Authorities in the Bahamas have released a Michigan man who was held in connection with the disappearance of his wife from their boat offshore. Brian Hooker, from Onsted, Michigan, was taken into custody on April 8 and questioned for five days before being freed on Monday. Prosecutors in the Bahamas decided not to file charges as investigations continue.

Brian Hooker reported to Bahamian police that his wife, Lynette Hooker, went overboard while they were sailing in Caribbean waters. He expressed hope that she remained alive and said he planned to resume searching for her immediately. “I won’t be able to stop looking,” he said, adding that only someone with greater authority could persuade him to cease the search.

In a separate development, the U.S. Coast Guard has launched its own investigation into the disappearance. The couple had been sailing for many years, documenting their journeys on social media through their page “Sailing Hookers.” They had purchased their sailboat, named Soul Mate, in 2023 and traveled through the Gulf of Mexico before cruising the Caribbean.

Lynette’s adult daughter from a previous relationship, Karli Aylesworth, expressed skepticism that Lynette accidentally fell overboard, highlighting her stepmother’s extensive sailing experience. She told news outlets it was improbable that Lynette would simply fall off the boat given her familiarity and years spent on the water.

The couple’s personal history includes previous altercations. In 2015, police records from Kentwood, Michigan, indicate both Brian and Lynette accused each other of assault following a domestic incident. At that time, Brian reportedly was intoxicated and had facial injuries, alleging that Lynette had hit him multiple times. Lynette was arrested and spent a night in jail, but no warrants were issued as authorities could not determine who instigated the conflict.

The search for Lynette Hooker continues as Bahamian and U.S. authorities coordinate efforts to clarify the circumstances surrounding her disappearance. Brian Hooker remains free pending further investigation.