Coast Guard seeking info from public on disappearance of Lynette Hooker in the Bahamas
The U.S. Coast Guard said Tuesday it is seeking tips from the public in connection with the disappearance of Lynette Hooker, including information on a sailboat moored near the missing American's vessel in the Bahamas.
Lynette Hooker, 55, of Michigan, has been missing since April 4. Her husband, Brian Hooker, told authorities that she fell off their dinghy during bad weather while they were headed toward their yacht, Soulmate, in Elbow Cay.
The U.S. Coast Guard Southeast Division said on social media Tuesday that it is "asking the public for info about the disappearance of Lynette Hooker" within Aunt Pat's Bay, where the Soulmate was moored.
The Coast Guard posted two images of a sailboat moored near the Soulmate and said it is looking for the owner of that vessel. It also urged anyone with information to submit tips.
Brian Hooker, 58, was arrested by Bahamian police on April 8 in connection with his wife's disappearance but released days later without being charged following questioning.
A day after his release, Brian Hooker told ABC News on April 14 that he was staying in the Bahamas with a "sole focus" of finding his wife, "no matter how likely or unlikely that is."
"My only focus is to go back to the boat and then hire or beg people to help me go find some areas to search," he said.
Hours after that interview, Brian Hooker left the Bahamas, with his Bahamian attorney saying he wanted to be with his terminally ill mother.
Following his departure, Michigan-based attorney Crystal Marie Hauser told ABC News that Brian Hooker never would have harmed his wife of 25 years and is asking the public "to give him the benefit of the doubt."
Asked if Brian Hooker plans to return to the Bahamas to help with the search, Hauser said, "I imagine that is where his heart is, but I can't speak on whether or not that's what he would be doing."
