US Coast Guard Seizes Dinghy in Lynette Hooker Disappearance Case

The U.S. Coast Guard has seized the dinghy involved in the disappearance of Lynette Hooker in the Bahamas. Her daughter, Karli Aylesworth, is relieved that new areas are being searched for clues. Criminal defense attorney Donna Rotunno expressed concern over the delay in seizing the dinghy, suggesting potential compromise of evidence.

Months after Lynette Hooker vanished in the Bahamas, her mother challenges husband Brian Hooker’s account of the night she disappeared. Lynette Hooker, from Michigan, was reported missing on April 4 while vacationing with her husband near Elbow Cay in the Abaco Islands.

Brian Hooker claims that Lynette fell from a dinghy at night and was carried away by the current en route to their sailboat, ‘Soulmate’. Her body has not been found.

Lynette’s mother, Darlene Hamlett, believes her daughter made it back to ‘Soulmate’ before vanishing and suspects foul play. She said she has been advised by the Coast Guard to limit public discussion.

“She made it back to the boat, and there was foul play,” Hamlett told Fox News Digital.

Brian Hooker possessed a $33,000 thermal camera on the boat that night but reportedly did not use it. The dinghy used on that night was retrieved by the Coast Guard for forensic examination.

The Coast Guard Investigative Service refused to comment on Hamlett’s allegations, citing an ongoing investigation.

U.S. Coast Guard investigators visited the Bahamas last month, conducting dive and land searches with the help of a cadaver dog to locate Lynette. The retrieved dinghy is expected to undergo further examination for evidence.

Brian Hooker said Lynette fell during a nighttime ride and he lost her during unpredictable seas and high winds. He stated in a Facebook post:

“I am heartbroken over the recent boat accident… Despite desperate attempts to reach her, the winds and currents drove us further apart. We continue to search for her, and that is my sole focus.”

Bahamian authorities questioned and released Brian Hooker, who has since returned to the United States without public statements. He has not been charged or accused of any wrongdoing.