A recent phone call involving Brian Hooker, recorded shortly after the disappearance of his wife Lynette Hooker, suggests he might have been in the water with her. This account may contradict his earlier statements. Brian Hooker had reported that his wife fell off their dinghy due to rough waters after leaving Hope Town in the Bahamas around 7:30 p.m. on April 4. He said he paddled to shore and reached Marsh Harbour by 4 a.m. the next day.

The couple was heading back to their sailboat, Soulmate, which they lived on full-time during retirement. They were known to sail around the U.S. and Caribbean frequently. Brian Hooker was seen leaving the Central Police Station in Freeport on April 13, 2026, after being released from custody following questioning about his wife’s disappearance.

I mean she’s a regular swimmer, not like an athlete or anything, but she’s determined, Brian Hooker said during a phone conversation, recalling the incident. He mentioned that he had taken multiple waves over the dinghy and had to bail out water several times. His narrative included him being inside the dinghy while also indicating he was in the water at some point.

The Coast Guard Investigative Service searched for clues about Lynette Hooker’s disappearance. On the same call, Brian mentioned struggling with three-foot waves, losing an oar, and having to anchor the dinghy. Despite shouting for Lynette and throwing her a flotation cushion, he couldn’t see her anymore.

Kenneth Engerrand, a maritime law adjunct professor and lawyer, expressed skepticism about Brian’s shifting story. He noted inconsistencies and described the situation as increasingly suspicious. The Coast Guard, finding discrepancies in the GPS data from Brian Hooker’s phone, led to a renewed search in the Sea of Abaco, investigating deeper waters.

Officials are treating the disappearance as a homicide. Brian Hooker’s attorney, Crystal Marie Hauser, urged the public to reserve judgment, emphasizing the differences in how people handle distressing situations. She appealed for the same consideration one would desire for themselves.