Michigan Woman Missing After Going Overboard in Bahamas During Boat Trip With Husband

Lynette Hooker, a 55-year-old resident of Onsted, allegedly fell overboard while boating off the coast of Hope Town on Elbow Cay on April 4.

Audrey Simons

Published: 4/7/2026, 2:47:12 PM EDT

Michigan Woman Missing After Going Overboard in Bahamas During Boat Trip With Husband — A woman walks along a beach before the arrival of Hurricane Dorian in Freeport, Grand Bahama, Bahamas, on Aug. 31, 2019. (Ramon Espinosa/AP Photo)

Authorities are searching for a Michigan woman who was reported missing at sea by her husband during a boat trip in the Bahamas over the weekend.

According to a press release from the Royal Bahamas Police Force, the woman—identified by multiple media outlets as Lynette Hooker, a 55-year-old resident of Onsted—allegedly went overboard on April 4 while boating off the coast of Hope Town on Elbow Cay, part of the Abaco Islands in the northern Bahamas, with her husband, Brian Hooker, 58.

The man told police that he and his wife departed Hope Town around 7:30 p.m. on Saturday aboard an eight-foot dinghy and that she fell off the vessel with the boat keys during their journey, which caused the engine to shut off.

"Strong currents subsequently carried her away, and he lost sight of her," officials shared. "He then paddled the vessel to shore."

Brian Hooker reached the Marsh Harbour Boat Yard, about five miles west of Elbow Cay, around 4 a.m. on Sunday and local authorities were alerted.

Police, along with the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and Hope Town Fire & Rescue, conducted a search of the surrounding area, officials said.

Authorities did not share any additional details about the incident and the investigation remains ongoing. NTD reached out to the Royal Bahamas Police Force and Hope Town Fire & Rescue for comment, but responses were not received by publication time.

The fire department's team lead, Richard Cook, told NBC News on Tuesday that a recovery operation is now underway. The U.S. Department of State told the outlet the agency is also assisting Bahamian authorities with the investigation.

Speaking with CBS News, Lynette Hooker's daughter, Karli Aylesworth, urged officials to conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding her mother's disappearance.

"My sole concern is to find out what happened to my mother and make sure a full and complete investigation is performed," Aylesworth told the outlet.

"There have been prior issues brought to my attention, which may be important for any thorough investigation," she added. "If this truly was an accident, I can understand and live with it. However, there needs to be an intensive review of the facts and circumstances of this tragic incident before that can be determined."

Local authorities have asked anyone with information about the incident to contact 911, their nearest police station, or the Royal Bahamas Police Force's Criminal Investigation Department. Tips can also be submitted anonymously by calling the Crime Stoppers Bahamas hotline at 328-TIPS (8477).