Joelle Bautista did not feel a sense of peace three weeks ago when divers found a sunken ship off the coast of Mexico that might contain her husband's remains.
Instead, the anger that has made it difficult for the Penngrove woman to sleep some nights spilled over into letters she dispatched this week to the presidents of two countries.
"This event has been referred to as a &‘tragic accident,' but in actuality it was not an accident," she wrote to Mexican President Felipe Calder?.
Fishing Boat Capsizes Off Mexico
A state police helicopter looks for survivors of a fishing boat accident in the waters of the Gulf of California, near the town of San Felipe, Mexico, Tuesday, July 5, 2011. A U.S. tourist died after a fishing boat capsized in an unexpected storm in the Gulf of California off the Baja California peninsula and of the 44 people on the boat, seven U.S. tourists remain missing along with one Mexican crew member, the Mexican navy said. (AP Photo/Francisco Vega)
A state police helicopter searches the waters of the Gulf of California for survivors of a capsized fishing boat near San Felipe, Mexico, Monday, July 4, 2011. A U.S. tourist died after a fishing boat capsized in an unexpected storm in the Gulf of California off the Baja California peninsula and of the 44 people on the boat, seven U.S. tourists remain missing along with one Mexican crew member, the Mexican navy said. (AP Photo/Francisco Vega)
An aerial view of the bay of San Ignacio in the Gulf of California, where several survivors of a capsized fishing boat were rescued earlier near San Felipe, Mexico, Monday, July 4, 2011. A U.S. tourist died after a fishing boat capsized in an unexpected storm in the Gulf of California off the Baja California peninsula and of the 44 people on the boat, seven U.S. tourists remain missing along with one Mexican crew member, the Mexican navy said. (AP Photo/Francisco Vega)
Mexican Navy marines carry supplies for personnel in charge of search and rescue operations after a fishing boat capsized near San Felipe, Mexico, Monday, July 4, 2011. A U.S. tourist died after a fishing boat capsized in an unexpected storm in the Gulf of California off the Baja California peninsula and of the 44 people on the boat, seven U.S. tourists remain missing along with one Mexican crew member, the Mexican navy said. (AP Photo/Francisco Vega)
Navy marines search in the beach by foot after a fishing boat capsized near the town of San Felipe, Mexico, Monday,July 4, 2011. A U.S. tourist died after a fishing boat capsized in an unexpected storm in the Gulf of California off the Baja California peninsula and of the 44 people on the boat, seven U.S. tourists remain missing along with one Mexican crew member, the Mexican navy said. (AP Photo/Francisco Vega)
A Mexican Navy vessel searches the waters of the Gulf of California for survivors of a capsized fishing boat near San Felipe, Mexico, Monday, July 4, 2011. A U.S. tourist died after a fishing boat capsized in an unexpected storm in the Gulf of California off the Baja California peninsula and of the 44 people on the boat, seven U.S. tourists remain missing along with one Mexican crew member, the Mexican navy said. (AP Photo/Francisco Vega)
A Mexican Navy vessel searches the waters of the Gulf of California for survivors of a capsized fishing boat near San Felipe, Mexico, Monday, July 4, 2011. A U.S. tourist died after a fishing boat capsized in an unexpected storm in the Gulf of California off the Baja California peninsula and of the 44 people on the boat, seven U.S. tourists remain missing along with one Mexican crew member, the Mexican navy said. (AP Photo/Francisco Vega)
Navy commander Enrique Flores walks towards a helicopter as he coordinates the navy's search and rescue efforts after a fishing boat capsized near San Felipe, Mexico, Monday, July 4, 2011. A U.S. tourist died after a fishing boat capsized in an unexpected storm in the Gulf of California off the Baja California peninsula and of the 44 people on the boat, seven U.S. tourists remain missing along with one Mexican crew member, the Mexican navy said. (AP Photo/Francisco Vega)
An aerial view of the fishing community of Punta Bufeo, whose residents rescued some tourists after a fishing boat capsized near the town of San Felipe, Mexico, Monday, July 4, 2011. A U.S. tourist died after a fishing boat capsized in an unexpected storm in the Gulf of California off the Baja California peninsula and of the 44 people on the boat, seven U.S. tourists remain missing along with one Mexican crew member, the Mexican navy said. (AP Photo/Francisco Vega)
An aerial view of the bay of San Ignacio in the Gulf of California, where several survivors of a capsized fishing boat were rescued earlier near San Felipe, Mexico, Monday, July 4, 2011. A U.S. tourist died after a fishing boat capsized in an unexpected storm in the Gulf of California off the Baja California peninsula and of the 44 people on the boat, seven U.S. tourists remain missing along with one Mexican crew member, the Mexican navy said. (AP Photo/Francisco Vega)
