The day after his wife disappeared during a nighttime boat ride in the Bahamas, Brian Hooker told a friend that she attempted to swim back to him following her apparent fall overboard, but strong winds quickly separated them, according to messages reviewed by CBS News.
Lynette Hooker, of Michigan, has been missing since Sunday. Bahamian officials arrested her husband Wednesday night and are holding him for questioning in connection with her case, though he has not been charged with a crime, according to his attorney, Terrel Butler. Mr. Butler stated that Mr. Hooker can be held for 48 hours, with a possible extension to 96 hours if needed.
Brian Hooker maintains he has done nothing wrong. He initially told authorities that his wife fell from their dinghy Saturday night while sailing from Hope Town to Elbow Cay in the Bahamas. He stated that strong currents carried her away, along with the boat keys, disabling the engine and preventing a rescue.
Mr. Hooker shared a similar account in Facebook messages with Daniel Danforth, a friend he met through a shared interest in boating. The messages, reviewed by CBS News, show Mr. Danforth reached out to Mr. Hooker on Monday after seeing news reports of his wife’s disappearance.
“The wind blew me away from her and she swam towards the sailboat and we lost sight of each other pretty quickly as it was just about sundown,” Brian wrote in the messages. “I drifted and tried to paddle with one oar for the next 7 hours until I washed up behind the shore of the next Island over and was able to get some help finally.”
In the messages, Mr. Hooker told Mr. Danforth his family was “in hell” as search crews continued to glance for his wife. When Mr. Danforth followed up the next morning, Mr. Hooker said he had moved his boat to Marsh Harbor and was sleeping there, but planned to relocate to stay with his sister and brother-in-law, who were traveling to meet him. He likewise told Mr. Danforth he intended to return to the search site afterward.
“I will most likely definitely need help in the future but I just don’t know what it is yet I’m trying to capture it a day at a time and preserve the faith,” he wrote to Mr. Danforth, before congratulating him on a recent sailboat purchase.
“The stories don’t really match up”
Mr. Danforth told CBS News he met the Hookers three years ago while sailing in the New Orleans area. A Facebook notification from Brian over the weekend prompted him to check on the couple, leading him to discover reports of Lynette’s disappearance.
He received the notification because Brian had liked his wife’s Facebook post about boating. Mr. Danforth noted that his friend’s social media activity at that time raised questions. “You know, my wife’s missing, Facebook’s the last thing I’m worried about. You’re going to find me on the water riding around,” Mr. Danforth told CBS News.
Mr. Danforth expressed concern that Brian moved his boat from Elbow Cay shortly after Lynette went missing. He also noted discrepancies between Brian’s account of the events and emerging media reports, stating, “the stories don’t really match up.”
While police have said Mr. Hooker recalled his wife being swept out to sea, Mr. Danforth said the messages indicated “she was casually swimming back toward the sailboat.” He also pointed out that the Hookers “always had their phones with them” and frequently posted videos online, questioning why Brian’s “phone didn’t perform or why they didn’t have their phones in the boat” that night.
Mr. Danforth said his wife was friends with Lynette and he had not previously had concerns about the couple’s relationship, though they had separated for a period in the past. “You know, most of the time people do get back together and you don’t want things to be awkward,” he said. “So we didn’t — I don’t really get into a whole lot of personal business because of those reasons.”
Lynette Hooker’s daughter, Karli Aylesworth, told CBS News in a separate interview that her mother and Brian Hooker had previously broken up and reconciled. Ms. Aylesworth is seeking answers and has expressed doubt about the sequence of events described by Brian Hooker.
“For one, I don’t understand how she got the key,” Aylesworth said. “Brian’s always driving. So he basically is in charge of the key. So the fact that my mom had it doesn’t make any sense.”
In a previous statement, Mr. Hooker’s attorney, Terrel Butler, denied Ms. Aylesworth’s allegations and stated, “He has been cooperating with the relevant authorities as part of an ongoing investigation.” Mr. Butler has spoken with Mr. Hooker and said he is focused on continuing the search for his wife.
“That’s all he’s been talking about,” Butler said. “Yesterday… he made arrangements to travel back out and search for her.”
The location of the boat key was also a concern for Mr. Danforth, who said pictures and videos the Hookers took while on the dinghy never show either of them with the key, which is typically attached to a lanyard. However, he suggested it’s possible Lynette Hooker would have reached for something as she fell overboard, and “that’s the closest thing.”
Mr. Danforth questioned whether strong winds and currents could have separated the small dinghy from Mr. Hooker’s wife so quickly. And, if she was swimming toward the dinghy, as Brian Hooker stated in his messages, Mr. Danforth asked: “Why didn’t he endeavor to go get her?”
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to Lynette Hooker?
Lynette Hooker has been missing since Sunday after reportedly falling overboard from a dinghy while sailing with her husband, Brian Hooker, near Elbow Cay in the Bahamas.
Has Brian Hooker been charged with a crime?
As of Wednesday night, Brian Hooker has not been charged with a crime, but is being held by Bahamian officials for questioning in connection with his wife’s disappearance. He can be held for up to 96 hours.
What is Brian Hooker’s account of the events?
Brian Hooker has stated that his wife fell from their dinghy Saturday night, and strong currents swept her away along with the boat keys, disabling the engine and preventing him from reaching her.
What further questions arise from this case, and how might the investigation proceed?
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