REPORT: MISSING LYNETTE HOOKER MURDER INVESTIGATION?

Summary

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Crime Stories with Nancy Grace

Episode: REPORT: MISSING LYNETTE HOOKER MURDER INVESTIGATION?
Date: June 3, 2026
Host: Nancy Grace
Guests: Carli Aylesworth (Lynette’s daughter), Blaine Stevenson (family friend & boating expert), Vanessa Waltz (True Crime Podcaster), Jordan Plants (neighbor), Bethany Marshall (forensic psychologist), Brian Fitzgibbons (security/investigator), Dave Moyer (canine specialist), others

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Episode Overview

Nancy Grace delves into the perplexing and tragic disappearance of Lynette Hooker, a "beautiful young mom" who vanished at sea while with her husband, Brian Hooker. The episode dissects the timeline, digital and physical evidence, shifting search locations, interpersonal dynamics, and the many unanswered questions surrounding Lynette’s case. Through interviews with friends, family, expert guests, and direct audio from Brian Hooker, Nancy pursues the unsettling details that have left both family and law enforcement with doubts about Brian’s story.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Timeline of Lynette’s Disappearance

• Lynette Hooker disappeared from a boat trip with her husband, Brian Hooker, in the Bahamas during the evening of April 4th into the morning of April 5th.
• Brian claimed Lynette "fell overboard" during a sudden blow on the water (20+ knot winds), that he threw her a life preserver (which turned out to be a seat cushion), and that she drifted away.
• Critical 26-hour delay: Brian waited over a full day to inform Lynette’s daughter that her mother was missing.

  “He called me and was like ‘Hey, your mom fell overboard. I tried to throw a life preserver to her, but I don’t know if she got it...’” – Carli Aylesworth (21:32)

2. Suspicious Actions and Evidence Gaps

• GPS & Digital Evidence:
  • The boat’s GPS tracking (“Soulmate”) was turned off for 11 hours during the critical window of Lynette’s disappearance.

  “…for 11 hours, beginning around 9:30pm…the tracker was shut off. The Soulmate went totally dark during the one time we really need that information.” – News Reporter (03:22)

• Inconsistencies in Brian’s Story:
  • Brian’s recounting of the incident to different people does not consistently match digital evidence or the physical circumstances.
  • Statements about weather, the drift of boat vs. the seat cushion vs. Lynette, and the use of safety devices are disputed by experts and relatives.

3. Family and Friends’ Doubts About Brian Hooker's Story

• Carli Aylesworth (Lynette’s daughter) openly questions Brian’s behavior, pointing to contradictions:
  • Brian claimed he threw a “life preserver,” but it was a seat cushion, not adequate for flotation (11:04).
  • Two life jackets were found unused in the dinghy; Brian didn’t use or throw them after the incident (14:42).
  • Carli and her boyfriend Steve found it highly suspicious that Lynette didn’t just swim a few feet to safety, as the water was very shallow.
  • When asked by his daughter Rosie if he and Lynette were fighting, Brian went silent (15:50).
• Blaine Stevenson (friend and boating expert) notes the story "just doesn’t add up" mathematically or practically, especially concerning wind and currents, time for the trip, the separation of floatation devices, and why Brian’s supposed cries for help weren’t heard (29:47, 33:43).

  “It’s not the evidence that Brian did anything wrong. It’s the absence of evidence to support his story.” – Blaine Stevenson (02:52, 29:47)

• Jordan Plants (neighbor and family friend) cites Lynette as a strong swimmer with significant boating experience, making the idea of her accidental drowning unlikely (41:48).

4. Financial and Relationship Context

• Carli reveals Lynette had a substantial retirement fund and mentions life insurance, raising the specter of financial motive. AT&T retirement account over $600,000; rumors of a $250,000 life insurance policy were investigated (27:00–28:49).
• Reports of prior domestic violence and control in the relationship were corroborated by both family and neighbors (41:48, 44:44).

5. Search Efforts & New Evidence

• Shifting Search Locations:
  • Original searches may have been misdirected as new digital evidence forced authorities to look elsewhere in the Sea of Abaco.
  • US Coast Guard divers deployed with underwater search equipment (06:54, 50:58).
• Cadaver Dogs:
  • Specialist explained it’s possible for dogs to detect remains underwater, but conditions may now hinder success (52:39).

6. Recorded Statements from Brian Hooker

• Brian’s direct audio testimony is described as rambling, with justifications that are inconsistent with physical evidence and expert understanding (44:17, 30:54).

  “‘She basically just bounced off the dinghy in the middle of a little blow…We weren’t wearing life jackets…It was sundown and the sun set like basically 10 minutes after she fell over…’” – Brian Hooker (30:54, 44:17)

• Experts question critical elements, such as why Brian couldn’t keep visual contact, why no other boaters heard his supposed cries for help, and how both the cushion and Brian drifted together but Lynette did not.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Carli Aylesworth ([09:36]):

  "Brian just said, ‘Hey, your mom fell overboard. I threw her a life preserver, but she, I don’t know if she got it. She’s been missing since last night around 7:30.’ Steve immediately stood up and was like, something is off. Something is sketchy from that phone call..."

• Blaine Stevenson ([33:43]):

  “If I had to pick a time for a tragedy to happen on the water in an anchorage, I would pick that time because you’re most likely to get help...So the fact that he screamed for an hour and we have no reports of that five weeks in…”

• Vanessa Waltz ([06:54]):

  “The most significant thing is his original statements...did not line up with what investigators ultimately found when they reviewed his digital devices.”

