Did Brian Hooker Order A Murder in Hawaii? Shocking Claim Investigated | Lynette Hooker Missing

Summary

Podcast Summary: Drop Dead Serious With Ashleigh Banfield

Episode: Did Brian Hooker Order A Murder in Hawaii? Shocking Claim Investigated | Lynette Hooker Missing

Release Date: July 29, 2026
Host: Ashleigh Banfield
Guest: Donna Hooker (Brian Hooker's stepmother)

---

Overview

This gripping episode explores deeply disturbing new claims in the case of the missing and presumed murdered Lynette Hooker. Ashleigh Banfield interviews Donna Hooker, Brian Hooker’s stepmother, delving into Brian’s past, his family relationships, disturbing remarks he once made about “having someone killed” in Hawaii, and the mounting evidence implicating him not just in Lynette’s disappearance but possibly a decades-old murder-for-hire. The conversation covers family history, Brian’s estrangement, and the emotional aftermath for those left behind.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Family Background and Estrangement

[01:42–07:04]

• Donna married George Hooker (Brian’s father) and describes a family dynamic where Brian, Bruce, and Jennifer were once close but ultimately drifted apart.
• Brian stopped visiting the family years ago; he hadn’t seen his father in four years when George died.
• Donna expresses heartbreak at the brothers’ self-isolation from the family, especially at pivotal moments like George’s illness and passing.

2. Brian’s Changes and Troubled Past

[07:04–08:40]

• Donna describes Brian as a relatively normal teen who changed drastically after age 18, becoming anti-social and drawn to “off the grid” lifestyles.
• He eventually lived homeless in Hawaii with his brother Bruce, “didn’t like society,” and got involved with “rough people.”

3. The Allegation: “I Had To Have Someone Killed”

[06:00–10:00; Deep dive from 14:14]

• Recounting a chilling family memory, Donna shares how Brian once appeared at their door unexpectedly after returning from Hawaii and told his parents, “I had to have someone killed” ([14:14]).
  • Quote: “He said that he had to have someone killed, and his dad just kind of stepped back … He … said, I don’t want to go into it. I just wanted you to know.’” – Donna Hooker ([15:01])
• Brian never elaborated, and the event left both parents shocked, confused, and frightened.
• Ashleigh remarks on the gravity of this statement, and notes that investigators are now looking into possible connections to a 1980s Hawaii murder ([05:26]).

4. Family’s Immediate Emotional Responses

[18:46–19:52]

• After Brian’s bombshell statement, Donna and George were stunned and struggled with how to process it—unsure whether to take it seriously or chalk it up to exaggeration or delusion.
• Donna feared that if Brian had gone into detail, they would have felt compelled to act, possibly by going to authorities.

5. Brian’s Relationships and Deterioration

[20:05–28:48]

• Donna describes Brian’s post-Hawaii years: living off-grid, resisting authority, possibly influenced by negative groups in Sacramento.
• Sibling relationships fractured—Bruce avoided discussion, Jennifer remained close to Brian but now cuts off communication with Donna.
• Donna laments Brian’s lack of empathy, absence during George’s illness, and the emotional toll on her.

6. The Lynette Hooker Case: Lies Exposed

[34:01–36:13]

• Both Donna and Ashleigh criticize Brian’s story about Lynette falling from a dinghy; both felt immediately suspicious.
  • Quote: “I knew that was not true. The very first thing I heard it. I knew it... Lynette would never have fallen off that dinghy. She was not. God. She was an athlete. She was a swimmer.” – Donna ([34:01])
  • Ashleigh asserts: “As a boater, not even knowing Lynette, I knew that that story was garbage.” ([35:51])
• Ashleigh reveals evidence that Lynette was dead on the sailboat, “Soulmate,” and Brian fabricated the dinghy accident ([36:00–36:13]).

7. Abuse, Motive, and Final Moments

[36:13–50:31]

• Donna references previous threats Brian made to Lynette, including throw-her-overboard threats and past physical abuse.
• Reflects on evidence that Lynette had planned to leave, that Brian possibly withheld her passport, and, in Donna’s view, clearly had a plan.
• After seeing surveillance footage from the night Lynette vanished, Donna suspects that alcohol exacerbated Brian’s aggression.
  • Quote: “I really think he killed her because he was so abusive and everything. And he was abusive to his first… his second wife.” – Donna ([50:31])

8. Emotional Fallout and Donna’s Message to Brian

[41:37–47:57]

• Donna can no longer look at or speak to Brian: “I really don’t ever want to talk to him or see him again. … I just have no respect for him at all. And I really do want him to pay for what he’s done.” ([41:37], [46:31])
• She describes feeling isolated in mourning and processing both her husband’s death and the horror of Lynette’s murder.

9. Plea for Justice and Closure

[45:25–55:08]

• Donna’s hope: justice for Lynette, closure for the family—especially for Lynette’s daughter Carly and Lynette's mother Darlene.
• She recalls good memories of the family before things went awry, and the pain of seeing Brian’s transformation.
• Ashleigh and Donna agree: if any silver lining exists, it’s that George passed before discovering the full extent of his son’s alleged actions.

10. Ashleigh’s Closing Appeal

[55:08]

• Ashleigh underlines the urgency of the investigation and asks listeners to come forward with any information relating to Brian Hooker’s alleged Hawaii murder-for-hire claim.
  • Quote: “If you know anything about Brian Hooker or what happened in Hawaii … please reach out … at [e-mail]. … The truth isn’t just serious. It is drop dead serious.”

