The daughter of missing American woman Lynette Hooker said her stepfather sounded “monotone and relaxed” when he told her what allegedly happened the night her mother disappeared in the Bahamas.
Karli Aylesworth told the TODAY Show that Brian Hooker gave her the same account he later shared with authorities during a brief phone call Sunday, after Lynette Hooker vanished during a dinghy ride from Hope Town to Elbow Cay, according to local authorities.
Aylesworth said she was "in shock" by both the news and his tone.
“I was in shock,” she said. “I was like, my mom’s missing? Like, what?”
Brian's attorney Terrel Butler said Brian has been cooperating with relevant authorities and "categorically and unequivocally denies any wrongdoing" in Lynette's disappearance, specifically allegations of his potential involvement made by her daughter, Karli Aylesworth.
Fox News Digital's Adam Sabes contributed to this report.
Brian and Lynette Hooker appeared to document their life on TikTok through the account @thesailinghookers, where they shared glimpses of their time on the water.
The account appeared to chronicle the couple’s boating lifestyle and life together before Lynette Hooker’s disappearance in the Bahamas.
Lynette Hooker went missing Saturday evening near Hope Town while on a boat with her husband, according to officials. Brian Hooker was later arrested in connection with her disappearance, though he had not been charged as of Thursday.
Brian's attorney Terrel Butler said Brian has been cooperating with relevant authorities and "categorically and unequivocally denies any wrongdoing" in Lynette's disappearance, specifically allegations of his potential involvement made by her daughter, Karli Aylesworth.
Fox News contributor Donna Rotunno told "FOX & Friends First" that prosecutors have an uphill battle following Brian Hooker's arrest.
"I think it's going to be tough, obviously. I mean, you don't have anybody else out there. There's no other witness," she said.
"I'm not so sure you're gonna be able to put together a case that would have proof beyond a reasonable doubt here, but we'll see what they uncover. Maybe there's a history of some messages, maybe there's some problems, maybe they were fighting at the resort that they were at, and there'll be some video of that," Rotunno said. "So I think it's gonna be interesting to see what happens here, but as it stands right now, I don't see that there's going to be enough evidence based on what we have been told at this hour."
Brian's attorney Terrel Butler said Brian has been cooperating with relevant authorities and "categorically and unequivocally denies any wrongdoing" in Lynette's disappearance, specifically allegations of his potential involvement made by her daughter, Karli Aylesworth.
{{#rendered}}The daughter of missing American woman Lynette Hooker said that her step-father’s arrest appears to be bringing the case “the attention it deserves” as investigators work to determine what happened in the Bahamas.
Karli Aylesworth was interviewed for about two hours Wednesday by the U.S. Coast Guard’s Detroit sector, her attorney, Ron Marienfeld, confirmed to CNN. The Coast Guard said the same day that it had opened a criminal investigation into the case.
In a statement after Brian Hooker’s arrest, Marienfeld told Fox News Digital that the family’s goal had been to get answers after they were “not hearing anything in the beginning.”
“After learning of the arrest last night, it appears this matter is getting the attention it deserves,” Marienfeld said.
He said Aylesworth’s efforts, along with those of Lynette Hooker’s mother, helped intensify scrutiny on the case by drawing media attention. Marienfeld added that the family felt better once it learned the U.S. Coast Guard was involved in the investigation.
“The events as initially reported just did not seem to add up,” he said.
Marienfeld called the case “nothing short of a tragedy” and said the family is now waiting to see where the evidence leads. He also thanked the Royal Bahamas Police Force, the Coast Guard, the media and others who have worked on the case.
Lynette Hooker disappeared Saturday evening while on a boat with her husband near Hope Town, according to Bahamian officials. Brian Hooker was arrested Wednesday in connection with her disappearance, though he had not been charged as of Thursday morning, according to his attorney.
Brian's attorney Terrel Butler said Brian has been cooperating with relevant authorities and "categorically and unequivocally denies any wrongdoing" in Lynette's disappearance, specifically allegations of his potential involvement made by Aylesworth.
Fox News' Sarah Rumpf-Whitten contributed to this report.
The mother of missing American woman Lynette Hooker said she wants to hear what her son-in-law has to say after his arrest in connection with her daughter’s disappearance in the Bahamas, according to The Associated Press.
Darlene Hamlett told the AP she would “be interested in what he says,” adding that she had not heard from him in almost two days.
“I’m going to be interested in what he says, because I haven’t heard from him in almost two days,” Hamlett said.
Hamlett, who was driving home from the Bahamian Consulate in Miami after securing a passport to travel to the islands, also told the AP that her daughter was experienced on the water, having grown up around lakes, boats, sailing and swimming.
“Our family grew up on water and so Lynette her whole life has been near lakes, on boats, sailing and swimming,” Hamlett said. “It would be a miracle if (she’s rescued), but I’m still counting on one.”
Lynette Hooker went missing Saturday evening near Hope Town while on a boat with her husband, officials said. Brian Hooker was later arrested in connection with her disappearance, but had not been charged as of Thursday morning.
The husband of a missing American woman in the Bahamas has spoken out for the first time since her disappearance off a small boat, writing that he is "heartbroken."
Brian Hooker spoke out about his wife's disappearance for the first time on Wednesday.
"I am heartbroken over the recent boat accident in unpredictable seas and high winds that caused my beloved Lynette to fall from our small dinghy near Elbow Cay in the Bahamas. Despite desperate attempts to reach her, the winds and currents drove us further apart. We continue to search for her and that is my sole focus," Brian Hooker said in a Facebook post.
"Our family is deeply grateful for the Bahamian people's assistance, especially that of the Hopetown Volunteer Fire & Rescue team, Royal Bahamas police force, Royal Bahamas Defense Force, and the US Coast Guard , who have worked tirelessly in an ongoing effort to bring Lynette back to us. Thank you to everyone for keeping Lynette in your thoughts and for your support of our family during this difficult time," he added.
This is an excerpt. Click here to read the full article.
Fox News Digital's Sarah Rumpf-Whitten contributed to this post.
{{#rendered}}The husband of an American woman who went missing in the Bahamas has been arrested in connection with her disappearance, according to the attorney representing him.
Attorney Terrel Butler confirmed to Fox News Digital on Thursday that 58-year-old Brian Hooker was taken into custody on Wednesday in connection with the disappearance of his wife, Lynette Hooker. He currently has not been charged with any crime.
Butler said Brian has been cooperating with relevant authorities and "categorically and unequivocally denies any wrongdoing" in Lynette's disappearance, specifically allegations of his potential involvement made by her daughter, Karli Aylesworth.
Lynette, who is roughly 56 years old, went missing Saturday evening while traveling by boat with her husband, according to Bahama officials. She reportedly fell into the water near Hope Town and was carried away by the current, according to Brian.
This is an excerpt. Click here to read the full article.
Fox News Digital's Sarah Rumpf-Whitten contributed to this report.
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