Alright, lets find this guy. The reward is split in half, with $5,000 from Crimestoppers of New Orleans and the other $5,000 coming from Sequent Energy Management. As this thing drags out, I am sure we will see this reward get bigger.
It also sounds like police suspect foul play, and it will be interesting what other information comes out of any future investigations. So for you guys that live in New Orleans, or in the south in general, this would be a good one to go after. Good luck and happy hunting. –Matt
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Houston Energy Executive Missing in New Orleans
08 Mar 2010
CHRIS STIPES
HOUSTON – Michael Schantz is hitting the streets of New Orleans to find his father.
Katy resident Doug Schantz, 54, disappeared Friday morning at approximately 2 a.m. after leaving a Bourbon Street bar. His credit cards and ATM card have not been used which is making New Orleans police suspect foul play.
“I’m just, you know, still in a little bit of shock. I just want to reach out, you know, to the city of New Orleans, the City of Houston, just please, help me find my father,” said Michael Schantz.Doug Schantz is the president of Sequent Energy Management in downtown Houston. He was visiting New Orleans with several employees to make a donation to his daughter’s university, Tulane.
But Schantz never showed up for the flight home.
“We want to find Doug. Doug is a dear friend to all of us. He’s built the company from nothing to 150 people. He is a true leader, a true friend,” said Sequent Energy Management employee Peter Tumminello.Co-workers and friends of the married father of three gathered in Katy on Sunday at the family’s upscale home to hope and pray for a safe return.
“The only way to describe the mood is concerned. We don’t really have a lot of information at this point, so we don’t want to speculate anything,” said Benjamin Abramson, the company’s director of human resources.Houston-area search group Texas EquuSearch will likely join in the hunt for Schantz on Monday morning in New Orleans.
“There’s always hope that somebody’s alive until we know different, you know. I talked to the family and said let’s pray to God your phone rings and it’s a ransom call,” said Texas EquuSearch founder Tim Miller.Until then, Michael Schantz will hand out flyers in the historic French Quarter of New Orleans and hoping for a break in the case.
“He’s just a great man, loves the people he works with, loves his wife, and you know my mom, his wife is very upset, just heartbroken,” said Michael Schantz.Greater New Orleans Crimestoppers is offering a $5,000 reward while Sequent Energy Management is matching that amount.
Story here.
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Houston oil executive remains missing from French Quarter
March 7
Arlene Culpepper
Texas oil executive Douglas Schantz has been missing from the French Quarter since Friday
The case of the missing Houston energy executive is becoming more and more curious and ominous by the hour. Fifty-four year old Douglas Schantz, president of Sequent Energy Management in Houston, Texas, has been missing since early Friday morning when he was last seen leaving Club Razzoo in the 500 block of Bourbon Street. Partial crime camera shots were reportedly taken of Schantz as he exited the club, however it is as if he disappeared into thin air following the last known sighting. His colleagues report that they saw Schantz inside of the club around this time. He has been missing since that time.Schantz was reportedly in town and staying at the Royal Sonesta Hotel with several other oil executives. He traveled to New Orleans to present a $25,000.00 gift to Tulane University. When Schantz failed to meet his daughter later in the morning, a wide scale search began for him. Authorities reportedly have no information on where he might be or what might have happened to him. Friends and family members are canvassing the French Quarter in hopes of finding a clue to his whereabouts, but as of this evening, have been unsuccessful in those attempts.
“Doug was due back Friday morning and hasn’t been seen since 2 a.m. Friday when he was out with a group of co- workers,” said Alan Chapple, a spokesman for AGL and Sequent, in a telephone interview with Bloomberg. “We are working with all law enforcement officials,” he said. “We are doing everything we can to locate Doug and bring him back safely.” According to an article on Bloomberg’s website, NOPD had not returned their call at the time of the post. In stark contrast, an article posted on the Houston Chronicle’s Energy page indicates NOPD is beginning to “fear” that foul play is involved with the executive’s disappearance.
The description of Schantz provided to the media is that Schantz is a white male, approximately 5’11” tall, weighing about 200 pounds. He has blue eyes and a closely cropped, dark blonde hair. Schantz was last seen wearing a navy blazer, with a white dress shirt and tie.A reward of at least $5,000.00 is currently being offered for information helpful to the case. If you have any information on Schantz’s whereabouts or any other information that may help to locate him, please contact Crimestoppers of Greater New Orleans at 504.822.1111 or toll-free at 877.903.7867. You may also report tips online at www.crimestoppersgno.org. If you prefer to contact the NOPD, tips can be phone into 911, the police department at 504.821.2222 or Detective Gwen Guggenheim at 504.658.5300.
On August 28, 2008, a DEA agent in town on business was robbed and left for dead after leaving a bar near the same area of Bourbon Street. It is unclear how many tourists become crime victims annually. Many suspect that crime statistics are manipulated for various reasons.
Story here.