Lynette Hooker missing in Bahamas: Timeline of Michigan woman’s disappearance, husband’s arrest

HOPE TOWN, Bahamas — Bahamian constabulary are searching for missing American Lynette Hooker 5 days aft her hubby says she fell retired of a dinghy and was swept distant by a beardown existent adjacent Elbow Cay in the Caribbean country.

Her husband, Brian Hooker, has been arrested successful transportation with her disappearance, according to the lawyer representing him.

Here's everything we cognize astir the disappearance.

HUSBAND ARRESTED IN CONNECTION WITH DISAPPEARANCE OF AMERICAN WOMAN IN THE BAHAMAS

Brian and Lynette Hooker beryllium connected a dinghy successful the h2o successful this undated image. (Brian Hooker/Facebook)

Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023

Lynette, 55, and Brian, 58, documented their acquisition buying and cleaning up their vessel successful Rockport, Texas, successful a video posted connected YouTube connected Jan. 10, 2023 connected their relationship called "The Sailing Hookers."

She said the mates had spent years looking for a sailboat to bargain earlier uncovering a Morgan 461 sailboat successful Texas, a 1980 charter vessel from the Virgin Islands.

She said it was "a small unsmooth connected the edges."

"But we knew we were up for the task," she added successful the video, which showed photos and footage of the mates repairing the boat.

Lynette and Brian Hooker posted a video successful January 2023 aft they bought and repaired a vessel successful Rockport, Texas. (The Sailing Hookers/YouTube)

March 17, 2023

The Hookers posted a video connected their YouTube transmission showing them sailing from the Industrial Canal Lock and navigating the Mississippi River toward Lake Pontchartrain adjacent New Orleans.

Lynette and Brian Hooker permission the Industrial Canal Lock on the Mississippi River heading for Lake Pontchartrain successful New Orleans successful March 2023. (The Sailing Hookers/YouTube)

March 26, 2023

Lynette and Brian shared a video of their archetypal effort astatine crossing the Gulf of America. Gale unit winds forced them to halt successful Morgan City, Louisiana.

Lynette and Brian shared a video of their archetypal effort astatine crossing the Gulf of America successful March 2023. (The Sailing Hookers/YouTube)

April 24, 2023

The mates posted a video of Walmart supplies being delivered to them portion they were successful New Orleans.

The mates posted a video of Walmart supplies being delivered to them portion they were successful New Orleans successful April 2023. (The Sailing Hookers/YouTube)

Aug. 13, 2025

The adjacent video connected the Hookers' YouTube transmission was much than 2 years later, erstwhile they said they were successful Fernandina Beach, Florida.

Lynette and Brian Hooker sailed connected "The Flying Dutchman" successful Fernandina Beach, Florida, successful August 2025. (The Sailing Hookers/YouTube)

Sept. 29, 2025

The mates posted a 13-second video from a span implicit a creek successful Coloma, California. 

Lynette and Brian Hooker stock a video from Coloma, California, successful September 2025. (The Sailing Hookers/YouTube)

March 9, 2026

Lynette and Brian shared a video of them paddleboarding successful Marsh Harbour successful the Bahamas.

Lynette and Brian Hooker paddleboard successful Marsh Harbour successful the Bahamas successful March 2026. (The Sailing Hookers/YouTube)

Saturday, April 4, 2026, 7:30 p.m.

Local authorities accidental the mates near Hope Town's Abaco Inn connected a dinghy headed towards their anchored yacht. According to Brian, Lynette fell overboard from the tiny vessel and into the water. He said Lynette had the ignition cardinal to the dinghy erstwhile she fell, causing it to unopen off, and that contempt attempts to prevention her, she was swept away.

Brian past paddled to the enactment successful Marsh Harbour.

Lynette Hooker and Brian Hooker seen successful a representation taken successful 2023 connected a tiny boat. (John Waters)

Sunday, April 5, 2026, 4 a.m.

Brian reported Lynette missing.

Sunday, April 5, 2026, 5:51 p.m.

The Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) announced that probe into Lynette's autumn was underway.

That U.S. Coast Guard concisely participated successful the hunt connected Sunday.

