GPS data appears to contradict Brian Hooker's account of wife's disappearance

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Newly obtained GPS information successful the lawsuit of Lynette Hooker's disappearance successful the Bahamas has prompted U.S. investigators to relaunch a hunt for the assemblage of the missing Michigan woman, a U.S. authoritative acquainted with the probe told CBS News.

After the forensic grounds appeared to contradict her husband's relationship of wherever helium was the nighttime she disappeared, U.S. investigators are asking the Bahamas for support to nonstop a dive squad to hunt caller areas successful the Sea of Abaco for the assemblage of Lynette Hooker.

The U.S. authoritative told CBS News that GPS information derived from 1 of Brian Hooker's physics devices showed a way of the device's movements that does not align with what helium told investigators. The recently obtained information shows the instrumentality was retired connected the water, stopping successful the Sea of Abaco earlier returning, the authoritative said, granting investigators a much precise determination to search.

Coast Guard investigators person besides asked household members of Lynette Hooker to supply their DNA to assistance successful their investigation, household members told CBS News.

The remainder of the grounds from the lawsuit is inactive being processed by the FBI successful Quantico, but investigators judge GPS accusation extracted from astatine slightest 1 physics instrumentality has identified antecedently unsearched areas wherever divers should present look for further evidence, including Lynette Hooker's body.

Because the hunt would instrumentality spot successful Bahamian territorial waters, U.S. authorities person to question support from the Bahamas, adjacent though the vas progressive is U.S.-flagged.

The latest improvement marks 1 of the astir important turns yet successful the probe into Lynette Hooker's disappearance, raising caller questions astir Brian Hooker's relationship of what happened connected April 4, the nighttime his woman vanished. Brian Hooker told authorities that his woman fell from an 8-foot dinghy during a nighttime thrust successful the Abacos and was swept distant with the vessel keys, leaving him incapable to restart the motor and forcing him to paddle for hours earlier reaching shore, CBS News antecedently reported.

Lynette Hooker was past seen adjacent Aunt Pat's Bay, adjacent Elbow Cay and Hope Town, Brian Hooker reported to section authorities.

Brian Hooker has denied wrongdoing and has not been charged with a crime. He was detained by Bahamian authorities for questioning and released without charges aft 5 days. After being released from custody, helium traveled to the U.S. to spot his ailing mother, according to his Bahamian attorney. His existent whereabouts are not known.

CBS News has besides reported that Brian Hooker shared maps helium said showed the dinghy's way and the determination wherever Lynette Hooker went overboard.

But investigators present judge they person autarkic forensic information that undercuts that mentation of events, pointing them alternatively to a antithetic hunt area.

The planned dive hunt comes amid an expanding U.S. transgression investigation. The Coast Guard Investigative Service seized the couple's sailboat, the "Soulmate", earlier this period arsenic portion of the probe, CBS News antecedently reported. Investigators person besides been examining whether exertion aboard the vessel, including an infrared camera, whitethorn clasp grounds applicable to the case.

While it is not known if Brian Hooker utilized the camera, it is presently being processed arsenic portion of the ongoing probe, according to sources.

Cristian Benavides contributed to this report.

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