A Mexican Navy vessel searches the waters of the Gulf of California for survivors of a capsized fishing boat near the town of San Felipe, Mexico, Tuesday, July 5, 2011. A U.S. tourist died after a fishing boat capsized in an unexpected storm in the Gulf of California off the Baja California peninsula and of the 44 people on the boat, seven U.S. tourists remain missing along with one Mexican crew member, the Mexican navy said. (AP Photo/Francisco Vega)
An aerial view of the bay of San Ignacio in the Gulf of California, where several survivors of a capsized fishing boat were rescued near San Felipe, Mexico, Monday, July 4, 2011. A U.S. tourist died after a fishing boat capsized in an unexpected storm in the Gulf of California off the Baja California peninsula and of the 44 people on the boat, seven U.S. tourists remain missing along with one Mexican crew member, the Mexican navy said. (AP Photo/Francisco Vega)
An outside view of the naval hospital where some tourists were taken after they were rescued by the Mexican Navy in San Felipe, Mexico, Monday, July 4, 2011. A U.S. tourist died after a fishing boat capsized in an unexpected storm in the Gulf of California off the Baja California peninsula and of the 44 people on the boat, seven U.S. tourists remain missing along with one Mexican crew member, the Mexican navy said. (AP Photo/Francisco Vega)
A Mexican Navy officer points the location in a map where survivors were rescued after a fishing boat capsized near San Felipe, Mexico, Monday, July 4, 2011. A U.S. tourist died after a fishing boat capsized in an unexpected storm in the Gulf of California off the Baja California peninsula and of the 44 people on the boat, seven U.S. tourists remain missing along with one Mexican crew member, the Mexican navy said. (AP Photo/Francisco Vega)
Brothers Craig Wong, left, and Gary Wong, survivors of a fishing boat that capsized, relax inside a hotel after they were rescued by the Mexican Navy in the town of San Felipe, Mexico, Monday July 4, 2011. A U.S. tourist died after a fishing boat capsized in an unexpected storm in the Gulf of California off the Baja California peninsula and of the 44 people on the boat, seven U.S. tourists remain missing along with one Mexican crew member, the Mexican navy said. (AP Photo/Francisco Vega)
Survivors of a fishing boat that capsized relax inside a hotel after they were rescued by the Mexican Navy in San Felipe, Mexico, Monday, July 4, 2011. A U.S. tourist died after a fishing boat capsized in an unexpected storm in the Gulf of California off the Baja California peninsula and of the 44 people on the boat, seven U.S. tourists remain missing along with one Mexican crew member, the Mexican navy said. (AP Photo/Francisco Vega)
In this image released by the Mexican Navy on Monday July 4, 2011, survivors of a capsized boat sit inside a helicopter after being rescued by the Navy in the town of San Felipe, Mexico Monday July 4, 2011. A U.S. tourist died after a fishing boat capsized in an unexpected storm in the Gulf of California off the Baja California peninsula and of the 44 people on the boat, seven U.S. tourists remain missing along with one Mexican crew member, the Mexican Navy said. (AP Photo/SEMAR)
An aerial view of the island of San Luis, near the bay of San Ignacio in the Gulf of California, where several survivors of a capsized fishing boat were rescued near San Felipe, Mexico, Monday, July 4, 2011. A U.S. tourist died after a fishing boat capsized in an unexpected storm in the Gulf of California off the Baja California peninsula and of the 44 people on the boat, seven U.S. tourists remain missing along with one Mexican crew member, the Mexican navy said. (AP Photo/Francisco Vega)
In this image released by the Mexican Navy on Monday July 4, 2011, a survivor of a capsized boat boards a helicopter carrying the lifesaver from the Erik fishing boat, after being rescued by the Navy in the town of San Felipe, Mexico Monday July 4, 2011. A U.S. tourist died after a fishing boat capsized in an unexpected storm in the Gulf of California off the Baja California peninsula and of the 44 people on the boat, seven U.S. tourists remain missing along with one Mexican crew member, the Mexican Navy said. (AP Photo/SEMAR)
In this image released by the Mexican Navy on Monday July 4, 2011, an injured man who survived after a boat capsized is loaded into an ambulance after being rescued by the Navy in the town of San Felipe, Mexico Monday July 4, 2011. A U.S. tourist died after a fishing boat capsized in an unexpected storm in the Gulf of California off the Baja California peninsula and of the 44 people on the boat, seven U.S. tourists remain missing along with one Mexican crew member, the Mexican Navy said. (AP Photo/SEMAR)
Michael Ng, from Belmont, California, smiles into the camera as he relaxes inside a hotel after he and other tourists were rescued by the Mexican Navy in the town of San Felipe, Mexico, Monday July 4, 2011. A U.S. tourist died after a fishing boat capsized in an unexpected storm in the Gulf of California off the Baja California peninsula and of the 44 people on the boat, seven U.S. tourists remain missing along with one Mexican crew member, the Mexican navy said. (AP Photo/Francisco Vega)
