Federal investigators have reopened the search for Lynette Hooker, a Michigan woman who disappeared in the Bahamas, following new forensic data that suggests inconsistencies in her husband's account of the events from the night she went missing. The U.S. authorities are seeking permission from Bahamian officials to deploy a dive team to search new areas in the Sea of Abaco based on GPS data that reportedly contradicts her husband Brian Hooker’s statements.
The GPS data, obtained from an electronic device belonging to Brian Hooker, indicates locations that have not yet been searched. Investigators are also attempting to extract data from devices on the couple's boat, including an infrared camera, which may provide additional insights into the case.
If approved, the new search will focus on a specific area of the Sea of Abaco where water depths reach 25 feet. The couple's dinghy had previously visited this area, as confirmed by a U.S. official. The boat, named Soulmate, has been relocated from Fort Pierce to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, due to logistical issues with its recovery.
Family members of Lynette Hooker have provided DNA samples to assist in the investigation, which is ongoing at the FBI's lab in Quantico. The renewed search efforts come nearly two months after Lynette Hooker vanished on April 4 while on vacation with her husband. Brian Hooker initially reported that his wife fell from their dinghy during a nighttime boat ride and was swept away. He was detained by Bahamian police for five days but has not been charged with any crime.
The Coast Guard Investigative Service has also seized the couple's sailboat for further examination. Brian Hooker has expressed his heartbreak over the incident and stated that his focus remains on finding his wife.