Haunting New Pictures & Clues, Daughter's New Message to Brian Hooker | Bahamas Mystery
YouTube · ZbQNhkTBDUU
Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖A newly discovered photo shows Brian and Lynette's dinghy at Abaco Inn at 5:41 PM, hours before Brian claimed they left.
- ❖Witnesses at Abaco Inn described Brian as 'pouting' and Lynette 'dancing by herself' at the pool, appearing separated and exhibiting 'not normal' behavior.
- ❖Brian was reportedly seen with two different shirts and two different colored dry bags (yellow and aqua/bluish) on the night/morning of Lynette's disappearance, raising questions about his movements.
- ❖Lynette's Apple Watch, seen in her last photos, was seized on board the 'Soulmate' yacht, suggesting she may have returned to the boat, contradicting Brian's story of her falling off the dinghy.
- ❖Lynette's daughter, Carly, confirmed Brian's history of violence, including choking Lynette and his own daughter, directly refuting his lawyer's claims of 'no evidence' of abuse.
- ❖Brian Hooker has not communicated with Lynette's daughter or mother since her disappearance, which the host finds highly suspicious for an innocent party.
Insights
1Contradictory Dinghy Departure Time and Witness Behavior
A newly discovered photo places Brian and Lynette's dinghy at the Abaco Inn dock at 5:41 PM. Witnesses at the inn observed Brian 'pouting' and staring out to sea, while Lynette danced alone and took selfies at the pool for nearly half an hour. This behavior, described as 'not normal,' contradicts Brian's account of a unified departure and the calm conditions he claimed were present on the leeward side of Elbow Key.
Photo of dinghy at PM; witness accounts of Brian pouting and Lynette dancing alone; host's assessment of weather conditions vs. Brian's claims of 'two to four foot high seas and a screaming wind.'
2Conflicting Accounts of Brian's Clothing and Dry Bag Colors
Bartender Ken recalled Brian wearing a blue and white striped shirt initially, then no shirt. Another witness, who saw surveillance video, described Brian wearing a solid gray or tan shirt later that evening. Furthermore, witnesses who saw Brian after he 'washed ashore' gave conflicting descriptions of his dry bag: some saw a 'banana yellow' one, while others reported an 'aqua' or 'bluish' dry bag. This inconsistency raises questions about Brian's movements and possessions.
Bartender Ken's recollection of Brian's shirts; witness account of surveillance video; varying descriptions from fire and rescue personnel regarding Brian's dry bag color (yellow, aqua, bluish).
3Lynette's Apple Watch Found on 'Soulmate'
Lynette was photographed wearing a pink Apple Watch in her last known photos. A pink Apple Watch was later seized by Bahamian police from the 'Soulmate' yacht. Lynette's daughter confirmed her mother typically removed her watch after dinner to charge it, suggesting Lynette may have returned to the boat, directly contradicting Brian's claim that she fell off the dinghy before reaching the yacht.
Photos of Lynette wearing an Apple Watch; seizure of a pink Apple Watch from 'Soulmate'; Carly Ellsworth's testimony about her mother's watch charging habits.
4Brian's History of Violence and Lack of Communication
Lynette's daughter, Carly Ellsworth, testified that she witnessed Brian choke Lynette and throw her out of a room. She also testified in court about Brian putting his hands around his 12-year-old daughter's neck, leading to charges. Carly expressed disgust at Brian's behavior, particularly his 'smirk' after being released from jail, and noted his complete lack of communication with Lynette's family since her disappearance, which the host deems highly suspicious.
Carly Ellsworth's direct testimony about witnessing Brian's violence against Lynette and his daughter; court documentation of charges; Brian's lack of communication with Lynette's family.
5Brian's Actions on Board 'Soulmate' After Rescue
A rescuer with a clear memory of an 'aqua' dry bag recalled Brian tossing it onto the 'Soulmate' yacht's transom, then 'messing around' with what appeared to be an air conditioning unit for about a minute before going below deck with a police officer for an hour. This action, combined with Brian's recorded statement about 'breaking into my own boat,' suggests he may have been retrieving a 'hide key' or tampering with something, further complicating his narrative of being marooned.
Rescuer's account of Brian's actions with the aqua dry bag and air conditioning unit; Brian's recorded statement about 'breaking into his own boat'.
Bottom Line
A 20-minute gap exists between surveillance video showing Brian and Lynette together walking towards the dock (around 6:38 PM) and a photo of Brian walking alone in the same area (7:00 PM).
This unaccounted-for time period, during which they were separated, could be critical to understanding the events leading up to Lynette's disappearance.
Further investigation into surveillance footage or witness accounts from the Abaco Inn between 6:38 PM and 7:00 PM could reveal what happened during this missing interval.
The conflicting reports of Brian's dry bag color (yellow vs. aqua/bluish) could be explained if he nested one dry bag inside another, potentially to consolidate items or conceal something.
This suggests a deliberate action to alter or manage his possessions, which could be significant if he was trying to hide evidence or change the appearance of what he was carrying.
Investigators should examine the contents and types of dry bags found, and consider the possibility of nesting, to reconcile witness statements and understand Brian's actions with his belongings.
Lessons
- Review personal photos and videos from April 4th, the night before Easter, especially if near the Abaco Inn or Elbow Key, for any images or footage of Brian and Lynette Hooker, their dinghy, or the sunset.
- Check security or surveillance camera footage from 7:00 PM to midnight on April 4th, particularly from properties facing the Sea of Abaco, for any signs of the dinghy or a flare, as Brian claimed to have fired one.
- Submit any relevant information, photos, or videos anonymously to the US Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS) via their app (CGIS tips) or website (p3tips.com) if uncomfortable contacting the podcast directly.
Notable Moments
Witnesses at the Abaco Inn described Brian Hooker as 'pouting' and Lynette dancing alone at the pool for nearly half an hour, appearing distant from each other.
This 'odd behavior' contradicts Brian's narrative of a harmonious evening and suggests marital discord or unusual dynamics just hours before Lynette's disappearance.
A rescuer vividly recalled Brian tossing an 'aqua' dry bag onto the 'Soulmate' yacht and then 'messing around' with an air conditioning unit for a minute before going below deck.
This specific memory, including the dry bag's color and Brian's actions, raises questions about why he would be 'tampering' with an AC unit and leaving a dry bag on the boat if he had been 'marooned' and unable to return.
Lynette's daughter, Carly Ellsworth, became visibly shaken upon seeing a photo of Brian walking alone towards the dock at 7:00 PM, just before her mother's disappearance.
Carly's emotional reaction highlights the significance of the photo and the 20-minute time gap, as it contradicts their usual togetherness and fuels her suspicion about Brian's involvement.
Quotes
"Brian says, 'Lynette just bounced right off the back of that there dinghy in two to four foot high seas and a screaming wind' and everything we found since says horseshit. It's just not true."
"Did Brian have two shirts? It's not weird... But since Brian's story is is that he never made it back to Soulmate, neither did his wife, you better bloody well have those two shirts in your stuff in your dry bag."
"I don't understand why you couldn't just leave her and you had to do this and put everyone that cared about her in more through pain."
"My thoughts on Brian right now with the facts that I know and my gut feeling and seeing other people's point of views like Rachel who was close to my mom, it's just I'm kind of disgusted. Especially after your smirk looking so happy with yourself after you got out of jail. That was kind of gross. It was disgusting to me."
"If she really bounced off the back of your dingy, wouldn't you be talking to her daughter and her mother nonstop? Bup kiss. They've heard nothing from him. In my line of work, that says one thing. Sketchy."
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