The daughter of a woman who has been missing at sea for over two weeks has retraced her mother’s last steps.
Lynette Hooker has been missing since April 4. Her husband, Brian Hooker, told authorities that his wife fell from their dinghy as they sailed in the Bahamas, from Hope Town to Elbow Cay. He said strong currents carried her away and that his wife had the boat’s keys, causing its engine to shut off and forcing him to paddle ashore.
Lynette and Brian Hooker, who are from Michigan and have been married for more than 20 years, chronicled their adventures sailing around the Caribbean on social media under the name the Sailing Hookers.
Speaking to NewsNation‘s Jesse Weber Live on Thursday, Karli Aylesworth said she had recently visited the site where her mother disappeared and found the experience “almost eerie.”
The Timeline
Bahamian authorities opened an investigation into Hooker’s disappearance and initiated a search on April 5, one day after she was reported missing. The U.S. Coast Guard opened its own separate investigation into the matter on April 9.
Brian Hooker was released from police custody without charge on April 13 after being held and questioned for several days from April 8 in connection with his wife’s disappearance. His attorney Terrel Butler previously said in a statement that he “categorically and unequivocally denies any wrongdoing” and was cooperating with authorities.
Brian Hooker told NBC on April 14: “I don’t think I’ve ever been apart from her in 25 years for this long.” He left the Bahamas to visit his ailing mother but planned to return, his attorney told the outlet on Wednesday.Â
What To Know
Aylesworth said visiting the boat “hit me really hard.”
“It felt almost eerie,” she said. She added that she “did not find anything suspicious”.
She added that she retrieved some of her mother’s items including a necklace when she visited the boat. She wore the necklace during the interview.
It comes after Aylesworth previously told NBC’s Dateline that she was concerned her stepfather was “going to get away with this.” Brian Hooker has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, and has not been charged with any crime.
“She was a great person, and she didn’t deserve this,” she added, speaking about her mother.
In another interview with NBC News last week, she said it was unlikely her mother, an experienced sailor, would “just fall” off the boat.
She also said the couple’s relationship was volatile, with a “history of not getting along, especially when they drink.”
What Happens Next
Search operations and an investigation are ongoing.