In this image released by the Mexican Navy on Monday July 4, 2011, survivors of a capsized boat are taken away in a vehicle after being rescued by the Navy in the town of San Felipe, Mexico Monday July 4, 2011. A U.S. tourist died after a fishing boat capsized in an unexpected storm in the Gulf of California off the Baja California peninsula and of the 44 people on the boat, seven U.S. tourists remain missing along with one Mexican crew member, the Mexican Navy said. (AP Photo/SEMAR)
A Mexican Navy vessel searches the waters of the Gulf of California for survivors of a capsized fishing boat near the town of San Felipe, Mexico, Tuesday, July 5, 2011. A U.S. tourist died after a fishing boat capsized in an unexpected storm in the Gulf of California off the Baja California peninsula and of the 44 people on the boat, seven U.S. tourists remain missing along with one Mexican crew member, the Mexican navy said. (AP Photo/Francisco Vega)
Aerial view of an unidentified island in the water of the Gulf of California, in the general area where survivors of a boat accident were found near the town of San Felipe, Mexico, Tuesday, July 5, 2011. A U.S. tourist died after a fishing boat capsized in an unexpected storm in the Gulf of California off the Baja California peninsula and of the 44 people on the boat, seven U.S. tourists remain missing along with one Mexican crew member, the Mexican navy said. (AP Photo/Francisco Vega)
Aerial view of Punta Bufeo, near where some tourists were rescued after a fishing boat capsized near the town of San Felipe, Mexico, Tuesday, July 5, 2011. A U.S. tourist died after a fishing boat capsized in an unexpected storm in the Gulf of California off the Baja California peninsula and of the 44 people on the boat, seven U.S. tourists remain missing along with one Mexican crew member, the Mexican Navy said. (AP Photo/Francisco Vega)
The governor of the state of Baja California, Jose Guadalupe Osuna Millan, third from left in the back table, sits with US Consul Steven Kashkett , second from left, and Tintos Finckle, representative of the tourism secretary, left, as he talks to survivors of the fishing boat that capsized in the town of San Felipe, Mexico, Tuesday July 5, 2011. Seven U.S. tourists are still missing two days after their boat capsized as the Mexican navy and the U.S. Coast Guard expanded their search in the Gulf of California, holding out hope that the missing were able to survive in the gulf's balmy waters. (AP Photo/Francisco Vega)
This undated family photo shows Leslie Yee, a retired San Francisco Chronicle circulation manager who was among the dead on the pleasure-fishing boat that capsized off Baja California on Sunday, July 3, 2011. (AP Photo/Family Photo via San Francisco Chronicle)
A Mexican Navy vessel searches the waters of the Gulf of California for survivors of a capsized fishing boat near San Felipe, Mexico, Monday, July 4, 2011. A U.S. tourist died after a fishing boat capsized in an unexpected storm in the Gulf of California off the Baja California peninsula and of the 44 people on the boat, seven U.S. tourists remain missing along with one Mexican crew member, the Mexican navy said. (AP Photo/Francisco Vega)
In this image released by the Mexican Navy on Monday July 4, 2011, an injured man who survived after a boat capsized is prepared to be taken into an ambulance after being rescued by the Navy in the town of San Felipe, Mexico Monday July 4, 2011. A U.S. tourist died after a fishing boat capsized in an unexpected storm in the Gulf of California off the Baja California peninsula and of the 44 people on the boat, seven U.S. tourists remain missing along with one Mexican crew member, the Mexican navy said. (AP Photo/SEMAR)
A state police helicopter searches the waters of the Gulf of California for survivors of a capsized fishing boat near San Felipe, Mexico, Monday, July 4, 2011. A U.S. tourist died after a fishing boat capsized in an unexpected storm in the Gulf of California off the Baja California peninsula and of the 44 people on the boat, seven U.S. tourists remain missing along with one Mexican crew member, the Mexican navy said. (AP Photo/Francisco Vega)
She added: "We hope you value American lives just as you do your own countrymen."
Bautista timed the letters, including one to President Barack Obama, to coincide with the one-year anniversary on Tuesday of the boating disaster that left the mother of two adrift and heartbroken.
Russ Bautista, a retired Pacific Bell worker, was with a group of six Sonoma County men who drove to Baja California last July for what was supposed to be a six-day fishing adventure over the holiday.
It instead turned into a nightmare when the 105-foot Erik began to capsize in a fierce storm just as the boat's occupants, including 27 Americans, were bunking down for the night. As the ship plunged into the dark sea, the men scrambled to get topside and jump overboard.
