U.S. Coast Guard Seizes Sailboat Linked to Lynette Hooker Disappearance

U.S. Coast Guard investigators seized the sailboat Soulmate that was used by Brian and Lynette Hooker during their travels around the Bahamas, according to two sources with knowledge of the investigation.

The seizure was carried out as part of the Coast Guard Investigative Service probe into the disappearance of the Michigan mother. Lynette Hooker was last seen near Aunt Pat's Bay, near Elbow Cay and Hope Town, on the night of April 4, 2026, according to her husband Brian Hooker. He reported to local authorities that she fell overboard during a nighttime dinghy ride.

Brian Hooker has denied any wrongdoing and has not been charged with a crime. He was held for questioning by Bahamian authorities but released after five days. He later left the Bahamas to see his ailing mother, according to his Bahamian attorney. His current whereabouts are not known.

Lynette Hooker's daughter, Karli Aylesworth, said in a Mother's Day video message posted to social media that she was aware the Soulmate had left the Bahamas but that she had not received any update from the Coast Guard. "It's the first mother day without my mom," Aylesworth said in the video.

Last week, investigators released images of another sailboat and said they wanted to interview the occupants or owners of that vessel. Coast Guard investigators have been actively conducting interviews with potential witnesses. The facts surrounding the case remain limited to official accounts and family statements.

Brian Hooker has maintained his account of events since reporting the incident. No additional charges or persons of interest have been publicly identified.