Elias Castillo, author of the book A Cross of Thorns: Enslavement of California Indians by the Spanish Missions , and an award-winning reporter during his 20-year career with the San Jose Mercury News , died Feb. 11 in Redwood City following a brief illness.  He was 80.

His awards included those reporting on the plight of illegal aliens working in California's fields, the path followed by immigrants from rural Mexico to the Santa Clara Valley, and on the legal and health issues facing young Americans held in Mexican jails. In 1979, he and co-author Marita Hernandez were awarded the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award for their series "Dream of the North."

Other reporting by Castillo touched off federal investigations of potential voter fraud in California and misuse of funds from the Department of Housing and Urban Development by the Model Cities program in San Jose, plus a state investigation of the California Boxing Commission. After leaving daily journalism, Castillo received a  grant from National Geographic Society and led a scientific exploration of Mexico's Copper Canyon, documenting ecological changes and threats. He later published several pieces about the expedition.

An opinion piece by Castillo, published in the San Francisco Chronicle Nov. 8, 2004, was the inspiration for the book. Castillo's piece, "The Dark, Terrible Secret of California's Missions," was printed after California Sen. Barbara Boxer proposed legislation to provide $10 million in federal funds to restore California's missions, which the legislation described as places where Indians and the friars lived in harmony.  Castillo's piece refuting that description was read into the Congressional Record .  Both the Chronicle editorial page piece and the Congressional Record produced an outpouring of comments supporting Castillo's criticisms and led him to write the book.

After nearly 10 years of research, his book A Cross of Thorns —detailing how harsh treatment by Junipero Serra and the Franciscan missionaries led to the deaths of more than 60,000 of California's indigenous people—was published in 2015, just days after Pope Francis had taken steps to declare Serra a saint.  Native groups cited the book in opposing the beatification and sent copies to the Vatican in an unsuccessful effort to head off the move. The New York Times , pointing to the efforts, cited Castillo's book as providing details to support those arguments.

"The book described in detail things I had been talking about for years, but no one would listen to me," said Valentin Lopez, chairman of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band of Costanoan/Ohlone Indians. "It has been very important in getting our history told."

"While many Americans know of the Trail of Tears and other Indian atrocities, most do not know of the atrocities perpetrated on Indian people in California. A Cross of Thorns sheds light on this period in history," said retired U.S. Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell of Colorado.

The book, published by Craven Street Press, has been used in classes taught at University of California Berkeley, UCLA, Stanford, Oklahoma State University, and other schools.

Castillo also reported extensively on criminal organizations and drug trafficking into the United States. He co-authored a chapter in the book Organized Crime and Democratic Governability: Mexico and the U.S. Mexican Borderland s, University of Pittsburgh Press.

Born in Mexicali, Mex., Castillo received BA and MA degrees from San Jose State University. Before coming to San Jose he worked for the Reno Evening Gazette and for Associated Press in Seattle. He taught journalism classes at San Jose State University and worked as a consultant for the Union of American Physicians and Dentists.

He is survived by his wife of more than 50 years Cathy Neville Castillo, his brother Frank Abundis, sister Patricia Connor, and five nieces and nephews. A memorial service is being planned.

A Cross of Thorns website https://eliasacastillo.net

Others to contact for comment

Pete Carey

Ken McLaughlin

Kent Sorsky, editor, Craven Street Books, Fresno, CA kent@linden.com 800 345 4447

Valentin Lopez, vjltesting@aol.com