Brian Hooker told authorities his wife Lynette was pitched from their 8ft dinghy as they headed from dinner to their moored 50ft sailboat Soulmate in bad weather on Saturday night. According to the Royal Bahamas Police Force, the couple hit strong currents after leaving Hope Town and were headed to Elbow Cay. Strong currents carried Lynette Hooker away, and Brian Hooker lost sight of her. Hooker told authorities his wife was tossed overboard in darkness, taking the dinghy's keys with her causing the engine to shut off.
Hooker said he and Lynette had dinner at the Abaco Inn on Elbow Key before she went missing. Without the key, the boat lost power shortly after and Hooker had to paddle the boat to shore. According to Richard Cook, Hooker drifted four miles toward Marsh Harbour, Abaco. Mr. Hooker tried to row but the winds were 18-22 kts and could not make headway. When he reached land, he beached the dinghy and made his way through the bush to the Marsh Harbour Boat Yards and called police, according to the Hope Town Volunteer Fire and Rescue.
I used one paddle to battle my way to safety for nearly eight hours after my wife vanished.
Brian Hooker was seen wandering around a Bahamas boat yard in surveillance video hours after his wife Lynette went missing. In the surveillance footage, Hooker appears calm, with little sign of panic or urgency, according to the Daily Mail's description. Hooker first appears in surveillance footage at 3.35am. Night security guard Edward Smith found Hooker in the yard. According to Daily Mail - News, Brian Hooker described using one paddle to battle his way to safety for nearly eight hours after his wife vanished.
According to Metro - Main, Brian Hooker described that he 'should have known better' and that the pair had been 'very drunk' when Lynette fell overboard. According to Metro - Main, Edward Smith described that Hooker showed 'little emotion' and was more exhausted than emotional. According to Metro - Main, Brian Hooker described that the last time he saw his wife, she was swimming towards Hope Town, but he lost sight of her. Hooker said he shot up flares when boats passed, but they didn't see them, according to Brian Hooker.
I should have known better and the pair had been very drunk when Lynette fell overboard.
Police in the Bahamas detained Brian Hooker on April 8 but has not been charged. Police in the Bahamas have released Brian Hooker after consulting with prosecutors who recommended against filing charges at this time. Hooker's attorney said police requested another interview after extending his custody by 72 hours on Friday. Hooker has denied any wrongdoing and is cooperating with police, according to his lawyer. The exact time and location where Lynette Hooker went missing, and why there is a delay in Hooker alerting authorities, remain unclear.
Brian Hooker slipped off a boat during a police transport, suffering knee pain and abrasions, according to his attorney. During the transport, Hooker was cuffed and rough conditions prevented him from holding on for safety, according to attorney Terrel Butler. Police on Abaco, along with the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and local fire and rescue teams, launched a search operation in the surrounding waters. Teams searched for six hours on Sunday with no results, according to the fire and rescue department. The US Coast Guard later conducted a search by air, a spokesperson said.
He showed little emotion and was more exhausted than emotional.
Search operations spanned water, sky, and land, using drone technology and professional divers, according to police. Search and rescue teams have now moved to a recovery operation, Richard Cook said. The U.S. Coast Guard has opened an investigation separate from the one in the Bahamas. Lynette's daughter Karli Aynesworth called for a full investigation into the events. According to ca.news.yahoo.com, Karli Aylesworth described that she has been privy to very little information and her sole concern is to find out what happened to her mother.
According to The Guardian - World, Karli Aylesworth described that she does not believe her mother would just fall off the boat. According to The Guardian - World, Lynette's mother described that her daughter grew up on water and has always been near lakes, on boats, sailing and swimming. A source close to the family said Hooker only called his stepdaughter Karli on Sunday, a full day after Lynette went missing. Text messages from Lynette in 2024 showed the couple had previously decided to separate before reconciling, according to documents obtained by CBS News. In 2015, the couple accused each other of assault, according to a police report reviewed by NBC.
The last time I saw my wife, she was swimming towards Hope Town, but I lost sight of her.
Lynette Hooker's daughter and mother have several questions about what happened and have been trying to reach Bahamian authorities for information. Hamlett is racing to get an emergency passport to fly to the Bahamas. Both women want a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident. Fishermen fear sharks may have eaten Lynette, as the waters are full of bull sharks. Lynette Hooker was not wearing a personal flotation device, Richard Cook said.
Authorities found a flotation device that Brian Hooker threw to Lynette Hooker after she went overboard, according to Karli Aylesworth via a voicemail from Brian Hooker. The current status and findings of the separate U.S. Coast Guard investigation are not yet public. Whether there is any evidence of foul play or accident beyond Hooker's account remains a key question for investigators. Why prosecutors recommended against filing charges against Brian Hooker at this time has not been disclosed. What exactly caused Lynette Hooker to fall overboard from the dinghy is still under investigation.
I shot up flares when boats passed, but they didn't see them.
I want to believe my wife is still alive and plan to go back out to look for her.
I have been privy to very little information. My sole concern is to find out what happened to my mother and make sure...
I do not believe my mother would just fall off the boat.
My daughter grew up on water and has always been near lakes, on boats, sailing and swimming.