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Brian said … he had to have someone killed. … He didn’t say, ‘I had to kill someone.’” – Donna Hooker ([17:09])
• “If Brian did what they say he did, then he needs to come forth and tell the truth. … Lynette would never have fallen off that dinghy. She was a swimmer.” – Donna ([34:01])
• “He has no emotion. He does not believe in God. He doesn’t like people. … He’d live somewhere off-grid.” – Donna ([44:00])
• “I really think he killed her because he was so abusive … to his wife and to his second wife.” – Donna ([50:31])
• “Justice is coming. … Tick tock, Brian. Tick tock.” – Ashleigh Banfield ([55:08])

---

Key Timestamps

• [01:42] Ashleigh Banfield on speaking with family; evidence Lynette was dead on board
• [07:04] Donna recounts Brian’s youth and personality shift
• [14:14–16:10] The Hawaii confession: “I had to have someone killed”
• [18:46] George and Donna’s private reaction to Brian’s claim
• [20:05] Brian’s further alienation and family estrangement
• [34:01] Donna and Ashleigh discuss the implausibility of Brian’s Lynette story
• [36:00–36:13] Revelation: Evidence Lynette died on the boat
• [41:37] Donna’s current feelings toward Brian
• [45:25] Donna’s message to Brian and call for justice
• [50:31] Donna’s conviction that Brian killed Lynette
• [55:08] Ashleigh’s closing appeal and contact information

---

Tone

The tone is deeply personal, raw, and somber yet steadfastly investigative and irreverent. Both host and guest express heartbreak, outrage, and a burning need for justice, never shying away from frank assessments of Brian’s character or the brutality of his actions.

---

Conclusion

This episode offers a haunting window into the devastation left in the wake of Lynette Hooker’s disappearance and presumed murder, the shadow cast by allegations reaching back to Brian Hooker’s youth, and the family’s struggle to comprehend and survive it all. The emotional force of Donna’s account, combined with Ashleigh Banfield’s journalistic tenacity, makes for an unforgettable true crime investigation with a very real call to action: If you know anything about Brian Hooker and the Hawaii claim, speak up—because, as Banfield says, “the truth isn’t just serious. It is drop dead serious.”

Transcript

[T-Mobile Advertiser]

Hey, what up guys? It's chikis. You know, gameplays at my house are a whole thing. La camiseta, the snacks, la familia, all the yelling at the tv. Y claro el a fiesta tam bien importa. But let's talk about the family group chat. Making crazy predictions before kickoff. Los amigos sending voice notes after every golazo y por su puesto debating which player wore it best. Sign me up. Parez san cuesta. And when I'm on tour, I still gotta stay close to mi gente rooting for our team. And because nothing feels better than shouting go. All at the same time, being a T Mobile member gets me America's best network. Imucho mas with nonstop talk, text and Data in the U.S. mexico and Canada. Plus I get awesome benefits like incredible perks every week with T Mobile Tuesdays. Every match is better when you can celebrate every goal. Switch to T Mobile today@t mobile.com on qualifying plans not for extended international use. Coverage not available in some areas. T Mobile best mobile network in the US Based on analysis by OOKLA of Speed Test intelligence data to h2025 this

[Monday.com Advertiser]

Monday.com ad was created by a team of people and AI agents. Reese, our content agent, wrote the copy based on our best practices, like mentioning Monday.com three times. That was the second. Johnny, our coordination agent, built the timeline and kept everyone aligned. Olivia, our human creative director, stayed in the loop because agents are great, but they don't always know when a joke lands. She had one note tell listeners it only takes minutes to build an agent. So minutes. Create your own AI agent. Today on Monday dot com.

[Ashley Banfield]

Hey everyone, I'm Ashley Banfield and this is drop dead serious. I've just done an interview that is really poignant. In the Lynette Hooker story. There are a lot of family members and I have spoken to so many of Lynette's family. Brian and Lynette's family haven't spoken with Brian. Haven't spoken with Brian's mom. Haven't spoken with Brian's brother or his sister. But I just spoke with his stepmom. Her name is Donna Hooker. She was married to George Hooker, Brian's dad, for over 40 years and he recently passed away and she is heartbroken. She cared for him for years before he died while he was sick and she said Brian didn't even bother coming to visit. She hadn't seen him in four years, since 2022. So there's Brian's dad dying and Brian's dad's Wife looking after Brian's dad. And Brian didn't see him for four years. And. And that has been heartbreaking for Donna, knowing that these siblings whom she loved and you're about to hear this, is not an angry woman who, you know, was estranged from the family and has things to say. This is a woman who loved Brian and his brother Bruce and his sister Jennifer, and adored their father, George, Adored George Hooker to the day he died. George, just at the end of last year. And she is still in mourning. And now, on top of all of that mourning and the loss of her husband, she is dealing with what Brian Hooker likely did. And we know that he lied because we now have the evidence. Our sources tell us that Lynette Hooker was dead on board Soulmate. There was no bouncing off the dinghy. It was all a big lie. All a made up lie. Lynette's dead body was on board Soulmate, and Brian just left. There was no need to float across the harbor. None of that was true. And so now Donna Hooker is processing all of that. And something else that she said stopped me in my tracks, and that is that Brian Hooker, according to Donna, said something back in the 80s along the lines of, I had to have someone killed. Let me repeat that. Brian Hooker said to his dad and his stepmom standing in their doorway that he'd had problems in Hawaii when he was homeless on the beach, got into it with some bad people, and quote, had to have someone killed. Yeah, I found that pretty jarring too. Like, really jarring. And now we're learning that's being investigated. So Brian Hooker doesn't just have a Lynette problem. Brian Hooker has a Hawaii problem. Brian Hooker now has investigators in Hawaii and maybe even heading from America to Hawaii to investigate whether an actual murder for hire happened in the 80s at the behest of Brian Hooker. Because we know there's a murder investigation going on right now from four months ago, the murder of his wife, Lynette. And he is the prime suspect. And they have discovered mounds and mounds of evidence that prove he lied about everything he said in the wake of Lynette's disappearance. But did Brian Hooker also contribute to the killing of someone else decades ago when he was homeless on the beach in Hawaii with his brother Bruce? His stepmom, Donna, is bereft about all of this. Was bereft in the 80s about it. Said it was destroying to her husband, too. They could not make sense of what he said. And he was gone as quickly as he appeared in their doorway. Off and Running with his long hair and his anti establishment views. I had an amazing conversation with Donna just now. I want to play it all for you, but just so you remember the names, her husband was George right up until just the end of 2025. Brian Hooker's father, George Hooker. She said she adored Brian Hooker and his brother Bruce and their sister Jennifer as kids that they played, they were lovely. But that something, something went awry with Brian. Here now is my conversation with Donna Hooker. Donna, thank you so much for joining me on Drop Dead Serious. It's good to have you here. I've spoken to several family members of Brian Hooker in the last four months since this tragedy began. And I haven't had a chance to speak with you. And you have a lot of history with Brian Hooker. You know, you were married to George, his dad, for better part of four decades. What are your recollections of Brian Hooker that we don't know?

