Husband arrested over disappearance of Michigan woman in Bahamas

Authorities in the Bahamas have arrested a man in relation to the disappearance of Lynette Hooker, an American woman who vanished while out on a small boat, police in the island country said on Wednesday.

A 59-year-old from the US was arrested in Abaco and was being questioned, the Royal Bahamas Police Force said in a statement. It did not name the man.

US media, including the BBC's partner CBS News, reported that the man arrested was the woman's husband, Brian Hooker, who had been on the boat with her.

In a statement, Brian Hooker's lawyer said he "categorically and unequivocally denies any wrongdoing".

The lawyer added that her client "has been cooperating with the relevant authorities as part of an ongoing investigation", and would not comment further.

The Royal Bahamas Police did not immediately respond to the BBC's request for further details about the arrest. It earlier confirmed that it was investigating, and that multiple agencies were searching for the woman.

A US Coast Guard official confirmed to the BBC on Wednesday that a criminal investigation was opened into the woman's disappearance.

The Coast Guard was not able to comment on the specifics of the investigation, including potential suspects in the case.

Brian Hooker earlier said his wife went missing after falling out of an 8ft (2.4m) hard-bottom dinghy on Saturday, and being swept out to sea by strong currents.

In a statement on Wednesday, Brian Hooker thanked authorities and volunteers for the ongoing search.

"I am heartbroken over the recent boat accident in unpredictable seas and high winds that caused my beloved Lynette to fall from our small dinghy near Elbow Cay in the Bahamas," he said.

"Despite desperate attempts to reach her, the winds and currents drove us further apart. We continue to search for her and that is my sole focus."

Lynette Hooker's daughter, Karli Aylesworth, told CBS that her mother had been sailing for more than 10 years and was an experienced swimmer. She said she did not understand how her mother could have fallen overboard and disappeared, and asked that authorities thoroughly investigate the incident.

Brian Hooker is also said to have told police that he and his wife left Hope Town for Elbow Cay, in the Abaco Islands, on Saturday evening - and it was at that point that she fell overboard, taking the boat's keys with her.

He reportedly said he then paddled the vessel to shore, and made it to the Marsh Harbour Boat Yard at about 04:00 local time (09:00 BST) on Sunday. He then told a person that his wife was missing, and that person then informed authorities.