• Jordan Plants ([41:48, 43:23]):

  "Everyone has lived here for years...there was some domestic violence going on, a pattern of it. There was a time, I think two years ago, she let me know that Lynette was staying at her house to get away..."

  “She grew up sailing...they have a sailboat, her mom does in the garage...It just doesn’t make sense to me, and the story doesn’t add up.”

• Dr. Bethany Marshall ([48:44]):

  “There’s so many risk factors for violence here...he choked her to the point where she felt a pop in her neck...If she sold [her house] to make him happy...that tells me he's liquidating her assets so he could potentially have access to them.”

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• [02:21] – Nancy Grace sets the scene: “A beautiful young mom, Lynette Hooker, disappears at sea with her husband...”
• [03:22] – News update: U.S. Coast Guard search, GPS evidence, suspicion over 11-hour GPS blackout
• [05:35] – Boating expert explains importance of the missing GPS “cookie trail”
• [09:24] – Carli Aylesworth describes finding out about her mom’s disappearance
• [14:42–15:31] – Carli on unused life jackets and Brian’s questionable behavior
• [19:32] – Carli on her belief that Lynette might still be alive, the pain of not knowing
• [20:40] – Carli discusses the 26-hour notification delay
• [21:32] – Carli recounts exactly what Brian told her
• [23:09] – Carli questions Brian’s 9-hour paddling claim
• [27:00–28:49] – Financial assets and questions about beneficiary status
• [29:47] – Blaine Stevenson: “It’s not the evidence that Brian did anything wrong. It’s the absence of evidence to support his story.”
• [30:54/44:17] – Brian Hooker’s recorded account
• [41:48–43:23] – Jordan Plants on Lynette’s swimming ability and domestic violence history
• [48:44] – Dr. Bethany Marshall discusses risk factors in the relationship
• [50:58] – Brian Fitzgibbons & Dave Moyer on canine search efforts and digital forensics

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Episode Tone & Final Thoughts

Nancy Grace maintains her signature tough, analytical tone, lending both empathy to the family and critical scrutiny to the husband’s narrative. The guests—especially Carli and Blaine—consistently express doubt, concern, and persistence in pursuing answers. The episode closes with a renewed public call for information on Lynette Hooker and the importance of ongoing investigation.

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Call to Action

If you have any information about Lynette Hooker’s disappearance, contact the U.S. Coast Guard at 800-424-8802.

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Transcript

[Nancy Grace]

This is an I Heart Podcast Guaranteed

[Podcast Announcer]

human crime stories brought to you by Penn Foster. Sometimes things don't go as planned with school. Whether you're looking to go back and finish what you started or you're the parent of a teen who's falling behind in traditional school, having an alternative can make all the difference. Penn Foster High School is an accredited online diploma program built to be flexible with self paced courses so students can work at their own pace and and move forward. Visit pennfoster. Edu Nancy that's P E N N Foster Edu Nancy and learn more. There is an answer.

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[Carli Aylesworth]

Sequences shortened and simulated since he got

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your first order crime stories with Nancy Grace

[Nancy Grace]

overboard. A beautiful young mom, Lynette Hooker, disappears at sea with her husband. Good evening, I'm Nancy Grace. This is Crime Stories. I want to thank you for being with us.

[Carli Aylesworth]

Brian texted me saying call me at around 8:30 at night. Brian just said hey, your mom fell overboard. She's been missing since last night around 7:30. Something is off, something is sketchy from that phone call. I was just sitting there like what? How do you lose my mom?

[Blaine Stevenson]

It's not the evidence that Brian did anything wrong. It's the absence of evidence to support his story. I'm trying to piece it together with the Brian I know and I it's not working and I really wish he would start talking and explain it so that it makes sense to us.

[Jordan Plants]

Somebody lost their daughter and their mother, and now she's still not found. It doesn't make sense to me. And the story doesn't add up. We're still searching for her body, and I do believe, like, he's the only person that knows the truth.

[News Reporter]

Nancy, we have an exciting time happening in the Bahamas right now. As this story has been going on for weeks, we've been wondering what really transpired the night of April 4th into the morning of April 5th. And now we're getting a little bit better. Look, the Coast Guard from the United States of America is now in the Bahamas with a dive team. They are picking areas to dive. And it's amazing how this far into this investigation that we're finally getting that type of movement breaking down. The digital stuff that Brian Hooker has, comparing it with what he said, there might be some discrepancies. Also in a shocking update, we find out that on the Soulmate, you know, the digital tracking that shows where a boat is, the speed, and everything else that goes into that. Well, we found out that for 11 hours, beginning around 9:30pm the night of April 4, that GPS, the tracker was shut off. The Soulmate went totally dark, totally incommunicado from 9:30pm on April 4 until 8:40am on April 5. So documentation for that time period, gone. It's not there, totally dark during the one time we really need that information. So those are the. Just right off the top of the bat, Nancy, that's what we're looking at as this story has really heated up.

[Boating Expert]

So as you reported, it's been reported that the GPS data stopped at a certain time and came back on the next morning. Plus, the statements of Mr. Hooker to law enforcement don't match any data that they recovered prior to that time. And let me explain why that's important, because the GPS or the Garmins that are on these boats, they lay what's called cookies or a trail. So as you're driving across the ocean or you're going in between the islands, there is a cookie trail behind your boat.