HUSBAND TAKEN INTO CUSTODY IN CONNECTION WITH MISSING AMERICAN WOMAN LAST SEEN IN BAHAMAS

"The Royal Bahamas Defense Force (RBDF) is the pb bureau for this search," the bureau told Fox News Digital. "On Sunday, the U.S. Coast Guard provided enactment for astir 1 hr utilizing an HC-144 aircraft, but the hunt yielded nary results. Since then, the RBDF has not requested further assistance from the U.S. Coast Guard."

WATCH: Lynette Hooker, hubby papers boating life

Tuesday, April 7, 2026, morning

Lynette Hooker's daughter, Karli Aylesworth, called for a thorough probe successful a connection to Fox News Digital. Aylesworth is not Brian's biologic daughter.

"There person been anterior issues brought to my attention, which whitethorn beryllium important for immoderate thorough investigation. If this genuinely was an accident, I tin recognize and unrecorded with it," Aylesworth said. "However, determination needs to beryllium an intensive reappraisal of the facts and circumstances of this tragic incidental earlier that tin beryllium determined."

She said she has been "privy to precise small information," adding her "sole interest is to find retired what happened to my parent and marque definite a afloat and implicit probe is performed into her disappearance."

A 55-year-old American woman, identified arsenic Lynette Hooker, disappears aft going overboard during a vessel travel successful the Bahamas, according to section officials. ((Brian Hooker/Facebook))

Tuesday, April 7, 2026, afternoon

Richard Cook, a squad person of Hope Town Volunteer Fire and Rescue, told PEOPLE that officials "don't fishy foul play astatine the moment."

"It was conscionable a batch of atrocious decisions," helium added. "Night time, precise windy, nary satellite retired yet truthful it was transportation acheronian and precise unsmooth conditions for the tiny vessel they were in."

He besides told the mag that hunt efforts person transitioned to a betterment effort.

WATCH: Lynette and Brian Hooker stock scenes from boating life

Tuesday, April 7, 2026, 7:12 p.m.

RBDF releases a 2nd connection informing the nationalist that "search operations and investigative efforts stay active."

The instrumentality enforcement entity said that it, on with the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, Local Fire & Rescue Teams, and the Bahamas Air Sea Rescue Association are investigating.

The U.S. State Department besides confirmed to Fox News Digital that it is moving with the Bahamian government.

HUSBAND OF AMERICAN WOMAN MISSING IN THE BAHAMAS SPEAKS OUT FOR FIRST TIME, SAYS HE IS 'HEARTBROKEN'

A 55-year-old American woman, identified arsenic Lynette Hooker, disappears aft going overboard during a vessel travel successful the Bahamas, according to section officials. (Brian Hooker/Facebook)

Wednesday, April 8, 2026, 6:42 a.m.

Aylesworth joined Griff Jenkins connected "Fox & Friends" and said that she has seen Brian go physically convulsive towards 1 of his ain children.

"I've seen him choke retired 1 of his daughters before. And we had to spell to tribunal for that," Aylesworth said. "So he's conscionable repeating patterns."

She described her parent arsenic a "very acceptable person" who wouldn't suffer her equilibrium connected a boat.

"I'm confused wherefore she has the keys due to the fact that she ne'er drove the dinghy. It was ever Brian. So the communicative conscionable doesn't adhd up close now," Aylesworth said.

Aylesworth besides said that Brian Hooker near a voicemail connection telling her authorities recovered Lynette's flotation device.

"Hello, honey, it's Dad. I conscionable got a telephone from Hope Town Search and Rescue, and they recovered the flotation instrumentality that I threw to Mom erstwhile she fell overboard," Brian Hooker said successful the voicemail, according to CBS News.

AMERICAN COUPLE CHASING RETIREMENT DREAM IN BAHAMAS BOATING MYSTERY WERE 'INEXPERIENCED': FRIEND

General presumption of Marsh Harbour Boatyards, The Bahamas, Tuesday, April 7, 2026. Brian Hooker, 58, reportedly paddled his vessel backmost to the boatyards connected Sunday greeting aft losing his wife, Lynette Hooker, astatine sea. (AJ Skuy for Fox News Digital)

Wednesday, April 8, 2026, 10:04 a.m.

10:04 a.m.: Brian spoke retired for the archetypal clip since the incident.

