The mysterious disappearance of 55-year-old Lynette Hooker from a sailboat in the Bahamas is now being investigated as a potential murder case, according to recent reports.
Authorities are set to thoroughly examine the “Soulmate,” the sailboat belonging to Lynette and her husband, Brian Hooker, for any signs of misconduct. A U.S. official informed Fox News’ Mike Ruiz that investigators are keen to uncover any evidence that might suggest foul play involving Brian Hooker.
Brian, who is 59, reported that Lynette fell overboard on the night of April 5 during their Caribbean voyage. Up to this point, he has not faced any charges related to the incident.
Investigators are revisiting the couple’s nautical residence, a vessel that served as both home and travel companion for the Michigan couple as they explored the world together. Their latest journey, however, ended tragically in the Bahamas, where Brian claims adverse weather conditions caused Lynette to be swept overboard.
Adding to the mystery, the sailboat inexplicably stopped transmitting its location data on the night of Lynette’s disappearance, only to resume broadcasting the following morning.
The boat had suspiciously stopped transmitting location data the night Hooker disappeared and did not resume until the following morning.
Blaine Stevenson, a friend of Brian Hooker’s, previously told Fox News that Brian returned to his sailboat with search and rescue officials on the morning of April 5.
Federal investigators reportedly reopened the search last month after newly obtained forensic data suggests inconsistencies in her husband’s account about the night she went missing.
Law enforcement officials seized the sailboat from the Bahamas and docked it in Fort Pierce, Florida. They later moved it to Fort Lauderdale, according to Fox.
The next step is to pull it out of the water and bring it to a warehouse to be searched, a US official told the outlet.
“Any sort of digital devices that you can take, any computer systems that you can extract, anything of that sort, will be taken in,” Nicole Parker, former FBI special agent, told Fox.