[Nancy Grace]

And.

[Boating Expert]

And it's how you can turn around and follow your trail back. If you get into inclement weather or a zero visibility issue, all you do is follow your track. That track will take you everywhere you've been. People, people on the east coast that go to the Bahamas, they use their cookies to cross the ocean to get to the Bahamas to hit that inlet. Lot of inlets in the Bahamas don't have lights. A lot of them at night are pitch black. And those cookies tell you exactly where that boat's been. And you know, boaters and people that operate vessels, especially in the Bahamas or in the open ocean, can see heat, such as another boat that could be in front of them that has no lights on. It's great for when you're in the Intercoastal Waterway or you're in the surrounding areas of the Bahamas to have it on, because you can see it will actually pick up the heat of a swimmer or a body in front of your boat. And you can move away from that. That device should have been used immediately when she allegedly went overboard. And that flir, because the Bahama waters, remember, are very warm and her body's not going to cool down that quick. That FLIR would have detected her body heat. Thermal imaging.

[Vanessa Waltz]

So what's so significant to me is that investigators state that they believe that they were searching the wrong area based information that was given to them originally. And to me, that's very significant because investigators don't typically move major search operations unless they believe that the evidence justifies it. So the key thing for me here is that investigators changed the search because the evidence changed the search. From what we know, authorities have not released the exact coordinates of where the search has changed to, but we do know that they are searching a previously unsearched area of the Sea of Abaco. And investigators have reportedly identified the location through electronic and GPS evidence from Brian's digital devices and electronic devices. So the Coast Guard has divers, they have underwater search equipment, and multiple. They've got multiple resources available to look for. Whatever I think can help them get to the answers, whether that's Lynette herself or any kind of evidence that can help lead them to what happened to her that night. I think for me, finding out that they're going to these never searched areas, I can't say that I'm surprised with that because from the very beginning, many of us had a lot of questions with those recorded statements that were released. And he had very. A very specific story with very specific locations. And the fact that they're back out in new locations tells me that we were correct from the very beginning that this story just doesn't line up, it doesn't make sense. And, and even the timeline from the very beginning with it not being dark, with the depth of the water being allegedly, you know, 4 to 11ft deep. I think for me, the most significant thing is his original statements that he gave to multiple sources, by the way, did not line up with what investigators ultimately found when they reviewed his digital devices. And electronic devices.

[Nancy Grace]

Joining us tonight is a very special guest that we have seen from afar, we have prayed for, we have thought about during all these days that her mother, Lynette has been missing. Carli Aylesworth joining us tonight. Carli, thank you for being with us.

[Carli Aylesworth]

Thank you for having me.

[Nancy Grace]

I've got so many questions for you, but I'll just start at the beginning. When did you learn your mom was missing? How did you find that out?

[Carli Aylesworth]

Brian texted me saying call me at around 9, 8:30 at night. My grandma called me prior to that, but I was napping so I didn't pick up. But then he said, call me. I said, oh, two of my family members need me to call them. Something is happening. So I answered and I put it on speakerphone and Steve was right next to me and he heard the whole thing too. And Brian just said, hey, your mom fell overboard. I threw her a life preserver. But she, I don't know if she got it. She's been missing since last night around 7:30. And Steve immediately stood up and was like, something is off. Something is sketchy from that phone call. And I was still in shock. I was just sitting there like, what? How do you lose my mom?

[Nancy Grace]

Carli, you stated just then that he, Brian Hooker, your mom's husband, it's your stepfather, right?

[Carli Aylesworth]

Yep.

[Nancy Grace]

You stated he said he threw her a life preserver.

[Carli Aylesworth]

Yeah. And it's not even a life preserver. It's something that you kneel on or sit on that's like for gardening you something you kneel on. And it doesn't keep 150 pound person afloat. So it's not technically a life preserver.

[Nancy Grace]

No, it doesn't.

[Carli Aylesworth]

Yeah.

[Nancy Grace]

You know, and that's why when you said he said he threw her a life preserver because to my memory, and I don't have any notes about it in front of me, he said he threw her a seat cushion. But he told you he threw her a life preserver.

[Jordan Plants]

Yeah.

[Nancy Grace]

And look, I've dived all over the world before. I had the twins. I gave it up because I thought it was too dangerous. But you're right, Carlie, a seat cushion can be that thick. That is not going to hold anybody up in the water, much less in waves. He said had started.

[Carli Aylesworth]

Yeah, exactly.

[Nancy Grace]

But he told you life preserver when y' all were talking.

[Carli Aylesworth]

Yeah. And it was supposedly found like 400ft from the dinghy when it washed up to shore. When he washed up to shore in Marsh Harbor. So I don't know. It's just all subjective at the moment.

[Nancy Grace]

That's really interesting, Carlie. Now, I understand what you're saying, and I agree with you, but could you explain why you don't think that's true?

[Carli Aylesworth]

I don't believe that it would wash up right next to you. But my mom suddenly washed the other way. It just doesn't make sense.

[Nancy Grace]

Exactly. That's my thinking. I'm no tide and wave and current expert, but if he washed that way and the dinghy washed that way and the seat cushion washed that way, then why didn't she wash that way? And your mom was an experienced sailor. She knew what to do if she fell overboard.

