David Raul Pennisi

Pennisi, circa 2004; The Relentless

  • Missing Since 06/21/2004
  • Missing From San Francisco, California
  • Classification Lost/Injured Missing
  • Sex Male
  • Race White
  • Date of Birth 09/24/1962 (61)
  • Age 41 years old
  • Height and Weight Unknown
  • Associated Vehicle(s) 50-foot steel-hulled trawler called Relentless
  • Distinguishing Characteristics Caucasian male. Brown hair. Pennisi's nickname is Rowdy. He is of Italian descent.

Details of Disappearance

Pennisi and his crew member, 24-year-old Michael Odom, were last seen on the 50-foot steel-hulled trawler Relentless off the coast of San Francisco, California on June 21, 2004. They were last tracked by the vessel-monitoring system at 2:00 a.m. They had caught their fill of fish and were on the way home. The ship's distress beacon went off at 4:40 a.m.

The Coast Guard launched an extensive search, but they never found the boat or either of the missing men. They are presumed lost at sea.

A photo of the Relentless is posted with this case summary. Pennisi's family believes the boat was rammed and sunk by the Bum Chin, a nearby South Korean chemical carrier.

Pennisi left behind a large family, including five brothers, three sisters, one stepsister, his father and stepmother, his wife, two sons and one stepdaughter. He fished off many ports in California, Oregon and Alaska.

Photographs and information for Odom are unavailable. Both men are presumed dead.

Investigating Agency

  • United States Coast Guard

Updated 1 time since October 12, 2004. Last updated September 16, 2010; casefile added.