The boater arrested in connection with his wife’s disappearance in the Bahamas sent maps to family friends and fellow boaters detailing the route the couple took during their ill-fated voyage — and made a note of where she purportedly fell overboard.
Brian Hooker, 59, was taken into police custody on April 8 — four days after he claimed his wife, 55-year-old Lynette, fell off a small dinghy as they returned to their yacht.
Brian shared maps showing the couple’s outing — including where Lynette vanished — with his friends and other boaters when the initial search and rescue was still active, CBS News first reported.
He allegedly shared the same photos with law enforcement, according to the outlet.
The images appear to be screenshots from Navionics, a GPS app boaters use to navigate. Brian digitally edited the maps to mark areas on their dinghy route, which the couple were taking back to their yacht when he claims Lynette toppled overboard.
Lynette was reportedly dragged out to sea along with the dinghy motor’s key, stranding Brian in the inoperable inflatable. The map includes a note about his four-mile “drift and paddle” back to shore, where he turned up a whopping nine hours later.
Brian hasn’t been charged with anything, but he is the sole suspect in the Michigan mom’s disappearance after her heartbroken daughter raised concerns.
Lynette’s daughter from a previous relationship claimed that her mom and stepdad had a “history of not getting along, especially when they drink.” She specifically cited Brian’s temper, recalling how he previously choked Lynette and threatened “to throw her overboard.”
Efforts to find Lynette have since shifted to a recovery operation.
Brian has denied any involvement in his wife’s disappearance, saying he was “devastated” in a statement posted on his Facebook page.
His own estranged stepmother, though, cryptically implored him to come clean.
“If he did what they think he did by pushing her out of the boat, he needs to tell the truth,” Donna Hooker told ABC 13.
The elder Hooker bemoaned that the couple never should’ve gotten hitched because “it just seems like it got bad.”
The pair, who have been married for about 25 years, had previously split up, before reuniting.
Brian will remain behind bars until at least 7 p.m. Monday as the Royal Bahamas Police Force weighs criminal charges.
Read the full article here