A troubling phone call has raised questions about the disappearance of Lynette Hooker after her husband, Brian Hooker, reported an incident in the Bahamas. Brian had claimed that rough waters on April 4 led to Lynette falling from their dinghy near Hope Town.
The couple had been heading back to their sailboat, ‘Soulmate’, which served as their home during retirement. They frequently sailed across the U.S. and the Caribbean according to their social media profiles.
A recent conversation Brian had with fellow sailor Blaine Stevenson suggests Brian may have been in the water with Lynette, challenging his original statement. This phone call has drawn attention due to its inconsistencies.
“I mean she’s a regular swimmer, not an athlete, but she’s determined… I was in the water bailing out the dinghy,” said Brian Hooker during the call. He suggested facing waves that forced him to bail out water multiple times.
On the same call, Brian insisted he remained inside the dinghy throughout the incident. He recounted losing an oar and throwing an anchor in efforts to stabilize the dinghy, shouting to Lynette and losing sight of her as the moon had not yet risen.
Kenneth Engerrand, a maritime law expert, commented that Brian’s story appears inconsistent. Engerrand noted the difficulty in reconciling Brian handling the dinghy while Lynette drifted immediately away.
The U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Services continued their search for Lynette’s body, examining new GPS data from Brian’s phone. These details prompted further examination of a new search area in the Sea of Abaco’s 25-foot-deep waters. Sources say this has turned into a homicide investigation.
Brian’s attorney, asked for understanding, emphasizing different ways people handle crises. The case remains under investigation with the Coast Guard in possession of the dinghy.