A team of United States Coast Guard divers has resumed the search for Lynette Hooker, an American woman who disappeared two months ago while on a sailing trip in the Bahamas with her husband, Brian Hooker. The 45-year-old Michigan resident went missing on April 4, with her husband telling authorities she fell overboard from their dinghy.
Disappearance Details
According to local police, the couple was traveling from Hope Town to Elbow Cay on the night of April 4 to return to their sailboat named 'Soulmate' when Lynette fell into the water. 'Strong currents subsequently carried her away, and he lost sight of her,' authorities stated at the time. Brian Hooker has denied any involvement in her disappearance and has not been charged with a crime.
Renewed Search Efforts
The Coast Guard, which is leading the investigation, deployed a dive team on Wednesday to search the Sea of Abaco, west of Hope Town and Elbow Cay, according to reports from ABC News and CBS News. This renewed effort follows revelations that GPS data retrieved from Brian's electronic devices does not align with his account of events.
Additionally, authorities plan to search the couple's sailboat, currently docked in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for evidence. A U.S. official told Fox News Digital that investigators will seize any digital devices, including computer systems, for analysis. 'Any sort of digital devices that you can take, any computer systems that you can extract, anything of that sort, will be taken in,' said Nicole Parker, a former FBI special agent and Fox News contributor.
Husband's Legal Situation
Brian Hooker was questioned by Bahamian police shortly after Lynette's disappearance but was released days later. His attorney, Terrel Butler, stated that authorities interrogated Brian for over three hours about his relationship with his wife and whether he caused her harm. Butler emphasized that his client's 'primary focus remains the search for his wife of 25 years' and that he is 'dedicating his full emotional and physical energy toward coordinating with relevant parties to find her.'
Background and Family Concerns
The couple had documented their maritime adventures on social media under the name 'Sailing Hookers.' Lynette's daughter, Karli Aylesworth, told NBC News that her mother and stepfather have 'a history of not getting along, especially when they drink.' Police records from Kentwood, Michigan, show that the couple accused each other of assault in 2015. More recently, in 2024, they temporarily separated, according to CBS News.
The Independent has reached out to the Coast Guard and Brian Hooker's lawyer for further comment. The search for Lynette Hooker continues as authorities piece together the events leading to her disappearance.