[Donna Hooker]

Well, Brian means that he came over all the time and he was about 17, 18 years old. He was fine. He seemed to be fine. He would go and hang out with the kids and you know, my two and his brother and you know, just be basically normal because he came over with Bruce a lot and stuff. So, you know, I don't understand what, what really happened. But he seemed to have changed when he got like latter part of his 18 into 19 on, he changed.

[Ashley Banfield]

Is, is that the time that he moved out of your home and then moved in with his, his uncle?

[Donna Hooker]

Yeah, he wanted to go every different places and, and stay, I guess because we never kicked him, you know, he just moved on. Yeah, he just went to live with his, he probably stayed with his brother too, or. And Jennifer. So it was all the whole, you know, the, the circle of family that he would do that.

[Ashley Banfield]

That's his sister Jennifer.

[Donna Hooker]

Yeah, Jennifer.

[Ashley Banfield]

So there's Bruce and Jennifer and Brian. Those are the three siblings, yes. And at some point Bruce, his brother and Brian ended up in Hawaii. And I don't know about Bruce, but at some point Brian was, I think, homeless. Can you talk to me a little bit about that phase?

[Donna Hooker]

Yeah, you know, Brian, Brian didn't like people. He didn't like being around a lot of people and he didn't like society. Nobody could tell Brian what to do because that just would not, he just wouldn't go for that. On the other hand, Bruce was different. He, he wasn't, you know, unsocialized so to speak, or whatever. But yeah, Brian just went the opposite way. He just grew his hair really long and when he came to our house that time that he got back from Hawaii, he got to. The only reason I know what happened in Hawaii is because he came to our house unbeknownst of us. He, we didn't even know he was coming. We, he didn't know where he was at the time. And so he knocked at the door and there he was standing there and I didn't even recognize them. I was like, what happened to him? And his father was not a happy camper. He, he, he goes, where have you been? And he, oh, we were lit, we were on the beach and we were just, you know, living there. And he goes, you were living on the beach, bumming around? Yeah, that's what he liked. He liked it. But he got involved with some bad people. I understand from someone that lives in Hawaii that locals don't like people on their beaches sleeping and just hanging out. You know, they don't like it. But they do have bad people that will come, that will go on the beach, harass these people. Harass like they were. Brian and Bruce were probably harassed by these people. Plus they kind of, they were involved with some people too. Bruce and Brian, they, they met these guys and you know that how that goes. So

[Wayfinder Travel Narrator]

the best trips don't just take you somewhere new. They change the way you see the world. On Wayfinder Life changing travel Uncover the delights of every destination across city hideaways and crystal blue shores. Sponsored by Season 2 launch partner Fiji Airways.

[Wayfinder Travel Guest]

When it comes to a stopover, people don't recognize the value until they actually do it. So I wanted to see how stopping off in Fiji and doing my buffer there instead of going straight back to Sydney, how that shifted me into the mentality and got me ready for going back to real life. And you know the best cure for anxiety is feeling nurtured and calm and taken care of. And I think Fijian hospitality lends that quite well. Fiji kind of wraps around you in a way that's warmer than everywhere else. I think it's because the culture grew up centered by community.

[Wayfinder Travel Narrator]

Listen to brand new episodes of Wayfinder Life changing Travel on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Monday.com Advertiser]

This Monday.com ad was created by a team of people and AI agents. The agents wrote the copy and managed the timelines, while our human creative director made sure it all made sense. Easy. Create your own AI agent today on Monday.com.

[Ashley Banfield]

any idea what, what kind of people they met and what they were involved with when they were on the beach?

[Donna Hooker]

Well, the only thing that he said was some rough people. Rough, bad people. Guys, you know, we have them everywhere, right? And like, I wouldn't. I don't know if I'd call them a gang, but I wouldn't know how to say what they. Who they were.

[Ashley Banfield]

Seemed like maybe a criminal element. Any drug dealing that you know of

[Donna Hooker]

or anything like that, I would say, because I know that they. I don't know, but I think that Brian and Bruce did some stuff. I don't know what kind. I don't know anything like that, but I do know that they were probably involved in some of that stuff, too, and that's not good. And probably drinking.

[Ashley Banfield]

I want to be careful when I say stuff. Is that the crime part or is that the drug part?

[Donna Hooker]

Okay, the crime part. The crime part is the people that he. That were harassing them, the bad ones. Brian and Bruce were involved with some people, but I don't. He didn't say they were criminals or bad people, the ones that they had met over there, so. And probably drinking and stuff like that, you know, just being.

[Ashley Banfield]

Did you get the feeling that maybe they were involved with. With drugs and. And drug dealing and that can go sideways very quickly?

[Donna Hooker]

You know, I don't know. I. It could be a possibility. But he didn't say. I don't know. You know, I don't know that for a fact.

[Ashley Banfield]

But he did say something that was quite telling. Walk me through that.

[Donna Hooker]

Well, we were all standing in the living room after George could catch his breath after seeing what he was looking at, and I'm sorry to say that, but it was not good. So he was talking to his dad about what they were doing, and they were hanging out on the beach and they were, he said, basically having a good time and, you know, just in sleeping on the beach. And my husband was questioning him about all of that, Sleeping on the beach and meeting people and stuff like that. And he said, you know, that's not good. You know. You know, that's not good. I mean, you look different, you know, you.

