'I can't comprehend': Brian Hooker’s stepmom speaks out as he is held in Bahamas over missing wife

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS: Brian Hooker’s stepmother is speaking out in disbelief as he remains behind bars in the Bahamas. 

Donna Hooker says she is heartbroken and “can’t comprehend it” because she does not understand how her stepson ended up in custody after his wife, Lynette Hooker, disappeared from a boat last weekend.

Donna Hooker speaks out on stepson Brian Hooker and Lynette's marriage

Donna Hooker is struggling to understand the news because of how long she has known Brian Hooker. “I can't, I can't comprehend it because of knowing him like I do, I don't understand,” she said.

She last saw Brian in 2021 after his father, George Hooker, had a stroke. At the time, things seemed fine between the men, but Brian revealed his marriage to Lynette was failing.

“Everything seemed to be really good... with Brian and George and I asked Brian, 'Where's Lynette?' And he said, 'Well, we're not getting along. We're separated, and I don't know when we're going to get back together if we get back together,'” Donna recalled. 

She noted that Brian and George later became estranged before George died in October. "When he was here, it was so nice. George was just elated that Brian was here," she added.

However, the silence that followed was difficult for her. “It was upsetting for me, because then I had to see George with this stroke, and he's had two others since then, and I've had no communication.”

Brian was arrested by the Royal Bahamas Police Force on Wednesday, April 8, in connection with the disappearance of Lynette. 

Donna Hooker urges Brian to 'tell the truth'

While Donna knew about the issues involving both Brian and Lynette, she said she never saw a violent side of her stepson. 

Still, she felt the couple was not a good match as time went on. “I don't think Lynette and Brian should have been together, from what I at first, fine. Everything was fine. He loved her. They were fine. They did this and that together, but I don't know. It just seemed like it got bad," she explained.

Donna still has many questions about what happened on the boat. She expressed deep sympathy for Lynette’s family and hoped for a clear answer soon.

“Lynette should never be in that water, and I feel for her daughter, and I can't even imagine it. I can't even imagine it," Donna said.

"So, I'm very sorry for it, and I just hope and pray actually, that some. Good will come out of it, and if he did what they think he did by pushing her out of the boat, he needs to tell the truth.” 

Lynette's daughter, Karli Aylesworth, has raised questions about Brian’s account. 

Brian told authorities Lynette fell from their 8-foot dinghy near Elbow Cay on April 4 while they were navigating rough waters in the Abaco Islands.