[Carli Aylesworth]

Yeah, and where she fell in at, We. Steve and I went and did, like, retraced their steps that day. And she could have swam a couple feet to the side up to shore and stood up in the water. It was really shallow. It's like a giant sandbar in between the islands. So I'm just wondering, why was she swimming away from the dinghy? And why didn't she try to get back on it? Why did she grab the key on her way out? It doesn't make any sense.

[Nancy Grace]

See, that's another thing we've been talking about. And I'm so glad you brought it up, Carly. So let's just go with your stepfather's story, Brian Hooker story that she, quote, bounced off the dinghy. I still don't know how she bounced off, but I'll get to that. You're saying if she fell in. In the spot where he described. Hey, let's see that control room. Let's see that map that he sent. Instead of out being. Look. Being out looking for Lynette, he was on the phone gabbing with friends for hours on end, putting his story out there and sending maps. I mean, if my child or husband fell overboard, I would not be on a conference call on speaker with my friends trying to get my story. I'd be looking, but you're hearing Carli Ailsworth. This is Lynette's daughter, her only biological daughter. And she's speaking there. Look, Carly's saying that where her mom allegedly fell off the dinghy, she only would have to swim a few feet and stand up on a sandbar. That's all she had to do. Is that what you're saying, Carly?

[Carli Aylesworth]

Yep, pretty much. And they found two life jackets in the dinghy when he washed up to shore. So why he didn't put one on and then jump in to go give her the other one? Doesn't make sense to me either.

[Nancy Grace]

See, I did not know that. Carly, that's important. There were two life jackets still on the dinghy.

[Podcast Announcer]

Unused.

[Carli Aylesworth]

Yep.

[Nancy Grace]

Do you know where they were? Were they in plain view? They. Were they in a chest? A safety chest. Where were they?

[Carli Aylesworth]

They were just out on the floor.

[Nancy Grace]

Oh, my stars. Oh, okay, wait. There's two life vests lying in the floor. And he did not throw one to her and put one on and jump in.

[Carli Aylesworth]

Yeah, his thought was to throw the seat cushion to her. He's an ex Marine. I feel like he should be more on his toes when these type of situations.

[Nancy Grace]

I'm just trying to take in, you know. In three minutes, I've already learned more from you than I have from him in weeks. Okay, let me get back to. You're just giving me so much information and none of it is good for him. 2 yfest right there in the dinghy.

[Carli Aylesworth]

My stepsister, his daughter Rosie told me. She told me that she asked him if they were fighting when this all happened and he didn't respond.

[Nancy Grace]

Okay, hold on. I'm gonna have to start a flowchart. I'm getting so much information. Hold on. So Brian Hooker tells his. His bio child, Rosie. Well, he didn't tell her anything. She asked, were you arguing at the time? And he said nothing.

[Carli Aylesworth]

Yeah.

[Nancy Grace]

What else did he say to Rosie?

[Carli Aylesworth]

He didn't. I don't think he said much to her. He mostly talked. He talked to us in a group chat with her, just us three, and was like, I wish I could be there for you guys, but I have to be here searching for her. This lady can take care of you guys. So that's. She. I don't know how much she's talked to him because she's still distraught because she was close to my mom too. So she doesn't. She doesn't want to believe any he did anything to her because that's her dad. So I get that. But at the same time, with what we know, it's just not adding up.

[Podcast Announcer]

Crime stories brought to you by Penn Foster. Sometimes things don't go as planned with school. Whether you're looking to go back and finish what you started or you're the parent of a teen who's falling behind in traditional school, having an alternative can make all the difference. Penn Foster High School is an accredited online diploma program built to be flexible with self paced courses so students can work at their own pace and move forward. Visit Penn Foster Edu Nancy. That's P E N N Foster Edu Nancy and learn more. There is an answer.

[Carli Aylesworth]

Since he got out, bad things keep happening.

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[Nancy Grace]

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[Nancy Grace]

Crime stories with Nancy Grace. With us tonight, Carli Ellsworth. This is Lynette Hooker's only biological daughter. I do not know how you have the composure. I admire it to speak. I wonder if you're in a state of shock. Do you believe there's any chance your mom is still alive?

[Carli Aylesworth]

There's still a string of hope that she's just on an island somewhere living it up, needing a break from life. So without a body, it's kind of hard to like for me to have much closure right now. I still have so many questions as to what happened, a lot of what ifs. Why did that happen? Why did not this happen? It's just hard.

[Nancy Grace]

I'm glad you have your boyfriend Steve with you. What was his reaction when your dad, your stepfather called and told you your mom's missing? And let's say he said that happened at 7:30 the night before. And when did he call you?

[Carli Aylesworth]

Nine. 9:30 the next day at night.

[Nancy Grace]

9:30am p.m. oh my goodness. Okay, hold on. So we're talking about 26 hours later.

[Carli Aylesworth]

Yep.

[Nancy Grace]

Did you ask him why he waited over a day to let you know?

[Carli Aylesworth]

I was in shock when he called me, so I didn't really Say much? I was like, okay, okay. Just trying to soak it all in. But as soon as I got off the phone, Steve got up and was like, that was sketchy. Something's off. Yeah.

[Nancy Grace]

So, okay, can you tell me one more time exactly what he said on that 9:30pm call the day after your mom went overboard? What exactly did he say?

