Brian and Lynette Hooker investigation 'thriller' stumps native boat captain

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GREAT ABACO ISLAND, Bahamas — As extra particulars emerge about Brian Hooker's ultimate moments along with his spouse earlier than she disappeared into the ocean, Fox Information Digital recreated the route Brian and his spouse Lynette took moments earlier than catastrophe struck.

Mo Monestime, who has spent 15 years chartering boats within the Nice Abaco Island space, guided the tour by the tropical Bahamian waters. He first exited a small harbor throughout from the Abaco Inn, the place the Hookers had drinks earlier than making an attempt to return to their boat.

The route requires a flip southwest after clearing the harbor, and adopted by a brief experience between the western shoreline of Elbow Cay and the japanese shoreline of Lubbers Quarters. That was the route the Hookers tried to take at round 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 4.

A map of key places in as Bahamian police examine Brian Hooker and his spouse Lynette's disappearance. Created on April 12, 2026. (Fox Information)

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In line with digital maps reportedly drawn by Brian and despatched to his mates, the Hookers' return journey ended abruptly close to the southwestern flip, about midway by the experience to their anchored yacht, which sat in a well-liked channel utilized by vacationers and locals alike.

The water surrounding the cays is evident sufficient to see to the underside and generally as shallow as solely 4 toes, Monestime stated. At excessive tide, he estimated the water rises to about 10 toes.

The small channel between the 2 cays is rife with exercise, as boaters motor by, anchor, and maneuver their dinghies out and in of shallow waters. Close by is Tahiti Seashore, together with a big sandbar that incorporates a floating bar when climate circumstances permit.

Yachts anchored close to Aunt Pat's Bay close to Elbow Cay off Nice Abaco Island in The Bahamas on April 12, 2026. Brian and Lynette Hooker's boat was anchored on this space earlier than Lynette disappeared on April 5, 2026. (Peter D'Abrosca/Fox Information Digital)

The experience from the harbor to the favored anchoring spot took solely about 4 minutes.

However wind gusts could have created uneven waters earlier than Brian stated his spouse fell overboard, separating the pair.

In a recording of a telephone name Brian made to a good friend on April 7 obtained by CBS , Brian gave essentially the most detailed account but about what he says is an accident that led to Lynette's disappearance.

"She principally simply bounced off the dinghy in the course of just a little blow, like 20-something knot winds that popped up," he stated on the decision, including that he and his spouse weren't sporting life jackets.

Yachts anchored close to Aunt Pat's Bay close to Elbow Cay off Nice Abaco Island in The Bahamas on April 12, 2026. Brian and Lynette Hooker's boat was anchored on this space earlier than Lynette disappeared on April 5, 2026. (Peter D'Abrosca/Fox Information Digital)

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"It was solar down, and the solar set like principally 10 minutes after she fell over," he stated. "The dinghy key went over with he as a result of it wasn't clipped to something or anyone, and he or she had the spare dinghy key in her dry bag, which was together with her."

Brian continued, saying the wind quickly blew the couple aside and that he thinks Lynette tried to swim again to the yacht, which he stated was about 1,000 yards or so from the place the incident occurred.

"I yelled to her that I misplaced an oar, after which I threw the anchor out, anchored the dinghy, and simply, yeah, I yelled. I could not see her anymore as a result of the moon had not risen but," he stated.

Brian Hooker, 58, is taken into custody in reference to spouse Lynette Hooker’s disappearance however has not been charged with against the law, his legal professional says. (@thesailinghookers/TikTok)

Later, he stated he threw a flotation cushion towards Lynette proper after she went into the water, however he could not inform whether or not she was in a position to seize it. He stated he yelled for her for about an hour.

"By the point I bought the anchor set, I used to be most likely 1 / 4 to a half a mile away from her, and I made a decision that I needed to go get assist," he stated, "however I couldn't get to the island, so I paddled."

"And it was a cascade of failures, and it is one thing I am by no means going to forgive myself for," he stated. "We stayed to lengthy, we left too darkish, all types of s---. No life jackets. I f---ing threw the dinghy out final— the anchor out final — as a substitute of first. Cannot actually clarify it, you understand?"

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Ultimately, Brian claims, he washed ashore about 4 miles northeast of the place the incident reportedly occurred, on a seashore coated with jagged rocks, adjoining to a ship restore and storage facility referred to as Marsh Harbor Boatyard. There, he was met by a safety guard who ultimately referred to as the police.

A small little bit of rocky seashore in Marsh Harbor, Bahamas the place Brian Hooker is alleged to have washed ashore early on April 5, 2026, after his spouse Lynette Hooker went lacking. Picture taken on April 11, 2026. (Peter D'Abrosca / Fox Information Digital)

Brian was arrested at round 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, 4 days after the incident.

He's presently being held in jail in Freeport, a separate Bahamian island , whereas police proceed to research Lynette's disappearance. Bahamian legislation permits a 48-hour preliminary maintain time earlier than submitting costs in opposition to a suspect, which might be prolonged underneath sure circumstances. The primary deadline for his launch was Friday night time, however his detention was prolonged by 72 hours. He's anticipated to be launched or charged with a crime by Monday night time.

Lynette's destiny stays unsure, however native authorities have introduced that their investigation has shifted to a restoration effort.

Butler stated Brian has been cooperating with authorities and "categorically and unequivocally denies any wrongdoing."

Lynette Hooker went lacking after she fell off a small boat on Saturday night. Her husband, Brian Hooker, reported her lacking early Sunday morning. (Brian Hooker and Lynette Hooker/Fb)

Brian has maintained all through the investigation that he's harmless of any felony wrongdoing, and issued an announcement on Wednesday mourning his spouse's disappearance.

"I'm heartbroken over the latest boat accident in unpredictable seas and excessive winds that precipitated my beloved Lynette to fall from our small dinghy close to Elbow Cay within the Bahamas. Regardless of determined makes an attempt to succeed in her, the winds and currents drove us additional aside. We proceed to seek for her and that's my sole focus," he stated on Fb.

"Not being discovered, that’s the thriller," Monestime instructed Fox Information Digital.

"It is vitally laborious to vanish, as a result of, once more, we’re so near land," Monestime instructed Fox Information Digital. "So in the event you do fall overboard [and] drown, any person will see you the following day. Once more, we are able to see backside, you understand? I’ll be driving the boat, I'll see stingrays, I'll see turtles, so I'd see a human physique. Anyone would see one thing. Anyone would say one thing, like, ‘Hey, we simply noticed one thing unusual within the water.'"

Mo Montestime, photographed on April 12, 2026, is a 15-year constitution boat captain within the Nice Abaco Island space. (Peter D'Abrosca/Fox Information Digital)

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Monestime stated drownings occur sometimes close to Elbow Cay, however then reiterated that victims are recovered shortly.

"Once more, you can see land all the best way, the entire time," he stated. "Even in the event you fall overboard in pitch darkish, you continue to might see the lights from the shore."