operators are not licensed or insured,” the advisory says. “Watercraft operators sometimes ignore weather forecasts. Always follow local weather alerts and marine advisories.”
The warning also warns that boating is not well regulated in the Bahamas, and that injuries and deaths can occur.
It also warns of “risks associated with swimming”, as well as sexual assault and armed robbery.
—With files from Rachel Goodman of Global News and the Associated Press
&Copy 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
