David Raul "Rowdy" Pennisi, a 41-year-old commercial fisherman from Monterey, California, has been missing since June 21, 2004, after the fishing vessel he was on, the *Relentless*, was lost at sea off the coast of San Francisco. Pennisi, an experienced fisherman, was accompanied by his 24-year-old crew member, Michael Odom. A dedicated family man, Pennisi was married with two sons and a step-daughter. He was well-known and loved within his community.
The fifty-foot steel-hulled trawler, the *Relentless*, was last tracked by its vessel-monitoring system at 2:00 a.m. in the San Francisco shipping lanes. At that time, Pennisi and Odom had finished fishing and were on their way back to shore. Just a couple of hours later, at 4:40 a.m., the ship's emergency position-indicating radio beacon activated, signaling distress. The United States Coast Guard launched an extensive search and rescue operation at first light.
Despite the search efforts, neither David Pennisi, Michael Odom, nor the *Relentless* were ever found. Both men are presumed to be lost at sea. The lack of a mayday call from the experienced and cautious skipper has led his family to believe that whatever occurred happened suddenly and unexpectedly. Pennisi's family has expressed their belief that the *Relentless* may have been struck by a larger vessel, a theory they feel was not adequately investigated by the Coast Guard. They specifically suggested the possibility of a collision with a nearby South Korean chemical carrier.
The family of David Pennisi has voiced their dissatisfaction with the official investigation into the disappearance. They described the lead investigator as harsh and dismissive of their suggestions and extensive fishing experience. The family believes a more thorough investigation, including funding to locate the sunken vessel, could have provided more answers about the fate of the *Relentless* and its crew. David Pennisi was survived by his wife, children, parents, and numerous siblings and extended family members.Last Seen: Jun 21, 2004