[DQ Miracle Treat Day Announcer]

You.

[Donna Hooker]

He loves being away from a lot of people and off the grid and things like that. So he was talking to his dad, and I was standing there and, you know, just listening. And he told his dad that the people that harass them, and I guess they tried to probably steal things from them and everything on the beach. He said, and I can't. I. It's freaky. He said that he had to have someone killed, and his dad just kind of stepped back and he. What you. What he Says, I don't want to. He says, I don't. That's it. I don't want to go into it. I just wanted you to know. So that didn't really go over too big because we wanted him to leave.

[Ashley Banfield]

He just stopped right there. He did not go into any further details after dropping that bombshell.

[Donna Hooker]

He did not, because, believe me, George questioned him and everything, and he wouldn't go into any details. He just wanted. He wouldn't let us know what, when, or how type thing. But he did say, you know, that he did have to have someone killed. And I couldn't believe that he had to have someone killed. I don't understand that because we're not that kind of people. He wasn't raised to be a person like this. You know what I'm saying? He just wasn't. So I don't know. I don't know what happened to Brian, but that's what he said. And

[Ashley Banfield]

did you feel as though he was speaking casually and that maybe he had suggested he had to have someone killed or that he did kill someone? Was he very specific about having someone else carry it out?

[Donna Hooker]

Yes, he said he had to have someone killed. He didn't say, I had to kill someone. No.

[Ashley Banfield]

What was his mood like when he was saying that? Like, was he standing there with his bags or was he seated and comfortable and not. I mean, was there any possible, you know, any possible way it was misconstrued because he was busy doing something? Like, what was the circumstance in which he was saying these things?

[Donna Hooker]

I was hoping he didn't. He didn't do what he said he. He had to have done. I was hoping that. And he was. He never sat down because he was going to leave. He just stopped by to say whatever and hi to his dad and, oh, yeah, I had to have somebody killed. That doesn't make sense. Did he really do that? I don't know because I don't have evidence of it. You know, I just know what he said and, you know, I'm trying to. I'm trying to get. I'm trying to get the truth out. About what?

[Wayfinder Travel Narrator]

Right.

[Donna Hooker]

What happened to him? I don't know. But from being a nice guy and a nice kid and everything, you know, but then he did this kind of thing and Bruce wasn't with him. Bruce. I don't know where Bruce went. I mean, I. He. He didn't come with Brian?

[Ashley Banfield]

Brian didn't stay?

[Donna Hooker]

No, no, he didn't stay. He. He was. He was in a hurry.

[Ashley Banfield]

Any idea where he was?

[Donna Hooker]

Going. Nope. He didn't say where he was going. How did you.

[Ashley Banfield]

George, you know, Brian's dad, George, your husband all these years, How. How did the two of you process? Like, what did you talk about when Brian left, having dropped that bombshell at your doorstep?

[Donna Hooker]

Yeah, it was. It was. We sat down and looked at each other and said. What did he just say? Did he really. Do you really think. You know, do we really think or do. Talking to my husband, do you really think he did something like that? And he said, I don't know. I. I'm afraid to really go into it. You know, I wanted him to go into it, but I'm afraid that, you know, something would have to be done. Like, if he was telling me certain things about what happened, I mean, I know George would have had to do something. You know, we can't just let him talk like that and. And say something terrible. It's not right. It scared me, and it's right.

[Ashley Banfield]

The Brian that you knew. But was this the Brian that you could see progressing and that maybe this next step was maybe not totally implausible or. It seemed so out of character for him.

[Donna Hooker]

It was real out of character, I think, also because he said he had gotten. Now, I don't know if he'd gotten involved with some people in Sacramento, but it could have my feeling. It could have happened that he was involved with some people in Sacramento also. Maybe he was influenced. You know what I mean? He was probably. He could have been influenced and just. He just totally changed. He. He didn't want to be. Live on the grid. He didn't want anybody to. To tell him what to do. He didn't, you know, that was it. He just. So he went to live with his uncle. And I don't know what the relationship

[Ashley Banfield]

between Brian's dad, George, and Brian's mom, Rita, I don't know what that was like, but. Did George and Rita ever discuss this. This extraordinary statement that their son had made?

[Donna Hooker]

No, no, no. She. She. She didn't really want to talk about the. Anything about, you know, anything with George for some reason. I mean, he. They weren't, you know, it wasn't something that they hated each other or anything. They could have probably talked if, you know, but nothing happened there between them.

[Ashley Banfield]

They didn't have a really acrimonious relationship where they refused to talk about their kids. Like, it wasn't that.

[Donna Hooker]

No. Oh, no, no. George was a. He was a good dad, but. And all three of them were the most polite kids. They would. Oh, it was. Yeah. They would like, okay, yes ma' am type thing. George wanted them to be respectful to people and that's how they grew up, you know, or into their teens, I guess, but. And then something changed. But, you know, he never talked about it. Brian never talked about anything. Bruce wouldn't talk about Brian at all really.

[Ashley Banfield]

Or did they have a good relationship? They didn't just discuss, you know, uncomfortable things.

[Donna Hooker]

I think Bruce and Brian after that kind of probably went their own separate ways. Except they didn't really hang out, you know, I mean, they didn't. Bruce would come over and by himself he'd be, you know, without Brian and then. But Brian, we didn't, he didn't come over very much after that. We had, we had just bought our, a new home and you know, I think he might have been over there a couple times, but Bruce came over with his girlfriend and everything and we always had a good time. We had a pool and you know, spa and stuff and, And Bruce mentioned

[Ashley Banfield]

anything about this extraordinary statement that, that Brian had made about having to have someone killed in Hawaii?

[Donna Hooker]

No.

[Ashley Banfield]

Didn't he never broach the subject?

[Donna Hooker]

No, never.

[Ashley Banfield]

Do you think he knew and just avoided it or do you think he truly just didn't have any idea?

