NEED TO KNOW
The U.S. Coast Guard seized the dinghy that Lynette Hooker and her husband Brian Hooker were allegedly riding on at the time of her disappearance
The dinghy was seized on Thursday, June 4
Lynette Hooker “reportedly fell overboard” with the boat keys, then Brian paddled the dinghy back to shore to tell authorities what had happened early the next morning, police have said Brian told them
The U.S. Coast Guard has seized the dinghy that Lynette Hooker’s husband Brian Hooker once claimed she “bounced off” of at the time of her disappearance.
The Coast Guard seized the dinghy on Thursday, June 4, CBS News reports. Investigators were seen aboard the small 8-foot vessel, with cadaver dogs nearby as the Coast Guard scoped out the area, according to the outlet.
“She has to be somewhere, so all the help that we could get, it’s greatly appreciated,” Lynette’s daughter Karli Aylesworth told ABC News amid the dinghy being seized. “I’m happy they were able to get Brian’s location and discover new areas to look… I know they’re working very hard.”
A spokesperson for the Coast Guard declined to comment to PEOPLE, citing the ongoing investigation.
On May 5, the Coast Guard launched a search for the owner of a nearby sailboat in connection with Lynette’s disappearance. In a post shared on X, the Coast Guard released two images of a sailboat, located near where Lynette, 55, went missing.
“[We] are asking the public for info about the disappearance of Lynette Hooker [within] Aunt Pat’s Bay, BAH, 4/4,” wrote the Coast Guard, “CGIS is looking for the owner of the sailboat below, moored near the SV Soulmate.”
Lynette’s husband Brian, 58, was released without charges following his arrest in connection with her disappearance in the Bahamas, PEOPLE confirmed in April.
“The decision to release the individual was made following consultation with the Department of Public Prosecutions, which recommended that no charges be filed at this time pending the outcome of further investigations,” the Royal Bahamas Police wrote in a press release on April 13.
The investigation remains ongoing, and Brian remains a person of interest, PEOPLE also confirmed in April.
“It’s unfortunate they had to exhaust the entire investigative period to come to the conclusion,” Brian’s attorney told reporters shortly before his release, as seen in footage Fox True Crime published on X.
Lynette Hooker and Brian Hooker.
Credit: Facebook
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Brian was taken into custody in the Bahamas on April 8, after his wife, Lynette Hooker, 55, vanished during a dinghy trip that began on the night of April 4, from Hope Town to Elbow Cay. He was in custody for days and questioned several times before police ultimately decided to release him without filing charges.
Lynette “reportedly fell overboard” with the boat keys, then Brian paddled the dinghy back to shore to tell authorities what had happened early the next morning, police have said Brian told them.
“Strong currents … carried [Lynette] away, and [Brian] lost sight of her,” police said.
After his arrest, Brian’s attorney Terrel A. Butler told PEOPLE that “Mr. Hooker categorically and unequivocally denies any wrongdoing” and is cooperating with authorities.
Read the original article on People
