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A neighbor of the missing mother, Lynette Hooker, had long harbored concerns for her safety and that of her husband, citing ongoing domestic violence as a major issue in their lives.
Jordan Plentz, aged 29, came forward on Thursday following the arrest of Lynette’s husband, Brian Hooker, who was taken into custody in connection with her disappearance in the Bahamas. His arrest followed allegations of abuse.
“I wasn’t surprised when I heard the news,” the neighbor shared with the Detroit News about the mysterious disappearance.
“They’ve been having these fights for quite some time,” Plentz noted. “The level of violence was quite severe.”
Living across from the Hookers in Onsted, Michigan, Plentz admitted that she was unaware of the reasons behind their frequent arguments.
The Hookers, who have been married for about 25 years, had previously split up, before reuniting. There had been at least one call for domestic violence at thir home, with Lynette being the one charged.
They had for the last month been exploring the Bahamas — before Brian reported that his wife fell off the dinghy Saturday night en-route to their yacht, “Soulmate.”
In recent weeks, the couple, who posted on social media under the moniker The Sailing Hookers, documented their adventures, where they were seen on their yacht, snorkeling and scuba diving.
But, Karli Aylesworth, Lynette’s adult daughter, feared something sinister may have happened at sea – alluding to a “history of domestic violence.”
The 28-year-old daughter told Fox News that her volatile stepfather had previously threatened to throw her mom overboard.
“Their relationship has been a lot of fighting and drinking lately,” Aylesworth told CBS.
“So I’m just kind of questioning what actually went on in that dinghy.”
Aylesworth said she just wants to know the truth — and said she hoped it was a “freak accident,” but admitted she has a “hard time believing it at the moment” in a separate NBC interview.
Brian, who denies any involvement in his wife’s disappearance, “categorically denied” the allegations made by Aylesworth, his lawyer has said.
During the search for Lynette, it emerged that cops responded to a 2015 domestic violence case involving the Hookers, according to a police report first seen by NBC.
Brian alleged Lynette struck him four to five times in the face, while she claimed her hubby hit her in the forehead before allegedly choking and punching her once.
He was left with a swollen and bloody nose, while she had no visible injuries, according to cops.
Lynette spent one night in a county jail after being nabbed on assault, and battery/simple assault – but the warrant was denied as it wasn’t clear who started the assault.