The U.S. Coast Guard has seized an eight-foot dinghy linked to the disappearance of Lynette Hooker, a 55-year-old Michigan woman who vanished in the Bahamas in early April. The dinghy, which her husband Brian Hooker claims she 'bounced off' during a nighttime ride, was taken into custody by investigators on Thursday. A cadaver dog and an investigator from Coast Guard Investigative Services were present during the seizure, surveying the dinghy and holding up a life jacket. The dinghy could provide critical insights into the circumstances surrounding Hooker's disappearance.
Brian Hooker initially reported that his wife fell overboard from the dinghy and was swept away by currents, forcing him to paddle back to shore. He was detained by Bahamian authorities for five days but was later released without charges. However, GPS data from an electronic device seized by authorities appears to contradict his account, prompting a renewed search in the Bahamas. The couple's sailboat, which they were using for their travels, was also seized by the Coast Guard last month.
Investigators are now conducting a thorough search both on land and at sea, with divers scouring the Sea of Abaco near Elbow Cay and cadaver dogs assisting in the effort. The specific location where Brian Hooker claims his wife fell overboard allegedly differs from the GPS data gathered from his cellphone, according to a U.S. official familiar with the investigation. The case remains ongoing, with no definitive answers yet about Lynette Hooker's fate.