The American woman who disappeared in Bahamian waters had previously been arrested in connection with a domestic incident involving her husband a decade earlier.
Lynette Hooker, 55, vanished on April 4 after reportedly falling overboard from a small dinghy.
A police report obtained by USA Today revealed that in 2015, Lynette and her husband, Brian Hooker, were involved in a drunken argument at their Michigan home that allegedly turned physical. Both accused each other of assault, but Brian, now 59, had a visible injury — a bloody nose — leading to Lynette’s arrest. She spent one night in jail.
The revelation comes after Bahamian authorities detained Brian on April 8 in connection with his wife’s disappearance. While he has not been formally charged, Assistant Commissioner Advardo Dames of the Royal Bahamas Police told Reuters that Brian is considered “a suspect.”
According to police, Brian said Lynette fell overboard from their dinghy on the night of April 4. He said the boat’s motor stopped after she fell, forcing him to paddle back to shore, where he alerted authorities the following morning.
In a Facebook post, Brian said he was “heartbroken over the recent boat accident in unpredictable seas and high winds” that led to his wife falling into the water.
“Despite desperate attempts to reach her, the winds and currents drove us further apart,” he wrote. “We continue to search for her and that is my sole focus.”
Lynette’s daughter, Karli Aylesworth, has publicly questioned that account.
“I have a hard time believing that she just fell off,” she told WOOD TV8. “Even if she did, I don’t understand why he didn’t drop anchor and look for her or even swim to go get her, because he was a Marine, so it just doesn’t add up.”
“The longer it’s been, the more doubt I have,” she added.
In a separate interview with CBS Mornings, Aylesworth described the couple’s relationship as “rocky,” saying it involved frequent arguments and alcohol use.
Brian’s attorney, Terrel A. Butler, denied the allegations in a statement, saying his client “categorically and unequivocally denies any wrongdoing” and has been cooperating with investigators.
The case remains under investigation.
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