Lynette Hooker energetically moved about the deck of the docked sailboat, Soul Mate, flashing a smile at the camera as she announced, “We’re finally departing Kemah,” a reference to a port town in Texas.
“It’s only been four months,” she remarked while her husband, Brian, worked on the rigging in preparation for their journey.
The 2023 Gulf Crossing video signified the beginning of a sailing journey documented on Facebook for the couple, who have since become involved in a criminal investigation following Lynette’s mysterious disappearance in the Bahamas.
Shortly after Lynette went missing, authorities in the Bahamas apprehended Brian Hooker.
Brian maintains his innocence regarding his wife’s disappearance and is reportedly cooperating with the police, according to his lawyer, Terrel Butler.
Butler stated that Brian Hooker would remain in custody until at least Monday evening as investigators continue to probe the circumstances of the case. According to Brian, his wife of over 20 years fell overboard from a small motorboat while they were traveling between Hope Town and Elbow Cay, two small islands in the eastern Bahamas.
He claimed that Lynette, aged 55, had the keys to the boat’s engine, which subsequently shut off.
“Strong currents then carried her away, and he lost sight of her,” police reported on Saturday.
Brian managed to paddle to shore and informed others early on Sunday, prompting authorities to arrest and question him on Wednesday.
The U.S. Coast Guard has initiated a separate investigation, apart from the one being conducted by Bahamian authorities.
Karli Aylesworth, Lynette’s daughter, expressed skepticism about the likelihood of her mother simply falling from the boat.
Despite the couple’s jovial appearances in social media videos, their relationship has been marked by conflict in the past.
According to a police report from Kentwood, Michigan, obtained by NBC News, Brian and Lynette accused each other of assault in 2015. Brian, who was intoxicated and had injuries, informed law enforcement that Lynette had hit him multiple times. He also stated that she was under the influence of alcohol. Lynette was arrested for assault but was not charged due to uncertainty over who initiated the altercation.
Aylesworth further revealed that her parents had a tumultuous relationship, especially when alcohol was involved.
The couple resided in Onsted, approximately 72 miles southwest of Detroit, with the nearest significant body of water, Lake Erie, situated about 60 miles southeast of their home.
Lynette’s mother, Darlene Hamlett, stated on Wednesday that the family has always been connected to water activities, and her daughter’s life was filled with experiences on lakes, boats, sailing, and swimming.
The couple shared videos of their sailing adventures throughout the Caribbean on their Facebook page, Sailing Hookers.
In the Gulf Crossing video from March 2023, Lynette described their voyage as the sailboat navigated through the fog of Kemah, Texas, and into the Gulf of Mexico.
“Pretty cool,” Lynette commented as Brian sounded the foghorn. Later, while he was replacing an engine alternator belt, he looked at Lynette and affectionately said, “Hi, sexy.”
In a prior video, the couple discussed how they acquired the Soul Mate in Rockport, Texas, and restored it.
“After years of searching for our ideal sailboat, we finally found her in Texas,” Lynette stated in a January 2023 video, which lasted eight minutes. “She needed some work, but we were ready for the challenge.”
The video depicted them collaborating on tasks like scraping, priming, and painting the boat. An on-screen message read, “The decks are done! We’re still married! Party time!”
A video from 2024 showcased them using their smaller motorboat to procure groceries on land, although it did not reveal their location.
“We got the grub,” Brian said to the camera, which then focused on a case of beer at his feet and bags of groceries in the front of the boat. “Delivery … the way of life, man.”
