The U.S. Coast Guard has deployed divers to the Bahamas to restart a renewed search for 55-year-old Lynette Hooker, missing since early April after reportedly falling from an 8-foot dinghy. Investigators reopened search efforts after finding inconsistencies between the husband’s device location data and his statements. Bahamian authorities authorized searches in the Sea of Abaco near Elbow Cay, and family members have provided DNA mouth swabs. The probe remains active; no charges have been filed and Hooker’s body has not been recovered.
Coast Guard Divers Deploy To Bahamas As Federal Probe Is Renewed In Lynette Hooker Disappearance
Lynette Hooker's husband reported her missing in early April. - From Lynette Hooker/Facebook
U.S. Coast Guard divers have arrived in the Bahamas to begin a renewed search for 55-year-old sailor Lynette Hooker, whose disappearance in early April prompted a federal criminal investigation, a U.S. official familiar with the probe told CNN.
What Happened
Hooker, an experienced sailor and mother, was reported missing after her husband, Brian Hooker, told authorities she fell from an 8-foot dinghy while the couple navigated rough waters near the Abaco Islands. Brian Hooker reported his wife missing on April 5; the U.S. Coast Guard announced a federal criminal investigation into her disappearance on April 8. To date, Hooker’s body has not been recovered and no suspect has been publicly identified.
Why The Search Was Renewed
Investigators said they renewed the search after discovering inconsistencies between location data from the husband’s devices and his statements about where the couple had traveled and where to search. The Royal Bahamas Police Force granted the Coast Guard permission to search an area of the Sea of Abaco near Elbow Cay—an area the husband said they were sailing toward.
Evidence Collection And Family Response
As part of the ongoing probe, investigators requested DNA samples from Hooker’s relatives. Hooker’s daughter, Karli Aylesworth, and Hooker’s parents provided mouth swab samples this week. Aylesworth has publicly expressed skepticism about her stepfather’s account, noting that her mother was an experienced sailor and a capable swimmer.
Legal Status: Bahamian authorities arrested Brian Hooker as a suspect and repeatedly questioned him; he was later released without charges and has returned to the United States. His attorney, Terrel Butler, has said Hooker denies any wrongdoing and declined to comment on the renewed search while the investigation continues.
Background
The Michigan couple, both U.S. nationals, had sailed together for more than a decade and documented their life at sea on social media. CNN reporting, including contributions from Dianne Gallagher, is the basis for these details.
The investigation remains active. The Coast Guard’s dive teams are conducting focused search operations while investigators continue to collect and analyze evidence.
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