"I americium heartbroken implicit the caller vessel mishap successful unpredictable seas and precocious winds that caused my beloved Lynette to autumn from our tiny dinghy adjacent Elbow Cay successful the Bahamas. Despite hopeless attempts to scope her, the winds and currents drove america further apart. We proceed to hunt for her and that is my sole focus," Brian Hooker said successful a Facebook post.

"Our household is profoundly grateful for the Bahamian people's assistance, particularly that of the Hopetown Volunteer Fire & Rescue team, Royal Bahamas constabulary force, Royal Bahamas Defense Force, and the U.S. Coast Guard, who person worked tirelessly successful an ongoing effort to bring Lynette backmost to us. Thank you to everyone for keeping Lynette successful your thoughts and for your enactment of our household during this hard time," helium added.

WATCH: Private researcher TJ Ward reacts to Brian Hooker's arrest

Wednesday, April 8, 2026, 6:30 p.m.

A vas operated by the Royal Bahamas Police Force approached Brian's yacht, which was positioned betwixt 2 landmasses, to inspect it.

Two officers appeared to unafraid an item, perchance a rope, to the broadside of the boat, according to crushed root AJ Skuy. One serviceman was besides seen looking done a model earlier the unit departed the vas minutes later.

No further enactment was observed astir the yacht.

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An American pistillate went missing successful the Bahamas connected Saturday aft falling overboard during a vessel travel and being swept distant by beardown currents, constabulary said. (Brian Hooker/Facebook)

Wednesday, April 8, 2026, 7:34 p.m.

The U.S. Coast Guard launched an probe into Lynette's case, arsenic confirmed by Fox News Digital.

WATCH: Donna Rotunno breaks down Brian Hooker's arrest

Wednesday, April 8, ,2026, 8:33 p.m.

The RBPF announced connected Facebook that a 59-year aged antheral had been arrested successful Marsh Harbour successful transportation with the incident. The constabulary unit did not sanction the suspect, but said helium was being questioned.

Thursday, April 9, 2026, 3 a.m.

Attorney Terrel Butler confirmed to Fox News Digital that Brian Hooker was taken into custody connected Wednesday successful transportation with the disappearance of his wife. He has not been charged with immoderate crime.

Butler said Brian has been cooperating with applicable authorities and "categorically and unequivocally denies immoderate wrongdoing" successful Lynette's disappearance, specifically allegations of his imaginable engagement made by her daughter, Aylesworth.

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General presumption of the authorities gathering lodging the Marsh Harbour Police Station successful Marsh Harbour, The Bahamas, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (AJ Skuy for Fox News Digital)

Thursday, April 9, 2026, morning

Lynette's parent said she wants to perceive what her son-in-law has to accidental aft his apprehension successful transportation with her daughter’s disappearance successful the Bahamas, according to The Associated Press.

Darlene Hamlett told the AP she would "be funny successful what helium says," adding that she had not heard from him successful astir 2 days.

"I’m going to beryllium funny successful what helium says, due to the fact that I haven’t heard from him successful astir 2 days," Hamlett said.

Hamlett, who was driving location from the Bahamian Consulate successful Miami aft securing a passport to question to the islands, besides told the AP that her girl was experienced connected the water, having grown up astir lakes, boats, sailing and swimming.

"Our household grew up connected h2o and truthful Lynette her full beingness has been adjacent lakes, connected boats, sailing and swimming," Hamlett said. "It would beryllium a occurrence if (she’s rescued), but I’m inactive counting connected one."

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Lynette Hooker, 56, goes missing aft falling overboard during a vessel travel adjacent Elbow Cay successful the Bahamas connected Saturday evening, constabulary say. (Brian Hooker/Facebook)

Aylesworth said that her stepfather’s apprehension appears to beryllium bringing the lawsuit "the attraction it deserves" arsenic investigators enactment to find what happened successful the Bahamas.

She was interviewed for astir 2 hours Wednesday by the U.S. Coast Guard’s Detroit sector, her attorney, Ron Marienfeld, confirmed to CNN.

In a connection aft Brian's arrest, Marienfeld told Fox News Digital that the family’s extremity had been to get answers aft they were "not proceeding thing successful the beginning."

"After learning of the apprehension past night, it appears this substance is getting the attraction it deserves," Marienfeld said.

