Susan Walsh / Associated Press
Reps. Linda Sanchez, D-Calif., left, and Loretta Sanchez, D-Calif, center, pose during a re-enactment of their swearing-in ceremony with Nancy Pelosi on Capitol Hill in Washington, Jan. 4, 2007.

Search expands for lawmakers' missing brother and his girlfriend

Loretta and Linda Sanchez
Susan Walsh / Associated Press
Reps. Linda Sanchez, D-Calif., left, and Loretta Sanchez, D-Calif, center, pose during a re-enactment of their swearing-in ceremony with Nancy Pelosi on Capitol Hill in Washington, Jan. 4, 2007.
The Coast Guard is using sonar and an underwater camera to search the ocean floor near where debris from the pair's pleasure boat was found.
By Tami Abdollah, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
5:29 PM PDT, October 5, 2008
Authorities expanded their search today for the brother of Democratic U.S. Reps. Loretta and Linda Sanchez and his girlfriend after they went missing in a possible boating accident four days ago.

Investigators believe the 26-foot Bayliner pleasure boat carrying Henry Sanchez, 51, and Penny Avlia, 48, may have collided with a barge early Thursday after leaving Alamitos Bay near Long Beach en route to Santa Catalina Island, said Coast Guard Ensign Stephanie Young.

 
She said that the Los Angeles County sheriff's and fire departments, Los Angeles Port Police and Coast Guard investigators were working together using an 87-foot cutter, sonar and a remotely operated vehicle to search the bottom of the ocean floor.

Young said the vehicle can travel up to 150 feet below the water's surface and take pictures, creating imagery of the ocean floor. So far, however, nothing has been found related to the incident, Young said.

Divers expanded their search today beyond the ring where debris from the Bayliner was found, about five miles south of the entrance to Los Angeles Harbor. Young did not know the extension of the area they were searching.

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

tami.abdollah@latimes.com




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