Lynette Hooker’s husband, Brian Hooker, has been released from prison without charges, but remains a suspect in his wife’s disappearance in the Bahamas.
Brian’s attorney, Terrel Butler, told reporters that authorities “had no evidence” against her client so they were required to release him on Monday, April 13, according to NBC News.
Butler added that Brian, 58, was “very emotional” and needed time to “de-stress from this horrible experience.”
Brian was taken into custody on April 8, which was just three days after he told Bahamian authorities that Lynette, 55, fell off the dinghy they were riding on April 4. He claimed she fell overboard with the key to the vessel, and he was forced to paddle from Elbow Cay to Marsh Harbor Boat Yard before he was able to notify police.
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Royal Bahamas Police Commissioner Shanta Knowles explained that authorities decided to release Brian after meeting with prosecutors, according to the outlet. Knowles added that he will remain a suspect in the ongoing investigation.
Lynette’s body has not yet been found, and police remain hopeful that they’ll find her.
Butler said that police previously questioned Brian on April 10 for more than three hours, inquiring about whether he caused harm to Lynette. Additionally, he was also asked to share details about his relationship with his wife and their personal life.
Brian’s attorney has since said that there’s no evidence to connect Brian to Lynette’s disappearance.
“He was uncertain as to why they were questioning him about causing harm or possible murder when they had not given him any information where she is, if they had recovered her,” Butler said on April 10, per NBC News.
Brian has also maintained his innocence when it comes to his wife’s disappearance.
“He definitely denies causing her death, and he still asked about her and is hopeful that she will be recovered,” Butler said.
Following Lynette’s disappearance, her daughter, Karli Aylesworth, questioned her stepfather’s version of events.
“I hope this was just a freak accident, but I just have a hard time believing it at the moment,” Aylesworth said on April 9, per the outlet. “I just want to know the truth.”
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Aylesworth also said she was skeptical that her mother’s disappearance was an accident.
“I feel like this was probably preplanned, if anything, like, it doesn’t seem like just some accident,” she said.
Additionally, Aylesworth told the outlet that the couple had “a history of not getting along, especially when they drink.”
After Aylesworth weighed in on the situation, Butler said that Brian “categorically and unequivocally denies any wrongdoing and in particular the allegations recently made by Karli Aylesworth.”