[Carli Aylesworth]

He called me and was like, hey, your mom fell overboard. I tried to throw a light to preserve her to her, but I don't know if she got it. She drifted the other way. So I paddled to shore. And he said he washed up to shore at like, 4:30 in the morning, the next morning. And then he's like, but we're gonna come up and see you soon, so we're hoping that we're gonna see you. And I was like, okay. And then he started talking about it again and quickly hung up. Hung up on the phone. And I was like, what just happened? And Steve got up. Like, that was sketchy. That was like, that doesn't add up. Like. And he was also trying to console me, but he was also like that. I don't believe his story as soon as you said it. So it was sketchy from the start.

[Nancy Grace]

So he says she fell in, he threw her a life preserver, she went one way and he paddled the other way.

[Carli Aylesworth]

Yeah. It took him nine hours to get to shore, to Mars Harbor.

[Nancy Grace]

He said he paddled the other way, away from your mother because the wind

[Carli Aylesworth]

was pushing it, I guess.

[Nancy Grace]

Okay, I just want to make sure he said he paddled the other way.

[Carli Aylesworth]

He just paddled with the wind, which is the other direction that she supposedly drifted away, I guess.

[Nancy Grace]

And it took him nine hours?

[Carli Aylesworth]

Yeah. So to him, the current was going one way, but the wind was going the other way. But I talked to a captain there, and when I went to the Bahamas and they said that they swam where he paddled in two and a half hours. So the fact that it took him nine hours, it doesn't add up.

[Nancy Grace]

What happened after that phone call with your stepfather? When did you hear from him again?

[Carli Aylesworth]

Immediately after the phone call, I called my dad, and I was like, you will never believe the news I just got. He's like, I'm sure I can, because my grandma called him because she couldn't get ahold of me. And I was like, my mom's missing. And he goes, I know. And we talked about it for a minute, and he was like, I wasn't your mom's number one fan, but this is messed up. Like, I care about her because that's your mom. So it was. Yeah, that's immediately what I did after.

[Nancy Grace]

When did you hear from him again, Carly?

[Carli Aylesworth]

Oh, he left me some voicemail saying that they found the life preserver that he threw to her and that they can search a smaller area now. And left me a couple texts, brought the group chat with Rosie and I, but I haven't responded. I don't plan to respond right now with the facts that I have and my gut feeling.

[Nancy Grace]

So after that you were included on some group texts, what did they have to say?

[Carli Aylesworth]

He was just saying how he wishes he could be there for us and that we'll get through this, this lady to take care of us if we need to, and just that he needs to be there right now. Searching.

[Nancy Grace]

What do you make of that evening's events, I guess, that you're learning about through the media? That they went to have dinner at the inn, that they had drinks there, that they left around 7, 7:30, almost immediately. When they got in the dinghy, the waves kicked up to two or three foot swells and that shallow area that she, quote, bounced off the dinghy and was never seen again. What part of that does or does not make sense to you?

[Carli Aylesworth]

Well, the Atlantic side, I could see having that big of waves because I was there and I saw the waves are pretty big, but on the leeward side, it's like glass. It's not even. No waves. And there's a channel that you go down because the boats need to be deep enough and so. And then it's only like so wide. It's like 50ft wide. 20, I don't know, not that wide. And she could have swam to the side and stood up. It's only a couple feet outside the channel, so I don't see how they're.

[Nancy Grace]

Is she a good swimmer?

[Carli Aylesworth]

Yes. And she used to run all the time. Ran half marathon in a 25k. So she was pretty fit. She could swim. They've done this for 10 years, so she knows all about the water.

[Nancy Grace]

So when was the last time you actually spoke to your mom?

[Carli Aylesworth]

Friday around dinner time.

[Nancy Grace]

And what did she have to say? What was her frame of mind?

[Carli Aylesworth]

She seemed fine to me. I asked her for advice and she was helping me with that. So she. You were just. Yeah, she more confided in my grandma about like, relationship problems and money and all that. So she just, she only tells me like when she thinks she's gonna break up with him and leave him. But yeah.

[Nancy Grace]

Carly, tell me about if you know about them, their relationship and money problems.

[Carli Aylesworth]

So I know that they don't touch my mom's retirement right now because she's not 59 and a half. So they've been taking out of Brian's. So I don't know how much he has. I don't know like what his financials are. I know my mom has life insurance, but it's only 15,000 from AT&T where she retired. So I don't know if they took out another life insurance. I ask my lawyer, but he's looking into it. So.

[Nancy Grace]

So they're living. All of your mom's retirement is sitting there.

[Carli Aylesworth]

Yeah. She has like well over 600k.

[Nancy Grace]

Yeah. That she has built up over all the time that she worked at AT&T.

[Carli Aylesworth]

Yeah. And like the fat past last two years she was working her few years, she was dumping like a thousand dollars each paycheck every other week into her retirement. So I know it's pretty high.

[Nancy Grace]

And you know, another thing about that, Carly, is I think AT&T has a plan where they match not the full amount you put in, but up to a certain percentage, like 5% or 10%. They match what you save. A lot of big corporations have that. So what she was putting in there was matched to some extent, most likely by AT&T. And that really adds up two grand a month from her and then just let's say 800 to a grand from at and t a month. The whole time she's banking it in that retirement plan. That's a lot of money saved up. So well over a half a million dollars.

[Carli Aylesworth]

Yep.

[Nancy Grace]

And I assume that he, Brian Hooker, is the. Is the recipient of that upon her death.

[Carli Aylesworth]

So my grandma said my mom wanted her. My mom wanted to change the beneficiary to me the last time they broke up two years ago. But she doesn't know if my mom ever got around to doing that.

