LAS VEGAS — A former federal prosecutor, Tad DiBiase, highlighted the significance of the sailboat's tracking data in the investigation of Lynette Hooker's disappearance. The couple, Brian and Lynette Hooker, left Hope Town in the Bahamas around 7:30 p.m. on April 4. According to Brian Hooker, rough waters caused Lynette to fall from their dinghy. He paddled to shore and reached Marsh Harbour around 4 a.m. on April 5.
The couple was returning to their sailboat, Soulmate, when the incident occurred. Data from marine tracking company VesselFinder indicates that the boat's Automatic Identification System (AIS) stopped transmitting at 9:29 p.m. on April 4 and resumed at 8:40 a.m. the following morning, marking an 11-hour blackout.
Blaine Stevenson, a friend of Brian Hooker, stated that Brian returned to the sailboat with search and rescue officials on April 5. The Coast Guard Investigative Service is currently conducting a criminal investigation into the case. DiBiase noted that determining why the tracking data went dark is crucial for investigators, suggesting that it may correlate with the time of Lynette's disappearance.
U.S. authorities have requested permission from the Bahamian government to search a new area in the Sea of Abaco for Lynette's remains, based on GPS data that reportedly contradicts Brian's account. A source indicated that the new search area has depths reaching 25 feet and is based on data from a marine navigation app used by Brian Hooker.
The Coast Guard seized the couple's sailboat in early May and moved it to Fort Lauderdale after initial attempts to remove it from the water were unsuccessful. Brian Hooker's attorney has urged the public to consider his client's perspective and to treat him with understanding during this difficult time.