[Donna Hooker]

I'm sure he knew and he avoided it because Bruce really wasn't, wasn't that type of. They were opposite, okay. They were personality wise and everything. Bruce was a really like Bruce. I mean he was

[Wayfinder Travel Narrator]

the best. Trips don't just take you somewhere new. They change the way you see the world. On Wayfinder Life Changing Travel. Uncover the delights of every destination. Across city hideaways and crystal blue shores. Sponsored by Season 2 launch partner Fiji Airways.

[Wayfinder Travel Guest]

When it comes to a stopover, people don't recognize the value until they actually do it. So I wanted to see how stopping off in Fiji and doing my buffer there instead of going straight back to Sydney, how that shifted me into the mentality and got me ready for going back to real life. And you know, the best cure for anxiety is feeling nurtured and calm and taken care of. And I think Fijian hospitality lenses that quite well. Fiji kind of wraps around you in a way that's warmer than everywhere else. I think it's because the culture grew up centered by community.

[Wayfinder Travel Narrator]

Listen to brand new episodes of Wayfinder Life changing Travel on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Monday.com Advertiser]

This Monday.com ad was created by a team of people and AI agents. The agents wrote the copy and managed the timelines. While our human creative director made sure it all made sense. Easy. Create your own AI agent. Today on Monday.com Grainger knows.

[T-Mobile Advertiser]

When you're a procurement manager for an

[Donna Hooker]

office park, you're not managing one building, you're managing all of them.

[T-Mobile Advertiser]

And to stay ahead, you need to see through walls and around corners. Lights about to fail, filters ready to clog H Vac on its last leg. If you wait until something breaks, you're already behind. Count on Grainger for quality products, easy reordering and 24. 7 support.

[Donna Hooker]

Call 1-800-GRAINGER click grainger.com or just stop

[T-Mobile Advertiser]

by Grainger for the ones who get it done.

[DQ Miracle Treat Day Announcer]

DQ Presents Being a Miracle Maker Making a difference in your community has never been easier because July 30th is miracle treat day at DQ. You buy a blue Blizzard tree at participating locations and DQ will donate a dollar or more to Children's Miracle Network to benefit your local children's hospital. So on July 30, buy a Blizzard tree and be a miracle maker, a blizzard eating hero doing their part on miracle treat. The July 30th DQ Happy Taste.

[Donna Hooker]

Good, polite and nice. And. You know what I mean. He's just, I just don't understand. I, and I haven't, you know, I haven't seen Bruce since 2008.

[Ashley Banfield]

Why is that?

[Donna Hooker]

He never even called his dad when his dad got sick. We only saw him at the hospital when his dad was going to go in for a heart transplant. And all the kids, all, all the kids were there with their kids and everything seemed to be good. Brian and Lynette were there and they were, they were quiet, pretty quiet. You know, George was going through. His kidneys were failing at that time and he was trying to be. Talk to the kids and everything, but it was really hard and he had all the grandkids in there and oh boy, it was busy. But I think he really enjoyed it. And that is the last time he saw his son Bruce.

[Ashley Banfield]

And, and when was the last time your husband George saw his other son Brian?

[Donna Hooker]

Brian we saw in the second stroke. George had three strokes. The second one was kind of know, he looked kind of, I don't know, you know, droopy and he couldn't see very well and stuff. And Jennifer wanted, called me and wanted to come and see her dad and I said fine, you know, come up here. He'd love to see you, you know, and because he didn't get to see him hardly at all. So here, here she comes with Brian.

[Ashley Banfield]

How long ago was that?

[Donna Hooker]

20, 224 years. And our.

[Ashley Banfield]

Our audience might not know this, Donna, but you have had a hell of a year in so many ways. You lost George just at the end of 2025 and still in mourning over the loss of your husband of how many years?

[Donna Hooker]

35?

[Ashley Banfield]

30.

[Donna Hooker]

41. 41. Oh, my God.

[Ashley Banfield]

I am so sorry.

[Donna Hooker]

I know it's. It. It's heartbreaking because I'm still. You know, I still have anxieties and things like that, and, you know, I cry a lot, but I can't help it. You know, I talk to him every day. I talk to him about Brian, and I talk to him about all this.

[Ashley Banfield]

Maybe the silver lining here, if there's any of it at all, is that George died before all of this with his son.

[Donna Hooker]

Right. It would be horrible if he. If. Oh, it would. It probably would kill him. It probably would, because he loved his boys. He really did. And. And he didn't understand why they, you know, didn't come around and see him or anything except for that one time. And it's heartbreaking. I mean, he was. He didn't complain.

[Ashley Banfield]

He.

[Donna Hooker]

You know, I would get on the. I would text Jennifer or call her and want to find out, you know, have Brian call us or something. It's the only way I could ever get a hold of either one of them was through her. So she would always relay a message. So she. I know she probably knows where Brian is, too, so. Well, it's.

[Ashley Banfield]

It's expected. He's in Sacramento and spending a lot of time with his mom, and then every so often up to see his son in Oregon, where you are, and then also back in Michigan where he's got a daughter, so he's moving around a lot. We know he's been in those three places multiple times, died. What's the relationship like between Brian and his sister Jennifer? Because she flew to the Bahamas right away.

[Donna Hooker]

That's not the only time she's been there. She. They would. Her husband. She and her husband would go there to see Brian and Lynette and they'd take them sailing. So. But when I heard and actually saw her on one of the news things, that. That was her standing there waiting for him to get out of jail, and they probably. I guess they went back together. I saw Brian, though, standing in that line for the, you know, to get on the airplane, but I didn't see her. So maybe they went on another. Jennifer.

[Ashley Banfield]

Do you think Jennifer had the same Spidey sense that I had, that that story was crazy?

[Wayfinder Travel Narrator]

And.

[Ashley Banfield]

And do you suppose that she was going to protect her brother no matter what the story.