[Nancy Grace]

There have been reports that he took out a quarter of a million dollar life insurance policy before your mom went missing. Do you know anything about that?

[Carli Aylesworth]

I do not. I asked my lawyer if he could look into it, but I haven't heard from him yet because I asked him on the weekend. So I think he's still looking into it.

[Nancy Grace]

To Blaine Stevenson. This is Brian Hooker's friend. He is a boating expert and his wife is very, very close with Lynette. Mr. Stevenson, thank you for being with us. What do you make of this?

[Blaine Stevenson]

What I make from all of the reports that have come out is that there are people in the area. There were People overlooking the area. I've gotten calls from people who talk about different weather conditions in support and against his claim. But what we do know is there were people in the area. I do know that a human yelling is louder than any splash I've ever heard. So my problem is an hour of him yelling for his wife isn't heard, but a splash is in the same general vicinity. My problem is that he. He floated over to Marsh harbor in the same weather conditions within three hours, the same amount of time of that flotation device, which doesn't have the same windage as his boat, ending up within 300ft of where he was. But nothing from Lynette ends up in the same spot. It's not the. It's not the evidence that Brian did anything wrong. It's the absence of evidence to support his story.

[Brian Hooker (recorded voice)]

She basically just bounced off the dinghy in the middle of a little blow, like 20 some knot wins that popped up. And on a prequel, half mile, maybe trip back to the dinghy. And angle thing failed. Every single thing. We weren't wearing life jackets. It was sundown, and the sun set, like, basically 10 minutes after she fell over. Didn't come over with her because it wasn't clipped to anything or anybody. And she had the spare dinghy key in her dry bag, which was with her. Yeah, it was inflated. I mean, inflated, because it was folded. But the wind blew us apart so fast that I think. I think she tried to swim back to the sailboat, to our. Back to our sailboat, which was probably, I don't know, a thousand yards or something. But the waves were three foot, and I was trying to ship the oars, and one of the pins on the oars broken, that dropped over the side. And I was yelling for her the whole time, and I yelled to her that I lost a.

[Cape Fear Advertiser]

Or.

[Brian Hooker (recorded voice)]

And I threw the anchor out and anchored the dinghy and just. Yeah, I yelled. I couldn't see her anymore. It was. It was. The moon had not risen yet.

[Nancy Grace]

That is from our friend Vanessa Waltz, the star of Unmasked True Crime, Blaine Stevenson. Is that the yelling that you are referring to, that nobody heard that, but

[Podcast Announcer]

they did hear a splash, correct?

[Blaine Stevenson]

I mean, the time of night. He says it happened at sunset. In our community, that's when everybody's on the back of their boat. If you're. If you're home, if you're a live aboard, if you're in the area, that's the best time to be outside because you're not getting beat by the sun. You're not getting. It's dinner time. That's sundowner time. If you're out, you're out at that time, the time. If I had to pick a time for a tragedy to happen on the water in an anchorage, I would pick that time because you're most likely to get help. You're most likely to be heard. You're most likely to be seen. So the fact that he screamed for an hour and we have no reports of that five weeks in, but we have reports of people who are up and around and on land, far enough away from Soulmate but could still hear a splash. I'm trying to piece it together with the Brian I know, and I. It's not working. And I really wish he would start talking and explain it so that it makes sense to us.

[Nancy Grace]

Blaine, have you asked him, though?

[Blaine Stevenson]

He's. He's blocked everything on social media. I mean, I can ask him right now. Brian, let's go to the Bahamas and look together, right? The easiest way to shut up all the haters, as you call them in comments, is let's grab me, you, Dan. Let's. Let's grab the whole team. Let's go find your wife. Let's get closure. There's. There's no reason for me to be on a computer and you to be where you are. Let's be in the Bahamas, and let's

[Nancy Grace]

go find Lynette Blaine Stevenson. Do you think he'll take you up on it?

[Blaine Stevenson]

I hope so. The Brian I knew would have this guy I've seen for the last five weeks. I don't know what that guy would do, but the Brian I knew would bring the people together, go fight the cause and go get the answers. And if in the process, it clears his name, great. You know, I don't. I don't want Brian to be guilty. I just can't mathematically make it work. And I think that's the misconception is nobody is going after Brian because they want to go after Brian. Everyone's going after Brian's story because it's not working. When was the last time a body went missing in the water in the Bahamas and was not recovered in the Abaco area? So, yeah, the mathematics behind this is where Brian is a man of science. Brian taught me a lot about boating. The. The longer we go and a dry bag has not been found on shore. The longer we go and blue Columbia jacket has not washed up. The longer we go, we get more information, we get more speculation. What we don't get is any more Confirmation of his story.

[Nancy Grace]

You stated that you have a mathematical issue. You can't mathematically make his story work. And I agree with you. What I would like to happen is that we find Lynette alive. I don't think that's going to happen. I hate to put that out there and end the search for her alive, but I think she would have been in contact with her daughter by now if she were alive and if she could reach her. Which makes me go to the next logical step is that she is dead. And I'm examining his story and I want him to be telling the truth. I don't want him to be guilty as well. But his story doesn't add up to me. So what about it? You can't mathematically make it work. 2 and 2 is not equaling 4.

[Boating Expert]

4.

[Nancy Grace]

What is the issue that concerns you the most?

[Carli Aylesworth]

The.

