Explosive court documents have surfaced detailing allegations of violent outbursts, pornography use, harassment, and physical abuse made against American boater Brian Hooker by his second wife, Elizabeth Hoseth, during their contentious divorce more than two decades ago. Hoseth, who died in June 2024 at age 64, had successfully obtained a personal protection order against Hooker, citing threats of "an accident," years before his current wife, Lynette Hooker, mysteriously vanished during a dinghy ride in the Bahamas on April 4.
Federal authorities are continuing to investigate Lynette Hooker's disappearance. Brian Hooker, 58, stated that his 55-year-old wife was jolted from their eight-foot dinghy in choppy waters as they traveled from Elbow Cay to their moored sailboat, the Soulmate. He claimed the outboard engine cut out when Lynette went overboard, and the attached engine kill switch prevented him from rescuing her. Hooker then reportedly spent eight hours reaching the neighboring island of Grand Abaco with a single paddle. He has since returned to the U.S. and, through his lawyer, has denied any wrongdoing.
The newly uncovered court filings from Hooker's divorce from Hoseth, married from 1997 to 1999, bear similarities to claims made by Lynette's daughter, Karli Aylesworth. Aylesworth told the Daily Mail that her mother had confided that Brian Hooker once choked her and threatened to throw her overboard. Aylesworth has also expressed doubt about the circumstances of Lynette's disappearance, suggesting her mother may have reached the sailboat safely, "where something may have happened."
In October 1999, Hoseth sought a personal protection order, writing to a judge that Hooker had suggested she not "mess with him" and that there could be an "accident." She reported that during a prior interaction on October 2, 1999, Hooker had threatened her with an "accident." Hoseth also stated that she had filed a report with the Kent County Sheriff's Department concerning his threat, emphasizing, "I have many reasons to consider his threat real!"
Further details in the court filings alleged that during their marriage, Hooker "drank, indulged in pornography and was verbally, emotional and physically abusive to me." Hoseth claimed she had been "kicked, pushed down, spat on" and that Hooker would destroy property during "rages," leaving "marks" on walls. She also stated he was verbally and emotionally abusive to her two children from a previous marriage and accused him of forging her signature to cash an equity check from her house.
Initially denied, a second attempt in Kent County Circuit Court succeeded a month later, resulting in a protection order that banned Hooker from Hoseth's home, from "attacking, beating, molesting or wounding" her, and from threatening to kill or injure her. Hoseth later sought to amend the order, claiming Hooker was obsessively harassing her, showing up at her workplace, and making lewd remarks.
The divorce judgment in October 2000 granted Hoseth physical custody of their daughter. Later filings indicated Hooker had moved on romantically and planned to cohabit with his partner, identified as Lynette, whom he would later marry.
Brian Hooker's first marriage to Deborah ended in divorce in December 1994. They had two children. His first wedding was in November 1989. Deborah, now remarried, declined to comment on Hooker.
Lynette Hooker, 55, vanished on April 4 after she reportedly fell from their dinghy. Brian Hooker was initially detained for five days by Bahamian police but was not charged. Aylesworth has questioned her stepfather's account, noting inconsistencies in his timeline and the location of the alleged incident. GPS data from one of Hooker's devices reportedly did not align with his statements to investigators, prompting a revised search area by the U.S. Coast Guard. Security footage from Marsh Harbour Boat Yard shows Hooker arriving around 3:35 a.m. on April 5, appearing exhausted but not overtly emotional. A night security guard recalled Hooker stating they had been drinking and that he should have known better, and that his wife was still in the water. The guard contacted authorities after Hooker's statement.