Federal investigators are urging the public for tips in the disappearance of Michigan mom Lynette Hooker — including finding the owners of a sailboat moored near her and her husband Brian’s boat on the night she vanished in the Bahamas.
The US Coast Guard Investigative Service announced on Tuesdaythat they are seeking the public’s help in the investigation of Hooker’s mysterious disappearance near Aunt Pat’s Bay on the evening of April 4.
In particular, Coast Guard investigators are searching for the owner of a sailboat — pictured in photos released by the agency — that was moored near the couple’s 45-foot sailboat, the “SV Soulmate.”
Investigators have been searching for clues beyond the route where Brian Hooker, 59, told authorities Lynette, 55, tumbled off an 8‑foot dinghy while traveling back to the sailboat in rough waters near Elbow Cay, CBS News reported.
Hooker said his wife of 25 years fell overboard with the dinghy’s keys on her. He claimed he then lost sight of her and decided to paddle back to shore.
Officials are now seeking potential witnesses who were near the couple’s scruffy boat before or around the time the mom was reported missing and are actively conducting interviews in the probe, the outlet reported.
The Post previously got an exclusive look at the Soulmate as it was anchored in a cove off Marsh Harbour on Great Abaco Island.
The vessel was carrying two paddle boards, a grill, and workout equipment, along with a sail with an image of Cookie Monster. It was also decked out with a tattered American flag, a Buddha statue, conch shells, an aloe plant, and everyday sailing items.
Brian was detained by Bahamian authorities in connection with his wife’s disappearance and later releasedafter investigators failed to file charges against him.
He left the Bahamas, reportedly to deal with another family emergency, one day after he vowed that his “sole focus” was finding his wife.
Blaine Stevenson, a friend of the couple, told CBS News that he sent a message to Brian, asking him to be forthcoming with authorities about the fateful night of his wife’s disappearance.
“They [Lynette Hooker’s family] trusted you with their loved one, and you didn’t live up to it,” Stevenson told the outlet, referring to his message. “So, now’s the time for you to live up to that, and take care of them, and give them the answers they’re looking for.”
Brian has been accused of being abusive toward Lynette by her loved ones, who suspect he played a role in her disappearance.
Lynette’s mother revealed that her daughter considered leaving Brian multiple times, and painted him as a “mean” and “hateful” drunk.
Lynette’s daughter from a previous marriage also claimed that her stepdad had a violent history, including choking out Lynette and eerily threatening to throw her overboard.
Brian was also charged with fourth-degree child abuse in 2005 when he allegedly choked his daughter, whom he shared with an ex-partner, during a disagreement over her Christian beliefs.
In 2015, Brian accused Lynette of bashing him in the face, while Lynette claimed he choked her out and punched her in the forehead in a drunken rage.
Brian has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, asserting in an interview with NBC News that he “would never harm” his wife.
The Coast Guard is asking anyone who knows the identity of the pictured sailboat’s owner or occupants, or has information related to Lynette’s disappearance, to submit tips through the CGIS Tips app.
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