[Blaine Stevenson]

The issue that concerns me the most

[News Reporter]

is

[Blaine Stevenson]

we do know that the weather, like, like the lawyer said at some point that evening got bad. We have people that I trust that were boating in the area that report, hey, the weather got squirrely that night. But the Ca Abaco and the Anat Anchorage, and that area is completely different. Right. So I talked to a gentleman who owns a house on Elbow Cay, and it looks out over the Sea of Abaco. And he said, yeah, you know, it got pretty choppy out there, but that's over where that yellow line is in your picture, not over where the red arrows are in between the two land masses. And if he. If the weather and wind was that bad and he's in a dinghy and the wind is blowing him to Marsh harbor, the time frame to get to Marsh harbor doesn't add up to me. And the fact that when search and rescue was out three hours later, they see the green float he threw. How does the float float within 3 hour time frame of the D it to end up within 300 yards of each other or 300ft of each other, as he says. You know, I went out and I tried this. I threw a dry bag off of my boat and I seen how fast I separated from it. And a dry bag has more windage than that green float. And my dinghy drifted away from it at a rapid pace. For both of them to end up in Marsh harbor within three hours of each other. I just can't mathematically make it work.

[Podcast Announcer]

Crime Stories brought to you by Penn Foster. When a student falls behind, the gap doesn't just stay the same, it can grow. Not every student fits in a traditional classroom. And when it's not working. Staying on the same path can make things worse. When that happens, another option matters. Penn Foster High School is an accredited online diploma program built for flexibility. It is self paced. That means students can work on their own schedule, fitting school around jobs, family, sports or other responsibilities.

[Nancy Grace]

It's a different path, but it's a

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[Carli Aylesworth]

Since he got out, bad things keep happening.

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[Nancy Grace]

Crime Stories with Nancy Grace Also with us, Jordan Plants, a neighbor of Lynette and Brian Hooker. Jordan lives across the street from Brian and Lynette. Jordan, thank you so much for being with us tonight. Along with Vanessa Walsh. What was the nature of their relationship?

[Jordan Plants]

Jordan it's their mom's house that lives across from me, but they stay here in the off season when they're not sailing. So I know them in this neighborhood. We kind of grew up together for years. You know, everyone has lived here four years. Like, my family's been on this lake for 80 years. But they would live here when their mom would go to Florida, when they're not sailing. But the nature of their relationship, like, I knew from her mom, you know, there was some domestic violence going on, a pattern of it. And there was a time, I think two years ago, she let me know that Lynette was staying at her house to, like, kind of get away from that relationship, right? So she stayed there for a few months, and then she ended up getting back with Brian from my understanding, but I never really dug into it as much. You know, they stored their truck in my backyard. You know, their car is across the street. But, you know, I knew that something was going on from her mom, Darlene. And right now, I think it's tough because you want to support the family and trying to find Lynette because it doesn't make sense, right? Where we grow up, like, everybody is a good swimmer. We spend every hour we can in the summer on the lake. You know, even Lynette grew up here, and she. It just doesn't make sense.

[Nancy Grace]

You're saying. JORDAN PLANTS it doesn't make sense because Lynette is such a great swimmer and spends a lot of time on the water. You don't believe it would have happened like this? What?

[Jordan Plants]

No. She grew up sailing. I mean, even with her dad, even as a kid, she was sailing. They have a sailboat, her mom does in the garage that they practice sailing on before they could walk. So it doesn't make sense to me, and the story doesn't add up. And it's tough because, you know, somebody lost their daughter and their mother, and now she's still not found.

[Nancy Grace]

Jordan Plantz, I want you to listen very carefully to the sound that we have obtained from Vanessa Walsh, who is with us, the star of Unmasked True Crime. Here is the husband's explanation. It's long, it's rambling, it's circuitous, but it's very probative. See if this rings true in your mind. Jordan Plants. Okay, let's listen. Hubby caught on tape.

[Brian Hooker (recorded voice)]

She basically just bounced off the dinghy in the middle of a little blow, like 20, some knot winds that popped up. And on a record half mile Maybe trip back to the dinghy and angle thing failed. Every single thing. We weren't wearing life jackets. We tipsy. It was sundown, and the sun set, like, basically 10 minutes after she fell over with her, because it wasn't clipped to anything or anybody. And she had the spare dinghy key in her dry bag, which was with her. Yeah, it was inflated. I mean, inflated, because it was folded. But the wind blew us apart so fast that I think. I think she tried to swim back to the sailboat, turn back to our sailboat, which was probably, I don't know, thousand yards or something. But the waves were three foot, and I was trying to ship the oars, and one of the pins on the oars broke, and that dropped over the side, and I was yelling for her the whole time, and I yelled to her that I lost a oar, and I threw the anchor out and anchored the dinghy and just. Yeah, I yelled. I couldn't see her anymore. The moon has not risen yet.

[Nancy Grace]

Now you've heard that recorded conversation, and I imagine there will be more. What do you think?

[Jordan Plants]

It's kind of hard to digest. I mean, it's just. It's sad knowing that she had all the support to leave, leave, and now we're still searching for her body. And I do believe, like, he's the only person that knows the truth. And I think that he needs to stay there until the truth comes out, because Darlene and her daughter Carly deserves that, truthfully. And nothing's gonna bring her back. But I think finding a body and then also finding the truth, I think more pressure. We're gonna know what really happened to Lynette, and it just breaks my heart for the family. I just. I can't imagine. I'm a mother and losing my daughter. It doesn't matter what.

[Carli Aylesworth]

What age.