[Donna Hooker]

At first, I. I'm pretty sure she didn't. She believed all of it because she's. She's really close to Brian. They, you know, do things. He comes over, they. He stays there. They, you know, they're just so close. And. And Bruce, too, he's close to Jen. And I think I tried to get a hold of her. I've been trying to get a hold of her. She will not. She won't contact me at all. And I don't know why, because all I want to do is talk to her and, you know, see what's going on, what does she feel that's going on and everything, but she. She won't talk. So I think. I don't know how she would be right now and how she would feel and what. Because of all of the. The evidence that they have now. So I don't know what she's thinking there. I don't know what Bruce is thinking either. I'm. I'm kind of. And the mother and Rita, so seems like they've. Bruce has been there, Brian's been there. There's things happening there and wagons. Yeah, and I'm sure Jennifer's been there, too. She. You know, they've all probably had their talk trying to figure out what is going on, trying to get. Maybe trying to get Brian to tell him what happened, and he's probably sticking to his lies so hard in the

[Ashley Banfield]

face of the evidence when it comes out. What do your kids think about what Brian has said and done?

[Donna Hooker]

Who?

[Ashley Banfield]

About what Brian has said and done?

[Donna Hooker]

Yeah, my kids. Brian never fit in with them, really, except when they were younger and they played football and stuff, but he never. They just kind of went their separate ways and they never did anything together. They. They. They liked Brian. I mean, nothing wrong with. I mean, Bruce and Brian, they were, you know, kids. They were together. They were.

[Ashley Banfield]

You were fine. Yeah.

[Donna Hooker]

And so they are. They're in pretty much shock right now. They don't understand. They could never in the million years understand why he would do something like that to his wife

[Ashley Banfield]

or to anyone.

[Donna Hooker]

Yeah, any. Anyone. Right. When you learned.

[Ashley Banfield]

Go back to the beginning, when you learned that Lynette was missing and Brian had said this sort of preposterous story that very early on did not add up. What was the first thing you thought

[Donna Hooker]

when he was talking about the dinghy and Lynette? Okay, yeah, I knew that was not true. The very first thing I heard it. I knew it. I mean, people probably thought, oh, wow, poor Lynette. You know what. Why didn't. Why didn't he go in and get her? And, you know. Well, he didn't, because it never happened. And if it. If he truly loved her and that really happened, he probably would have gone in the water and got her, and everything would be okay. But he had. He had other plans.

[Ashley Banfield]

And you. You knew it right away. You. You felt the whole thing was.

[Donna Hooker]

I did. I don't. I don't know why, but I did. I felt. Oh, gosh. I just. I would hope somebody would really find out. And one of the news people called me, and I. I'm trying to think of which. Can I say it? On which news? Cbs. And they wanted me to be on for a short interview. And all I said to him was, if Brian did what he. What they say he did, then he needs to come forth and tell the truth. I said, I. I can't believe him. I just. With what happened, I just don't believe it. Lynette would never have fallen off that dinghy. She was not. God. She was an athlete. She was a. He was a swimmer.

[Julian Barnes]

Yeah.

[Donna Hooker]

Three feet of water. Yep.

[Ashley Banfield]

Yeah. The whole thing was preposterous. The whole thing made no sense. I knew it right away. As a boater, not even knowing Lynette, I knew that that story was gar.

[Donna Hooker]

Right, Don.

[Ashley Banfield]

And now it has been proven. My sources told me that it is definitive. The evidence shows that Lynette was back on board Soulmate and was dead on that sailboat.

[Donna Hooker]

Yeah.

[Ashley Banfield]

Learned that. What were your thoughts?

[Donna Hooker]

Well, at first, I. I was basically in total shock. I thought, how. If he did this, how could he do this? What possessed him to do something like this to her? But then I was thinking of the other things that he threatened her with, throwing her overboard, you know, stuff like that. Her leaving him and coming back. And then probably if she told him she was going to leave again because she had the plane ticket to go back to see her mom. I think it was. But. And she told him that she was leaving because. And packing up and going. He probably threatened her, I would think. I mean, this is, you know, my opinion, but I can just. I can just see it all happening for some reason. It's that he threatened her and probably said, you know, which I think Carly did say, that he wished he had finished the job. And that's why she didn't. I think that's why she didn't go,

[Ashley Banfield]

you know, March 11th. Right. You think that maybe he had. I have a theory that Maybe that's why the passports became a part of all of this. Because why would anyone put their passports into a dry bag? And we know now that didn't happen. So why even make some kind of a ruse involving the passports? And maybe it's because he. He had taken her passport away and she couldn't travel.

[Donna Hooker]

That's true. That's true. Very true. I'm sure he did. He was. Like I said in I was telling Joel, he's sneaky. It was pretty sneaky. And if he had choked her before and choked her till she passed out and threw her up against something to put bruises on her back, what kind of person would do that? You know what I mean? What kind? I mean, they've been married for 25 years.

[Ashley Banfield]

It's. It's despicable every way you slice this. Just knowing now that there is proof, there's evidence on board that Lynette was dead on board.

[Monday.com Advertiser]

Soulmate.

[Ashley Banfield]

And that everything was a lie. That was all made up to cover up for the fact that she was dead on board. What do you think now about Brian? In light of all of this?

[Monday.com Advertiser]

Third Love makes bras that actually fit. So they know this. If your bra feels uncomfortable, the problem isn't your body. It's your bra. ThirdLove Designs for comfort first soft fabrics support that doesn't dig, pinch or slip. Bras that feel good and look good under everything you wear. Shop ThirdLove and explore over 60 sizes, including double A through H and half cup sizes you won't find anywhere else. Get $15 off your first purchase at thirdlove.com with code podcast15.

[Julian Barnes]

Normally in these ads, you expect somebody to. To ask you to buy something. But this is something different. I'm Julian Barnes and I'm a reporter for the New York Times. I'm a national security reporter and that means I'm reporting on military operations. These are fast paced, quickly moving situations. What exactly is happening on the ground is often shrouded in mystery. But we turn to trusted sources, satellite imagery and expertise built up over years in order to ferret out the facts that wouldn't otherwise come to light. I'm here to ask you to seek out a news source that does firsthand fact based reporting. If it's your local paper, great. If it's the Times. Thank you. Because where you go for your information matters.

