Brother Of U.S. Reps. Missing After Boating Crash
Congresswomen Say Brother's Girlfriend Also Missing

POSTED: 12:45 pm PDT October 3, 2008
UPDATED: 7:01 pm PDT October 3, 2008

LOS ANGELES -- California U.S. Reps. Loretta and Linda Sanchez say their brother Henry and his girlfriend are missing after a possible boating crashn off the Southern California coast.

The sisters said in a statement issued Friday that a debris field found off the coast contained fragments from the boat their brother was aboard with his girlfriend, Penny Avila. Authorities said life jackets, a cooler with food, a sandal, and pieces of a boat were found in the water, according to the Long Beach Press-Telegram newspaper.

The Coast Guard said Henry Sanchez and his girlfriend left Alamitos Bay near Long Beach late Wednesday or early Thursday en route to Santa Catalina Island and never arrived.

Ensign Stephanie Young said the debris was found about five miles south of the Los Angeles harbor entrance at 7:30 a.m. Thursday. Young said investigators are attempting to determine whether there was a collision.

The incident likely took place in a so-called precautionary area where northbound and southbound maritime traffic meets outside the twin ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.

"We have an indication there was a possible collision and we're still looking into that," Young said.

The Sanchez sisters released the following joint statement:

"Yesterday afternoon, our family was notified by the U.S. Coast Guard of a possible boating accident involving a family member. Our brother Henry Sanchez and his girlfriend Penny Avila left the Long Beach Harbor en route to Catalina Island at midnight and they never arrived. A debris field was found off the coast and it was determined fragments were from the boat our brother was on. Our family is thankful of the search and rescue efforts by the U.S. Coast Guard and other local agencies. We pray and hope that Henry and Penny are found alive and well."

Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Steve Hall said the couple were in a Bayliner pleasure boat. Investigators were working to identify a second vessel, he said.

The Coast Guard, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and other agencies were searched the ocean and checked area hospitals, Young said.

A secondary search crew used sonar. The Coast Guard suspended its search Friday afternoon.

Crews plan to return to the site Saturday.

Catalina, about 20 miles off the coast, is a popular destination for boaters.

Loretta Sanchez represents the 47th District in Orange County. Linda Sanchez represents the 39th District in Los Angeles County.

Dive Teams Find Boat On Ocean Floor Off San Pedro
POSTED: 3:49 pm PDT October 7, 2008
UPDATED: 5:07 pm PDT October 7, 2008

LOS ANGELES -- A recreational vessel found on the ocean floor Tuesday by Los Angeles County sheriff's dive teams is believed to be the Bayliner that missing boaters Henry Sanchez and his companion were aboard, the U.S. Coast Guard reported.

The 51-year-old brother of congresswomen Loretta and Linda Sanchez and his companion, 48-year-old Penny Avila, both of Santa Ana, are believed to have been killed early last Thursday when their motorboat collided with the Islander, a barge being towed by Rebel II, a tugboat out of San Pedro.

A debris field about five miles offshore was reported by a boater the following morning, and investigators recovered from the Islander a section of fiberglass containing a vessel registration number matching Sanchez's boat, according to the Coast Guard.

After searching more than 300 square miles into the next night, the Coast Guard suspended the search for survivors but continued investigating the circumstances of the accident.

The boat fitting the profile of the missing 26-foot Bayliner was found upside down on the ocean floor, fives miles south of the entrance to Los Angeles Harbor at a depth of 150 feet, about 12:30 p.m.

Based on past photos of the boat and the location of the wreck near the suspected collision site, authorities are convinced they have found the missing vessel, according to the Coast Guard.

Later Tuesday, agencies involved in the hunt will develop a dive plan to put into effect Wednesday morning in an attempt to refloat the hull and pass it on to the Coast Guard for evidence in the investigation.

Agencies involved in the search included the Coast Guard, the Los Angeles Port Police, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Long Beach Fire Department and Los Angeles County Lifeguards.

Sanchez and Avila were en route from Alamitos Bay to Two Harbors on the west end of Santa Catalina Island when the collision occurred about midnight Thursday.

Calif. congresswomen's brother and his girlfriend missing after boat debris found offshore
By RAQUEL MARIA DILLON

LOS ANGELES (AP) _ The brother of Congresswomen Loretta and Linda Sanchez and his girlfriend were missing Friday after their boat was apparently destroyed, possibly in a collision with a barge outside the nation's largest port complex.

A debris field found in the ocean contained fragments from the 26-foot boat Henry Sanchez was aboard with his girlfriend, Penny Avila, the Sanchez sisters said in a statement issued in Washington.

"We pray and hope that Henry and Penny are found alive and well," the sisters wrote.

The Coast Guard said Friday night that the boat may have collided with a barge being towed about 5 miles south of the Los Angeles harbor entrance.

The Catalina Freight Co., which owns the barge, is cooperating with investigators, said Coast Guard Ensign Stephanie Young. A message left with the Los Angeles-based freight company was not immediately returned Friday night.

Henry Sanchez, 51, and Avila, 48, both of Santa Ana, left Alamitos Bay near Long Beach late Wednesday or early Thursday en route to Santa Catalina Island and never arrived, Coast Guard Ensign Stephanie Young said.

The debris was found by a passing boater about 5 miles south of the Los Angeles harbor entrance at 7:30 a.m. Thursday, she said. A search was called off at midday Friday after covering 300 square miles.

The boat was probably destroyed in a so-called precautionary area, where northbound and southbound maritime traffic meets outside the twin ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. It probably happened after midnight Wednesday, Young said.

"We have an indication there was a possible collision, and we're still looking into that," she said.

Dive teams and sonar operators looked for more debris Friday until the water got choppy. They planned to resume Saturday.

Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Jeffrey Hall said the couple were in a Bayliner pleasure boat, identified by a registration number found on a piece of fiberglass debris. Investigators were working to identify a second vessel, he said.

KABC-TV showed Coast Guard personnel bringing ashore debris including part of small metal boat, a broken ice chest, a lifejacket, wood and several toy swords. This weekend is the annual Buccaneer Days pirate-theme festival at the island village of Two Harbors.

Catalina, about 20 miles off the coast, is a popular destination for boaters.

Loretta Sanchez represents the 47th District in Orange County. Linda Sanchez represents the 39th District in Los Angeles County.

...left Alamitos Bay near Long Beach late Wednesday or early Thursday en route to Santa Catalina Island...