US Coast Guard divers search Bahamas for Lynette Hooker two months after disappearance: Reports

BAHAMAS: US Coast Guard divers have returned to the Bahamas to search for Lynette Hooker, an American woman who vanished two months ago while sailing with her husband, Brian Hooker.

The case has taken a darker turn as authorities investigate conflicting information, with one official noting that the search remains focused on finding "any sort of digital devices that you can take, any computer systems that you can extract, anything of that sort."

GPS data fuels Lynette Hooker investigation

The search efforts stem from an incident in early April when the couple attempted to return to their sailboat, the 'Soulmate,' by traveling on a dinghy between Hope Town and Elbow Cay.

Brian Hooker told investigators that his wife of 25 years fell overboard during the trip. According to local police, “Strong currents subsequently carried her away, and he lost sight of her.”

While Brian has denied any wrongdoing and has not been charged with a crime, the investigation has intensified in recent weeks.

Reports from ABC News and CBS News indicate that the Coast Guard began combing the Sea of Abaco on Wednesday, June 3, after GPS data recovered from Brian’s electronic devices reportedly did not match the account he initially gave local police.

Notably, Bahamian authorities last week granted permission to the US Coast Guard to search waters near the Sea of Abaco in connection with Lynette's disappearance.

Meanwhile, a cadaver dog and a K-9 team from Florida's Broward County have also been spotted at the search site.

Authorities are also expanding their search by examining the couple’s sailboat, which is currently docked in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

The move is considered crucial to gathering forensic evidence and digital records that could help clarify what happened that night.

Although Brian was questioned by police for several hours shortly after the disappearance about his relationship with his wife, he was released soon afterward.

At the time, his attorney, Terrel Butler, maintained that Brian’s “primary focus remains the search for his wife of 25 years,” and that he was “dedicating his full emotional and physical energy toward coordinating with relevant parties to find her.”

Lynette and Brian Hooker's troubled relationship history

The couple was well known online for documenting their life at sea under the name 'Sailing Hookers,' but their private life appears to have been far more turbulent.

Lynette’s daughter, Karli Aylesworth, told reporters that her mother and Brian had a “history of not getting along, especially when they drink.”

This domestic instability is supported by records showing that the couple accused each other of assault in 2015, and they reportedly separated temporarily in 2024.

As dive teams continue their work in the Bahamas, investigators are working to reconcile the couple's troubled history and the newly recovered digital evidence with Brian’s original account.

The search continues as authorities seek to determine the circumstances surrounding Lynette Hooker’s disappearance.