[Donna Hooker]

Despierta te$4 breakfast meal deal.

[Julian Barnes]

Ayegado McDonald's including sausage McMuffin or sausage biscuit hash brown. This is an ad by BetterHelp. Think about your Mentors and idols, the people who inspire you most. While it may look like they have all the answers, they don't. But they do know when to ask questions and seek the support they need. In a world that glorifies hyper independence, easy to forget that we're all better with a support system. Therapy is a great way to find a consistent source of support in your life so you can break free from the outdated belief that seeking help is a sign of weakness. BetterHelp has experienced therapists ready to help you with challenges ranging from anxiety and depression to relationships and stress. It's convenient, too. You can join a session with the click of a button, helping you fit therapy into your busy life. And you deserve that. You can even send your therapist a message anytime something comes up. Build your support system with better help. Visit betterhelp.com today to get 10% off your first month. That's betterhelp. H E L p.com well,

[Donna Hooker]

for one thing, I really don't ever want to talk to him or see him ever again. And I don't want him to come to my house, which I, I, I don't think he would. But he's been to Oregon and it wouldn't take him too long to get to my house, so. And I don't he know. I think he knows what kind of person I am too. I don't put up with anything like that. I don't put up with any baloney, you know what I mean? And he knows it. And when he was here seeing his dad with Jennifer, I asked him if. I said, brian, where's Lynette? You're always with Lynette. Where is she? We're separated. We're not together. I, I gave her my other sailboat. I bought a sailboat, but I gave her the other sailboat. She decided she didn't want to, to, to live like this anymore.

[Ashley Banfield]

When was that?

[Donna Hooker]

And when he came up to see his dad in. I have a picture in my phone of them sitting in my living room with their dad. And long. He had his hair long again. He just looked terrible. He kept going out, you know, outside. Then he, he drank about a six pack of beer and a half in the house. Didn't talk to his dad very much. And he, he was, you know, smoking weed and everything. So it was really weird. And nowadays I just, I just knowing him and even looking at him, Ashley, I can't, I can't hardly look at him anymore. He, he looks, he just, he's a different person. He's a totally different Person faking crying and faking all that stuff. He's all. He's faking everything. It makes me sick when I sit, sit there and I see him and he's talking about, I gotta find Lynette. You know, I don't have my wife. Yeah, right.

[Ashley Banfield]

Do you have a message for him?

[Donna Hooker]

I have a message for him. I probably would say, brian, I have no respect for you anymore. If your dad was alive, it would be the worst thing in the world for him. And you. When he passed away, you never ever called me and Bruce never called me. And I got one little message from Jennifer saying she was sorry. So I cried. Oh my God. Even when I think about it, I just start crying because it hurts. Because, you know, we were all a family at one time. And him changing like this is just freaks me out to just see what kind of person he just turned into. And he's non caring. He has no emotion. He does not believe in God. He's an atheist and he doesn't like people. And if he could, he'd live somewhere, which, I don't know, somewhere in a cabin somewhere, maybe off grid. I don't know. He wouldn't be around people. Do you have a message for him

[Ashley Banfield]

in light of what's happened to Lynette?

[Donna Hooker]

Oh, I've had so many things in my mind, you know, that I would say to him. And it's foreign, it's heartbreaking to think that he did that. And I, I. What he had, his mental state must be pretty bad in order to abuse her like he did and choke her and be mean to her. And I'd like to just say, why, Brian? Why. Why did you do this? You've hurt so many people. And we need justice for her. And Darlene and Carly need closure big time.

[Ashley Banfield]

What do you think of Brian now?

[Donna Hooker]

I just think he's a very. He's a very non caring, No emotions. He. He did not, he didn't contact me when his dad died. I mean, did, did. How did he feel? You know, I was like, how do you feel about your dad? Why didn't you, why didn't you come see him? He was sick. I took care of him for three years. He got very, very ill and it was horrible. And you never, you know, I would say you never showed up. You never offered me any help. You never, you know, you never did anything. And I just have no respect for him at all. And I really do want him to pay for what he's done. And that's something that you, you can't fathom in your own family that that is close. You know, my husband's son killed someone. His wife. Just doesn't make sense. And no, he.

[Ashley Banfield]

He pretended something else happened entirely. What do you think happened?

[Donna Hooker]

I think what happened was they had their dinner at the Abaco and had their drinks. And when you look, when I saw the video thing where Lynette was in one area and he was in the other area and there were some people that I guess thought that something was not right with him. It was pouting or something, but that's what it looked like when I was looking. You know, I didn't quite understand that, but they couldn't have had an argument. And I think she did not like Brian to drink as much. I mean, I'm sure you could have a couple drinks and have a good time, you know, but I think it was not good for him to drink. It did something to him. You know how alcohol will do certain things to people. You just don't know how they're going to react. And so when they went back, they went together to get into the dinghy and to go back to the boat. Then he made up all this because he had some plans. He had plans. He's gonna do something. He knew he was. I just know it. I just know he was. He had, you know, I don't know, he was mad at her. They were fighting.

[Ashley Banfield]

Do you think he planned it?

[Donna Hooker]

I don't know. I think that.

[T-Mobile Advertiser]

Why?

[Donna Hooker]

Well, he made up the story because as you said, she was on the boat and she was dead by 8 o'. Clock. So between riding from the Abaco Inn out to this and then going to the sailboat that wasn't very long and they were. Had fight. They were probably fighting on the way home or on the way to the boat. And I think he. I think he probably choked her past and she's passed out and he probably did. He probably panicked too, because, you know, I don't know, he probably just. So I, you know, the temper. You get so irate and these people, these men strangle their wives, you know what I mean? And. Oh, but.

[Ashley Banfield]

But you think he killed her.

