A former federal prosecutor, who authored a book on homicides involving missing persons, shared with Fox News Digital that a crucial aspect of the search for the missing American woman revolves around the timing of her husband’s yacht ceasing location transmissions on the night of her disappearance.
Brian and Lynette Hooker departed from Hopetown, Bahamas, around 7:30 p.m. on April 4. Brian informed authorities that rough waters led to his wife’s fall from the dinghy. He made it to Marsh Harbor by 4 a.m. on April 5, as reported by officials.
As per Brian’s account, the couple was on their way back to their yacht, named Soulmate, which they considered their retirement home. Their social media indicates they often sail across the U.S. and Caribbean waters.
Data from marine tracking service VesselFinder indicates that the Soulmate’s Automatic Identification System (AIS) stopped functioning at 9:29 p.m. on April 4, only resuming at 8:40 a.m. the next day—meaning it went offline for over 11 hours.
Blaine Stevenson, a friend of Brian, previously mentioned to Fox News Digital that Brian returned to the yacht with search and rescue teams on the morning of April 5. The Coast Guard Bureau of Investigation is currently pursuing a criminal inquiry into Lynette Hooker’s disappearance.
Tad DiBiase, the former prosecutor and author of “Murder Without a Body,” expressed to Fox News Digital that understanding the circumstances surrounding the tracking data is vital for investigators.
“There’s reason to believe the boat’s tracking system was disabled around the time she went missing. That’s quite suspicious,” DiBiase noted.
If he were advising on the case, DiBiase mentioned he would have several inquiries. “I would want to understand their relationship better, confirm the timeline for when the tracking system was switched off, and gather all the forensic evidence,” he stated. “It’s essential to clarify what occurred and the boat’s actual position against what was claimed.”
Latest Updates on Lynette Hooker: Missing Woman After Boat Incident in the Bahamas
U.S. officials recently sought permission from the Bahamian government to explore a new area of the Sea of Abaco for Lynette Hooker’s body. This request follows the discovery of GPS data that seems to conflict with her husband’s account from that night, as first reported by CBS News and confirmed by Fox News Digital.
Bahamian representatives informed Fox News Digital that if approved, the new search efforts would focus on parts of the Abaco Sea that reach depths of 25 feet. This search is based on GPS information from Brian Hooker’s phone, which he used with a marine navigation app. It’s reported that their dinghy had previously visited that area, according to a U.S. official.
The Coast Guard seized the couple’s yacht, Soulmate, in early May and initially transferred it to Fort Pierce, Florida, but it has since moved to Fort Lauderdale after challenges in removing it from the water.
Brian Hooker’s attorney from Michigan has urged the public, during an ABC News interview, to approach the situation with understanding.
“I would ask everyone to treat him as you would want to be treated and to refrain from suspicion. Remember that not everyone copes with situations in the same way,” he stated.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Brian Hooker’s legal representative for further comments.
