Bahamas

April 14 (UPI) — Authorities in the Bahamas have released the 58-year-old American man detained last week in the investigation into missing American Lynette Hooker.

The man, Lynette Hooker’s husband, Brian Hooker, was released Monday, the Royal Bahamas Police Force said in a statement that only identified the individual by his age and nationality.

“The decision to release the individual was made following consultation with the Department of Public Prosecutions, which recommended that no charges be filed at this time pending the outcome of further investigation,” the police force said, without identifying the suspect.

Brian Hooker’s lawyer, Terrel Butler, had said the authorities had until 7:20 p.m. EDT Monday to decide whether to charge his client, who has been in police custody since he was detained shortly after 7 p.m. Wednesday.

According to police, Brian Hooker reported his wife missing early on April 5. He told investigators that he and his wife had departed Hope Town at around 7:30 p.m. the evening before for Elbow Cay aboard an 8-foot hard-bottom dinghy.

During the journey, his wife fell overboard with the boat keys in her possession, causing the vessel’s engine to cut off. Strong currents carried the woman away, he allegedly said, according to police.

Brian Hooker reported her missing after paddling the dinghy back to shore.

When he was taken into police custody last week, police incorrectly stated the suspect’s age as 59.

April 8 (UPI) — Authorities in the Bahamas detained a 59-year-old American man in connection with last weekend’s disappearance of an American woman while out at sea.

The woman has been identified by Hope Town Volunteer Fire and Rescue as 55-year-old Lynette Hooker.

According to the Royal Bahamas Police Force, an unidentified man, reportedly her husband, Brian Hooker, 58, reported his wife missing at about 4 a.m. Sunday after arriving at the Marsh Harbor Boatyard by boat.

Police said the man informed officers that he and his wife had departed Hope Town at around 7:30 p.m. EDT Saturday for Elbow Cay aboard an 8-foot, hard-bottom dinghy.

During the journey, his wife fell overboard with the boat keys in her possession, causing the vessel’s engine to cut off, the man told officers, the Royal Bahamas Police Force said in an earlier statement.

Strong currents then allegedly carried the woman away. The man lost sight of her and then paddled the dinghy to shore, according to police, which said a search-and-rescue mission was launched for the missing woman.

The Royal Bahamas Police Force said in a statement that an American man, age 59, was taken into custody at about 7 p.m. Wednesday in Marsh Harbor, Abaco Island.

The suspect “is currently being questioned in connection with this matter,” the Royal Bahamas Police Force said.

The Royal Bahamas Defense Force announced Wednesday that the rescue effort has become a recovery operation.

Lynette Hooker’s daughter, Karli Aylesworth, told CBS News on Wednesday that she is urging police to thoroughly investigate the incident as she does not believe the reported sequence of events.

“I don’t understand how she got the key,” she said. “Brian’s always driving. So, he basically is in charge of the key. So, the fact that my mom had it doesn’t make any sense.”