Police in the Bahamas have released a Michigan man who was detained after reporting his wife missing from a small boat. Brian Hooker, 48, of Onsted, Michigan, was released from custody on April 14, 2026, and is not considered a suspect, according to Royal Bahamas Police Force Superintendent Chrislyn Skippings.
Hooker had been in police custody since April 8, 2026, after he reported that his wife, 46-year-old Amanda Hooker, fell overboard from their 25-foot boat on April 7 while they were on a fishing trip near Cay Sal Bank, a remote area between the Bahamas and Cuba. He was the only other person on board.
The U.S. Coast Guard and the Royal Bahamas Defence Force conducted an extensive search covering approximately 1,300 square miles of ocean. The search was suspended on April 12, 2026, after no sign of Amanda Hooker was found. The investigation into her disappearance remains active.
Superintendent Skippings stated that Brian Hooker's release was a procedural step and that he has been cooperative with authorities. The couple was reportedly on a long-term sailing trip. The case has been handed over to the Criminal Investigations Department.
