Wondering what happened to Litzi Botello from Port Protection and why fans still ask about her absence? Her sudden disappearance from recent episodes, followed by confirmation of her passing, left many viewers seeking answers about her life and family. Her story resurfaced as fans revisited the show and shared memories online.
Here’s what happened to Litzi Botello and her sons, and how her life unfolded off camera in Port Protection, Alaska.
Here’s what happened to Port Protection’s Litzi Botello?
Litzi Botello, a resident of Port Protection, Alaska, passed away on June 25, 2021, at the age of 62. According to her husband, John Bean, she died from ovarian cancer. Her obituary in the Ketchikan Daily News confirmed she died in Port Protection and was survived by her husband, though both of her sons had passed before her.
Litzi joined Port Protection during Season 4 and quickly became a memorable figure known for her resilience and artistry, often called the “One Arm Mexican.” In a Facebook group dedicated to the show, fans expressed sorrow over her death, with one writing, “I have missed seeing her. Love to watch her fillet fish.” Her husband revealed she had gone into surgery for ovarian cancer on the same day her longtime friend Gary Muehlberger died in a house fire in March 2021.
The fates of Litzi Botello’s sons, explored
Litzi Botello experienced the loss of both her sons, Johnny Botello and Leland Dean, prior to her own passing.
Johnny died in a car accident in 2015 at the age of 18 after a near head-on collision near Klawock, Alaska. Public sources have released limited details about Leland’s death, and they have not confirmed any specific cause or date.
In 2019, Litzi referred to both sons in the past tense, suggesting Leland had also passed by that time. Her obituary stated that her two sons preceded her in death. Due to the private and remote nature of Port Protection, little additional information is available regarding Leland’s life or death.
Litzi’s husband shared that she enjoyed “supporting women in any way possible” and “spreading love,” and the show portrayed her close bond with friend Gary Muehlberger, who said, “I can start a story and she can finish it.”