U.S. Coast Guard investigators are examining new possibilities in the disappearance of Lynette Hooker, a 55-year-old Michigan woman who went missing in the Bahamas earlier this year.
According to a source close to the family, investigators are looking into whether she may have returned to the couple’s sailboat before disappearing, which would differ from her husband’s earlier account.
Lynette Hooker Reported Missing in April
Lynette Hooker was reported missing by her husband, Brian Hooker, on April 5.
The couple had been travelling around the Bahamas on their sailboat, named Soulmate, which was moored off Hopetown near Elbow Cay.
Husband Said She Fell From Dinghy
Brian Hooker previously told authorities that his wife fell overboard from a dinghy during a nighttime ride.
He said they were returning to their sailboat when Lynette “bounced off” the dinghy while holding its keys and was swept away by rough water.
He claimed he then had to paddle back to shore.
Lynette Hooker’s body has not been found.
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Investigators Examine Different Scenario
CBS News reported that Lynette Hooker’s family has been told by U.S. authorities that she may have made it back to the Soulmate before vanishing.
If true, that possibility would contradict Brian Hooker’s version of events.
Investigators are also reportedly looking into whether the couple may have had a physical altercation aboard the sailboat.
Brian Hooker Denies Wrongdoing
Brian Hooker has not been charged with any crime.
He denies any wrongdoing.
He was briefly detained by Bahamian authorities after his wife disappeared but was later released and allowed to return to the United States.
Sailboat and Dinghy Seized
The Coast Guard seized the Soulmate in May about 40 nautical miles off the coast of Florida.
The dinghy was also seized by Coast Guard investigators in the Bahamas in June.
Sources briefed on the investigation said evidence from the sailboat is being analyzed at an FBI facility in Quantico, Virginia.
Earlier Interview Described Sailing as “Fantastic”
In an April interview with CBS News shortly after Lynette disappeared, Brian Hooker described sailing with his wife as “fantastic.”
He said the couple operated more like “co-captains” while travelling together.
CBS News said it has contacted Brian Hooker’s attorney for comment on the latest developments.
The investigation into Lynette Hooker’s disappearance in the Bahamas has taken a new turn as authorities examine whether she may have returned to the couple’s sailboat before vanishing.
While her husband has denied wrongdoing and has not been charged, investigators are reviewing evidence from both the sailboat and dinghy as they continue working to determine what happened.
