New Orleans – A co-worker of the victim says the body pulled from the Mississippi River Tuesday is that of a missing Houston oil executive who had disappeared early Friday morning. Douglas Schantz, 54, was last seen by friends leaving a bar on Bourbon Street. He was discovered in the Mississippi River about 25 yards from the Natchez Riverboat this morning.
Schantz was caught by several surveillance cameras making his way toward the river after leaving the bar. At first, detectives believed Schantz was a victim of foul play, but this morning, police said Schantz most likely had fallen in the river.
A body was discovered by divers around noon near the Natchez. Police later confirmed the victim was Schantz. He was wearing a suit and had all of his personal belongings on him, including credit cards, identification and jewelry. A spokesman with the NOPD says it looks like Schantz died of accidental drowning.
The Coroner's office will perform an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.
Several business surveillance cameras follow Schantz from Bourbon St. to the riverfront around 2:40 a.m. On one camera, Schantz can be seen walking toward the ship’s gang plank. The last shot shows him walking along a narrow pathway near the river’s edge. Schantz was not seen again on any of the security cameras. Police say Schantz was alone in all of the video.
Schantz was discovered near the Toulouse Street Wharf next to where the Natchez docks. Tim Miller, president of Texas Equusearch, one of the companies helpingwith the recovery, said the body was found "very,very near" the spotwhere Schantz was last seen.
Police have since confirmed Schantz was intoxicated around the time he disappeared. He was the president of Houston-based Sequent Energy Management.