The survivors floated overnight and for much of the next day in the warm sea before being rescued.
Seven men remain missing and are presumed dead, including Bautista, 60, and Petaluma auto mechanic Shawn Chaddock, 49. Another man, Leslie Yee, 65, of Ceres, is the lone confirmed death so far.
After months of fruitless searching, divers found the boat last month resting upright on the sea's floor nearly 200 feet below the surface. The vessel was entangled in nets from shrimping boats.
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Some family members of the missing want the boat to be recovered in the hope that the remains of their loved ones will be found. But Joelle Bautista, who held a memorial service for her husband Sept. 23 at St. Eugene's Cathedral in Santa Rosa, said she does not need that for closure.
What she seeks is someone to be held accountable so that "these people don't do this again."
<CW-31>The boat company, Baja Sportfishing, once worked out of San Diego, but owner Alexander Velez let the license expire in 2010. The survivors of the disaster said they were told the skipper was warned not to leave port because of bad weather moving in. There also were not enough life jackets for everyone on board</CW>.
Bautista said Mexican authorities have not adequately responded to the families' demands for a thorough investigation and to bring criminal charges against those who were responsible for the tragedy.
"We don't have any answers," she said.
Her letters to Obama and Calder? were signed by all 19 American survivors of the boating disaster and by family members of the missing.
On Tuesday, Bautista and her son, Max, drove out to Spud Point Marina in Bodega Bay to clean Russ' 26-foot Skipjack, which she hopes to sell. The last time she was on it was a couple of months ago when she and her children went fishing with Gary Hanson of Novato, another survivor of the ill-fated Mexican trip. They caught a salmon.
"That was a good day," she said.
She also dropped roses in the water Tuesday in remembrance of her husband and the other men who did not come home from Mexico.
"I'm trying to be positive because that's what Russ would want," she said, her voice cracking. "He had such a good spirit for each day that he lived."
Joelle Bautista did not feel a sense of peace three weeks ago when divers found a sunken ship off the coast of Mexico that might contain her husband's remains.
Instead, the anger that has made it difficult for the Penngrove woman to sleep some nights spilled over into letters she dispatched this week to the presidents of two countries.
"This event has been referred to as a &‘tragic accident,' but in actuality it was not an accident," she wrote to Mexican President Felipe Calder?.
She added: "We hope you value American lives just as you do your own countrymen."
Bautista timed the letters, including one to President Barack Obama, to coincide with the one-year anniversary on Tuesday of the boating disaster that left the mother of two adrift and heartbroken.
Russ Bautista, a retired Pacific Bell worker, was with a group of six Sonoma County men who drove to Baja California last July for what was supposed to be a six-day fishing adventure over the holiday.
It instead turned into a nightmare when the 105-foot Erik began to capsize in a fierce storm just as the boat's occupants, including 27 Americans, were bunking down for the night. As the ship plunged into the dark sea, the men scrambled to get topside and jump overboard.
The survivors floated overnight and for much of the next day in the warm sea before being rescued.
Seven men remain missing and are presumed dead, including Bautista, 60, and Petaluma auto mechanic Shawn Chaddock, 49. Another man, Leslie Yee, 65, of Ceres, is the lone confirmed death so far.
After months of fruitless searching, divers found the boat last month resting upright on the sea's floor nearly 200 feet below the surface. The vessel was entangled in nets from shrimping boats.
Some family members of the missing want the boat to be recovered in the hope that the remains of their loved ones will be found. But Joelle Bautista, who held a memorial service for her husband Sept. 23 at St. Eugene's Cathedral in Santa Rosa, said she does not need that for closure.
What she seeks is someone to be held accountable so that "these people don't do this again."
<CW-31>The boat company, Baja Sportfishing, once worked out of San Diego, but owner Alexander Velez let the license expire in 2010. The survivors of the disaster said they were told the skipper was warned not to leave port because of bad weather moving in. There also were not enough life jackets for everyone on board</CW>.
Bautista said Mexican authorities have not adequately responded to the families' demands for a thorough investigation and to bring criminal charges against those who were responsible for the tragedy.
"We don't have any answers," she said.
Her letters to Obama and Calder? were signed by all 19 American survivors of the boating disaster and by family members of the missing.
On Tuesday, Bautista and her son, Max, drove out to Spud Point Marina in Bodega Bay to clean Russ' 26-foot Skipjack, which she hopes to sell. The last time she was on it was a couple of months ago when she and her children went fishing with Gary Hanson of Novato, another survivor of the ill-fated Mexican trip. They caught a salmon.
"That was a good day," she said.
She also dropped roses in the water Tuesday in remembrance of her husband and the other men who did not come home from Mexico.
"I'm trying to be positive because that's what Russ would want," she said, her voice cracking. "He had such a good spirit for each day that he lived."
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