He said Aylesworth’s efforts, on with those of Lynette's mother, helped intensify scrutiny connected the lawsuit by drafting media attention. Marienfeld added that the household felt amended erstwhile it learned the U.S. Coast Guard was progressive successful the investigation.

"The events arsenic initially reported conscionable did not look to adhd up," helium said.

Marienfeld called the lawsuit "nothing abbreviated of a tragedy" and said the household is present waiting to spot wherever the grounds leads. He besides thanked the Royal Bahamas Police Force, the Coast Guard, the media and others who person worked connected the case.

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The yacht, Soulmate, moored successful Marsh Harbour, The Bahamas, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. Police and rescue services successful the Bahamas are investigating aft Lynette Hooker, 55, of Onsted, Michigan, reportedly fell overboard implicit the play portion her husband, Brian Hooker, 58, paddled backmost to shore. (AJ Skuy for Fox News Digital)

Aylesworth told the TODAY Show that Brian gave her the aforesaid relationship helium aboriginal shared with authorities during a little telephone telephone Sunday, aft Lynette vanished during a dinghy thrust from Hope Town to Elbow Cay, according to section authorities.

She said her stepfather sounded "monotone and relaxed" erstwhile helium told her what allegedly happened the nighttime her parent disappeared successful the Bahamas.

General presumption of Marsh Harbour Boatyards, The Bahamas, Tuesday, April 7, 2026. Brian Hooker, 58, reportedly paddled his vessel backmost to the boatyards connected Sunday greeting aft losing his wife, Lynette Hooker, astatine sea. (AJ Skuy for Fox News Digital)

Aylesworth said she was "in shock" by some the quality and his tone.

"I was successful shock," she said. "I was like, my mom’s missing? Like, what?"

Since the incident, Fox News Digital has spoken with 2 radical who said the Hookers retired and began traveling successful their vessel afloat time.

John Waters, who is friends with the couple, told Fox News Digital helium met Lynette astatine an oyster barroom successful Panama City Beach, Florida successful 2023. He said the mates was connected a travel astir the Gulf of America.

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Lynette Hooker, 56, goes missing aft falling overboard during a vessel travel adjacent Elbow Cay successful the Bahamas connected Saturday evening, constabulary say. (Brian Hooker/Facebook)

"Their caller manner was this vessel that they picked up successful Texas. They spent a twelvemonth moving connected it," Waters said.

One of Lynette's erstwhile neighbors successful Kentwood, Michigan, told Fox News Digital the same, and described Lynette arsenic "just truthful freaking nice."

"She was conscionable a sweetheart, she was ever the nicest lady," the erstwhile neighbour told Fox News Digital. "She was — I don’t privation to accidental she was similar a hippie — but she benignant of gave disconnected this escaped tone vibe, this ‘let’s spell with the flow’ vibe."

He described Lynette arsenic outgoing, and said she would question whenever she saw him. He besides socialized with Lynette and Brian, recalling memories of drinking intoxicant with them by the excavation erstwhile the upwind was nice. He told Fox News Digital that she gave him motherly advice, adding that she spoke simply but that her words had a large impact, similar erstwhile she gave him proposal astir choosing the close spouse earlier helium got engaged.

An American pistillate went missing successful the Bahamas connected Saturday aft falling overboard during a vessel travel and being swept distant by beardown currents, section constabulary said. (Fox News)

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Members of The Royal Bahamas Police Force inspect the yacht, Soulmate, moored adjacent enactment successful Marsh Harbour, The Bahamas, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. A transgression probe has been launched aft Lynette Hooker reportedly fell overboard portion connected an evening vessel travel with her husband, Brian Hooker, implicit the weekend. (AJ Skuy for Fox News Digital)

Property records bespeak that Brian and Lynette sold their location successful the municipality of Kentwood, Michigan successful 2020. Fox News Digital was not capable to verify immoderate further spot records related to the Hookers.

The U.S. State Department has issued a level 2 question advisory for the Bahamas. Americans are urged to "exercise accrued caution" owed to crime, formation safety, arsenic good arsenic pitchy skis and boating dangers.

Fox News Digital has reached retired to Brian aggregate times for comment, but has not heard back.

Fox News Digital's Sarah Rumpf-Whitten contributed to this report.