A Michigan man released from Bahamian custody is refusing to accept that his wife may be gone, pledging to continue searching for her despite authorities shifting their focus to recovery operations.
Brian Hooker, 59, told media on Tuesday that he remains convinced his wife Lynette could still be alive somewhere in the vast waters and island chains of the Caribbean.
"I won't be able to stop looking," Hooker said, visibly emotional. "Someone with more authority will have to tell me to stop."
Lynette Hooker, 55, vanished on the evening of April 4 during a sailing trip near Hope Town in the Bahamas. According to Brian's account, Lynette fell from their 8-foot dinghy while the couple was en route to Elbow Cay. He said strong currents pulled her away, and the keys to the small vessel were also swept overboard, cutting engine power and preventing him from reaching her.
Hooker was detained for questioning by Royal Bahamas Police Force officials on April 9 but released Monday night after prosecutors determined there were insufficient grounds for charges at this time. His attorney, Terrel Butler, confirmed the release, noting that investigations remain ongoing.
Hope Amid Vast Waters
Despite search and rescue operations officially shifting to recovery mode, Hooker expressed cautious optimism about his wife's chances of survival.
"I believe I've been told that people have lasted in the Bahamas after falling overboard for days and even weeks," he explained to CBS News.
"There are so many islands, there are so many sandbars, little atolls and spits of land. Of course you think about alternatives to that, but I'm not really capable of just turning away from this."
The Hookers, both accomplished mariners from Grand Rapids, Michigan, had been sailing together for more than 12 years. Their vessel, a 46-foot sailboat named Soulmate, has served as their floating home for the past four years.
"We were more like co-captains," Brian explained. "There are certain jobs that I did, and certain jobs that she did, because there's a big enough boat that it takes two people to really run efficiently."
The Royal Bahamas Police Force continues to appeal for public assistance. Anyone with information about Lynette's disappearance is urged to contact authorities.
This article is based on reporting from CBS News. For the full story, visit CBSNews.com.