The U.S. Coast Guard is set to search the sailboat belonging to Lynette Hooker and her husband Brian Hooker for evidence related to her disappearance last month in the Bahamas. The vessel, named 'Soulmate,' was seized after departing from the Bahamas and is now docked in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where authorities will examine digital devices and computer systems for clues.
Lynette Hooker vanished while she and her husband were returning to their sailboat in a dinghy in the Sea of Abaco. Brian Hooker reported that his wife fell overboard, taking the engine key with her, forcing him to paddle to shore to raise the alarm. However, GPS data recovered from the boat reportedly contradicts his account, leading investigators to focus on a different search area.
Bahamian officials have approved a U.S. dive team to investigate the waters where Hooker disappeared, aiming to find evidence or her body. Brian Hooker, who has denied any wrongdoing, was detained for five days in April but has since been released. His attorney stated that Hooker is cooperating with authorities and is frustrated by the inability to continue searching for his wife.
The couple, who ran a YouTube travel channel called 'The Sailing Hookers,' had a history of domestic disputes, according to Lynette's daughter. A 2015 incident involved mutual assault accusations, but a warrant was denied due to insufficient evidence. No charges have been filed against Brian Hooker.