[Jordan Plants]

I just. I feel so heavy for that family. And we're all really close in this community, so it's just. It's a hard hit.

[Nancy Grace]

Well, Jordan, what can you tell me about the times that Lynette Hooker actually moved out, according to reports, because of domestic violence?

[Jordan Plants]

I. Darlene just kind of let me know because I kind of watch over the house when she's in Florida. Like, hey, Lynette's gonna be there. You know, they're not really getting along. She's moving out. I don't really question it. She didn't really come out of the house much. I mean, if she wasn't working, she would just stay in. It's cold here, so there's not much to do in the winter time. So I didn't really see her as much. I would just check in with Darlene and ask her how she's doing. And then I would see him come randomly one day and I'd be confused and then she'd be gone.

[Nancy Grace]

Vanessa Waltz joining us Unmasked True crime podcast. What do you know regarding corroboration of those times Lynette would leave?

[Vanessa Waltz]

So there were a few things I noticed in their social media as far as their posting that could point to some potential red flags leading up to her disappearance. So I went through the Hookers YouTube channel post by post and their pattern of posting was pretty consistent. It was every one to three days up until March. So on March 10, Lynette's posts, she posts a normal video and then the channel goes completely dark for nine days, which is the longest gap by far going back months. Lynette's mother says that Lynette purchased a one way plane ticket to leave Ryan that was scheduled for March 11, the day after that post, but she never got on the plane. And then after that nine day gap, Lynette starts posting again like normal on March 19th. So my question was, you know, what happened during that those nine days? Did Brian find out that she was going to leave? Did he find out about the plane ticket? Did this cause even more tension in their already troubled relationship? I just thought it was an interesting gap from their normal posting.

[Nancy Grace]

Dr. Bethany Marshall, weigh in.

[Dr. Bethany Marshall]

There's so many risk factors for violence here. One noteworthy one is that he choked her to the point where she felt a pop in her neck. Nancy selling her house. If she sold it to make him happy and she did not want to sell it, that tells me that he's liquidating her access, her assets so he could potentially have access to them. How do they afford to be out on the water for 10 years not working? She wants to go back to work, but he is discouraging it. And this is what abusers do to the victims. They isolate them from their friends and from the rest of society so they can have control over them. And they do discourage them from having their own separate resources. So as this case progresses, I'm going to ask a few questions. And look, did he have a girlfriend? What were his online habits? Was he chatting with somebody, looking at pornography excessively? Who had access to her bank account? Did he have access? Was there money being moved around at the time of her death?

[Carli Aylesworth]

I asked Brian, where's Lynette? And he said, well, we're not getting along, we're separated and I don't know when we're going to get back together, if we get back together. Basically. I don't think Lynette and Brian should have been together. It just seemed like it got bad. Lynette should never be in that water. And I feel for her daughter. And I can't even imagine it. I can't even imagine it.

[Nancy Grace]

That is Donna Hooker, Brian Hooker's stepmother from our friends at wzzm. Joining us, our friend Brian Fitzgibbons, director Operations, USPA Nationwide Security, leading a team of investigators around the world, including the Bahamas, finding and extracting missing people. He is a former Marine Iraqi War vet. Brian, thank you for being with us. Now I want to go back to where the search is happening now, when it began leaving the water. According to what we've been told, it started on the edges of the land where her body could have floated after going overboard. But it's past that.

[Brian Fitzgibbons]

Yeah. At least, Nancy, we know that extensive canine searches have happened not only over the water. These canines are able to detect anything coming up from under over 30ft of water, believe it or not. So that that search took place. They searched the shoreline and they also extensively searched Abaco Island, Elbow Cay, where they were in their final recorded moments together. So, you know, a lot's going to unfold here. I'm keen to find out the digital evidence in this case.

[Nancy Grace]

Explain.

[Brian Fitzgibbons]

I want to know if Brian attempted to make a call during this multi hour period that he was traversing or allegedly traversing from Abaco to Marsh Harbor. So did he try to make a call? Is there any information from Lynette's recovered apple watch that according to some photos posted online were with her at the Abaco Inn just moments, minutes before she would have gotten onto this dinghy. And then the last piece of information is did that Soulmate vessel move and does it contradict anything Brian gave in his multi hour statement to police?

[Nancy Grace]

You are talking about canines searching land and water. Here's canine specialist Dave Moyer. First of all, can a cadaver dog pick up the scent of a dead body in water?

[Dave Moyer]

Yes, ma', am, they absolutely can. As a matter of fact, there's a whole extension of the cadaver discipline that focuses primarily on dogs, on boats being able to detect people in the water column. The circumstances of this case make it exceedingly difficult for these canines to actually be able to accomplish this due to the duration since this event actually occurred. And all of the live dynamic action of that saltwater, shallow, warm salt water is just full of all kinds of predatory creatures, currents and environmental conditions that quite honestly would bring a body to the surface very rapidly.

[Nancy Grace]

If you know or think you know anything about Lynette's disappearance, please call toll free 800-424-8802. Repeat, 800-424-8802 for the U.S. coast Guards. Thank you so much to Carly for being with us and also to you for keeping the search for Lynette Hooker alive.

[Podcast Announcer]

Nancy Grace signing off.

[Nancy Grace]

Goodbye friend.

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[Nancy Grace]

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[Blaine Stevenson]

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[Nancy Grace]

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[Podcast Announcer]

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[Nancy Grace]

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[Nancy Grace]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.