[Donna Hooker]

I do. I really do. I really think he killed her because he was so abusive and everything. And he was abusive to his first. His second wife. But I, it just, I just, I, I really did have an issue crying over this and being stressed out because I lost my husband and now this has happened in our life and it was something that I, I couldn't, I couldn't explain. I couldn't Cope with it. I had lots of stress, and I've been under a lot of stress, so.

[Ashley Banfield]

Donna, you don't deserve any of this. And I. I'm so sorry for the

[Donna Hooker]

year that you've had.

[Ashley Banfield]

I know George, number one, having all of this, you know, happen afterwards. My prayers and my thoughts are with

[Donna Hooker]

you, and I am.

[Ashley Banfield]

If there's anything we can do, you know, we're here for you. We're here for justice as well, for Lynette. But I think in justice for Lynette, it is justice for you and the rest of the family as well.

[Donna Hooker]

Yeah, I appreciate that, Ashley. It's. It's just been so hard. It's like, you know, I'm. I. The things that I have had to do on my own, because I don't. I've had to do all the things that George did, and then I finally got a person. Well, my son helps me when he comes, but I have somebody that comes in, you know, helps me. We have three and a half acres, and not all usable, but, you know, animals, deer and all that, you know, I just. And I'm staying in my home.

[Ashley Banfield]

It's not easy. Taking on the burden when your husband dies and then having this emotional burden as well can't be easy.

[Donna Hooker]

Yeah, it's not. It's not easy. And then because you. It's like you go into this depression where, okay, I've let everything go. I can't do that. I have to get myself together. I've got a. You know, I've got a house to take care of, and I got me to take care of. And my. A friend of mine called me, and they were, you know, of course, very upset about everything. And she says, let's go to lunch. I said, really? You know, I haven't stepped foot in a restaurant in four years or anywhere.

[Ashley Banfield]

I hope you went to that lunch.

[Donna Hooker]

We went to lunch, and I ordered eggs Benedict.

[Ashley Banfield]

You deserve.

[Donna Hooker]

They had a great time. And. And my. My. My good. Good friend that lived here, her husband died right before George, so she moved to Idaho with her daughter, so I don't get to see her very much. So, you know, just. Things happen to people. You know, life is so short, and I don't understand why a person has to have that anger in him to do something like that to a human being, especially his wife. You know what I mean? And things that he had said back then, you know, So I don't. I don't. I don't understand. And. I'm just. I'm glad that Jessica Got a hold of me, Brant's daughter from his second marriage. And I'm just glad that I can be, you know, talk to her and be distracted about something. I'm. I. I talked to my cat. You know, I'm hearing. There's my kitty cat. I love him very much. You know, he hasn't left my side since his daddy passed, so he's with me all the time. So give him a big cuddle.

[Ashley Banfield]

Donna, thank you so much for spending this time with me. I appreciate this. And be strong and just, you know, hold it in your heart that we're, you know, there'll be justice. There will be justice for Lynette.

[Donna Hooker]

Yeah. What I. I'm hoping for. She was a really good person. Thank you, Ashley.

[Ashley Banfield]

My great thanks to Donna. And my heart goes out to her for all that she's endured in these last 10 months. And imagine just having to put up with all of this now. This unknowing, the loss of Lynette, the possibility that her stepson did this. Killed Lynette. I mean, you heard what she said. I really think he killed her. Brian, why did you do this? You've hurt so many people. It's just unfathomable to think of what Donna is going through. But justice is coming. I've said it before and I will say it again and I will say it often. Tick tock, Brian. Tick tock. And I will add this. If you know anything about Brian Hooker or what happened in Hawaii, if there was actually a killing, like he apparently said to his parents, please reach out to us. Drop dead serious info gmail.com drop dead serious info gmail.com if you know anything about Brian Hooker in the 80s alleging to have had someone killed. Did he say it to you? Have you heard that he has said it to someone else? Do you know this story in Hawaii? Were you involved at all? Do you know who the victim might be? If there was one. Drop dead serious info gmail.com thank you everyone for listening. Thank you for watching. And remember, the truth isn't just serious. It is drop dead serious.

[Wayfinder Travel Narrator]

The best trips don't just take you somewhere new. They change the way you see the world. On Wayfinder Life changing travel Uncover the delights of every destination across city hideaways and crystal blue shores. Sponsored by Season 2 launch partner Fiji Airways Ways

[Wayfinder Travel Guest]

when it comes to a stopover, people don't recognize the value until they actually do it. So I wanted to see how stopping off in Fiji and doing my buffer there instead of going straight back to Sydney how that shifted me into the mentality and got me ready for going back to real life. And you know, the best cure for anxiety is feeling nurtured and calm and taken care of. And I think Fijian hospitality lends that quite well. Fiji kind of wraps around you in a way that's warmer than everywhere else. I think it's because the culture grew up centered by community.

[Wayfinder Travel Narrator]

Listen to brand new episodes of Wayfinder. Life changing Travel on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[DQ Miracle Treat Day Announcer]

DQ Presents Being a Miracle Maker Making a difference in your community has never been easier because July 30th is miracle treat day at DQ. You buy a Blizzard tree at participating locations and DQ will donate a dollar or more to Children's Miracle Network to benefit your local children's hospital. So on July 30, buy a Blizzard Treat and be a miracle maker. A blizzard eating hero doing their part on miracle treat day. July 30th DQ Happy Taste Good hello,

[Wayfinder Travel Narrator]

my name's Stephen Fry. Today it's my pleasure to be your guide on this quite interesting tour of London.

[Ashley Banfield]

Find out how Big Ben keeps accurate

[Wayfinder Travel Narrator]

time with the help of a handful of pre decimal coins like pennies, farthings and shillings from 1933 and that London's

[Donna Hooker]

classic red phone boxes were actually based on a tomb.

[Ashley Banfield]

Join Stephen Fry and the makers of QI for fun filled and fact laden GPS enabled audio tours.

[Donna Hooker]

Enjoy on location or at home.

[Ashley Banfield]

To get started visit qi.com walkingtours.