Brian Hooker, 58, was arrested in the Bahamas on Wednesday night for questioning after his wife, Lynette Hooker, went missing last week. Lynette, a Michigan resident, disappeared while the couple was returning to their yacht from a bar in Hope Town. According to Brian Hooker's account, his wife fell overboard around 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 7, during rough seas. He claims he drifted on their dinghy for several hours before washing ashore at the Marsh Harbour Boat Yard around 4 a.m. the next day.
Brian Hooker shared maps with friends and law enforcement, allegedly showing the route his dinghy took the night his wife disappeared. The images, obtained by CBS News, appear to be screenshots from Navionics, a GPS app used by boaters, with annotations marking the alleged dinghy route and where Lynette Hooker is said to have gone overboard. The maps suggest Brian Hooker traveled 4 miles west from the point where his wife allegedly fell overboard.
Edward Smith, an overnight security guard at Marsh Harbour Boatyards, encountered Brian Hooker when he washed ashore. Smith told Fox News that Hooker was exhausted and mentioned a key and a woman. Hooker reportedly told police that Lynette had the dinghy’s key in her pocket when she fell overboard, cutting off the engine. He was arrested for questioning while police investigate Lynette’s disappearance. As of now, Brian Hooker has not been charged with a crime, according to his attorney, Terrel Butler.
The Royal Bahamas Police Force has not responded to requests for comment, and Hope Town Fire and Rescue declined to discuss the images, citing the ongoing investigation. Lynette Hooker’s daughter has called for a full investigation, hinting at prior issues in the relationship.