In a recent development surrounding the mysterious disappearance of a woman in the Bahamas, the husband has been arrested after sharing navigation maps with friends and fellow sailors. These maps illustrated the couple’s journey and specifically marked the spot where he claims his wife went overboard.
Brian Hooker, aged 59, was detained by authorities on April 8, just four days following his report that his wife, Lynette Hooker, who is 55, fell from a small dinghy while they were en route to their yacht.
According to a report by CBS News, Brian distributed maps highlighting the couple’s path and the location of Lynette’s disappearance to friends and other boaters during the ongoing search and rescue efforts.
It is alleged that he provided the same images to law enforcement officials as part of the investigation.
The shared visuals appear to be screenshots from Navionics, a popular GPS application used by boaters for navigation. Brian had edited these maps to indicate specific points along their dinghy route, which they were taking back to their yacht at the time of the incident.
Reports suggest that Lynette was swept out to sea, along with the dinghy motor’s key, leaving Brian stranded in the disabled inflatable vessel. The map also notes his arduous four-mile journey of drifting and paddling back to shore, which took him a staggering nine hours to complete.
Brian hasn’t been charged with anything, but he is the sole suspect in the Michigan mom’s disappearance after her heartbroken daughter raised concerns.
Lynette’s daughter from a previous relationship claimed that her mom and stepdad had a “history of not getting along, especially when they drink.” She specifically cited Brian’s temper, recalling how he previously choked Lynette and threatened “to throw her overboard.”
Efforts to find Lynette have since shifted to a recovery operation.
Brian has denied any involvement in his wife’s disappearance, saying he was “devastated” in a statement posted on his Facebook page.
His own estranged stepmother, though, cryptically implored him to come clean.
“If he did what they think he did by pushing her out of the boat, he needs to tell the truth,” Donna Hooker told ABC 13.
The elder Hooker bemoaned that the couple never should’ve gotten hitched because “it just seems like it got bad.”
The pair, who have been married for about 25 years, had previously split up, before reuniting.
Brian will remain behind bars until at least 7 p.m. Monday as the Royal Bahamas Police Force weighs criminal charges.
