On April 8, Brian was arrested and detained in Marsh Harbour, Abaco.
His lawyer, Terrel A. Butler, released a statement denying his client’s involvement and refuting Aylesworth’s claims.
“Mr. Hooker categorically and unequivocally denies any wrongdoing and, in particular, the allegations recently made by Karli Aylesworth. He has been cooperating with the relevant authorities as part of an ongoing investigation,” he said.
Terrel added his client “has been cooperating with the relevant authorities as part of an ongoing investigation.”
Terrel also told People, “the previous history does not have anything to do with what actually took place on that day.”
He explained, “He’s the only witness to what transpired, and he has said he has done nothing wrong, so to refer to allegations of abuse or a tumultuous relationship does not explain what happened on the day or indicate whether or not he was somehow culpable for anything that may have happened to her.”
Before the arrest, Brian reportedly shared on Facebook that he is “heartbroken over the recent boat accident in unpredictable seas and high winds that caused my beloved Lynette to fall from our small dinghy near Elbow Cay in the Bahamas.”
“Despite desperate attempts to reach her, the winds and currents drove us further apart,” he wrote. “We continue to search for her, and that is my sole focus.”
He also left a voicemail to his stepdaughter, informing her that the Hope Town search and rescue “haven’t found [Lynette] yet.”
“They can now focus of all their efforts on in a smaller area, and they’re still out there searching today. So I just wanted to update you and let you know. I love you. I’ll talk to you later, bye-bye,” he continued.
Meanwhile, Lynette’s mother, Darlene Hamlett, told the Associated Press she was “glad to hear” about the arrest but said she was trying to gather more information about her daughter’s disappearance.
“We have many unanswered questions,” Darlene said. “We are still holding on for a positive outcome to this tragedy.”
Brian is said to have fallen from a police boat as they searched for Lynette during a storm after his arrest. He reportedly sustained an abrasion and a knee injury after plunging into the rough waters.