A friend of Brian Hooker has revealed that a missing American woman’s husband had a $33,000 thermal camera on his boat, but it was never used to search for her. The incident occurred off Hope Town in the Bahamas on April 4th. Brian Hooker reported to authorities that his wife fell from their dinghy due to rough waters. He eventually reached Marsh Harbour by 4 a.m. on April 5th.
The couple had intended to return to their sailboat, their full-time retirement home, at the time of the incident. They often sailed around the U.S. and Caribbean, as seen on their social media accounts. Brian Hooker and his boat, named Soulmate, possessed a FLIR thermal camera system.
Daniel Danforth, a friend of the couple, informed Fox News Digital that the FLIR system allows for thermal and night vision capabilities. This technology can detect heat signatures, which would have been instrumental in searching for Lynette.
“One of the systems they had on their boat was called a FLIR system,” Danforth explained. “It’s thermally operated and could detect heat signatures.”
The U.S. Coast Guard searched the Soulmate and eventually seized the vessel as it returned to the U.S. from The Bahamas. Danforth had previously informed the Coast Guard about the camera system, which could still hold valuable data.
Danforth met the Hookers in 2023 in New Orleans. He recounted a conversation with Brian Hooker about the thermal camera system, which was said to ensure their safety. Brian Hooker had described setting the camera to track his wife based on her heat signature as she walked along the dock.
On April 6th, Brian Hooker messaged Danforth, stating Lynette swam toward the sailboat after going overboard. Danforth communicated with the Coast Guard about the camera before it was seized sometime between May 8th and 10th. The Coast Guard has since opened a criminal investigation into the disappearance of Lynette Hooker.
“I told them about it, and they were very interested,” Danforth stated. “That was the first they had heard about the system on the boat.”
Brian Hooker left the Bahamas for the U.S. to care for his ill mother after being in police custody for five days. He has not faced any charges. His attorney has requested the public to give him the benefit of the doubt, emphasizing that everyone copes with situations differently.
Fox News Digital contacted Hooker’s attorney and the Coast Guard for further comments. Adam Sabes reports for Fox News Digital and welcomes story tips via email or Twitter.
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