Two bodies found in ocean search for congresswomen's brother and companion

Dive teams searching for the brother of two congresswomen and his companion near San Pedro have found two bodies, the U.S. Coast Guard said Thursday.

Teams from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and the Los Angeles Port Police recovered the bodies late Wednesday night while searching an area about five miles south of the entrance to Los Angeles Harbor, said Stephanie Young, a public information officer with the Coast Guard's office in San Pedro.

The coroner's office has not yet identified the two bodies, but is gathering dental records and medical X-rays, said Lt. Ed Winter, assistant chief of the Los Angeles County coroner's office.

On Tuesday, dive teams found wreckage believed to be the recreational vessel carrying Henry Sanchez, 51, and Penny Avila, 48, both of Santa Ana, Los Angeles County sheriff's officials said. Sanchez is the brother of Democratic U.S. Reps. Loretta Sanchez, of Garden Grove, and Linda Sanchez, of Cerritos.

A boat matching the description of the 26-foot Bayliner that had been carrying the pair was discovered at 12:20 p.m. It was upside down on the ocean floor, at a depth of about 150 feet.

Based on photos of the boat and the location of the wreckage, sheriff's dive teams and the port police believe it may be the one that carried Sanchez and Avila.

The boat was refloated and towed in on Wednesday night, Young said. It is now at Berth 87 at the port, under secure guard. She said investigators are still trying to figure out how and why the boat sank.

Authorities began searching for Sanchez and Avila after a passing boater saw debris last Thursday and reported it to the Coast Guard.

Searchers believe the boat may have collided with a barge. The couple had left Los Alamitos Bay for Santa Catalina Island late last Wednesday but never arrived.

jia-rui.chong@latimes.com

jean.merl@latimes.com