A beloved local bagpipe that is known for playing on community events died in a diving accident – but what hid in his house was even more shocking.
Henry Frantz, 74, died while diving off the coast of Maui on March 10 and his family came to his house in Decatur, Noordoost -Atlanta on March 16 to arrange his business.
To their horror they discovered a human skeleton in a tree house in his back garden on Garden Lane.
The remains were from his son, Henry Doyle Colon Frantz, who disappeared four years ago at the age of 28 after leaving the house.
Frantz's daughter Rebecca Frantz Culpepper said that the body was her missing brother, but the authorities still have to identify it positively.
“We are currently working on confirmation of his identification,” said Dekalb Medical Examiner Chief Deputy Researcher Jess Dillard.
'We are pretty sure that we have his identity, just wait for dental or DNA. The remains were skeleton. No clear signs of injury or trauma. '
The police in Maui investigate Frantz's death, without cause, while the police in Decatur is investigating the death of his son. In both cases, no false game is suspected.
Beloved local bagpipe Henry Frantz, 74, died during the diving of the coast of Maui on March 10 from the coast of Maui
The remains were from his son, Henry Doyle Colon Frantz (photo), who disappeared four years ago at the age of 28 after leaving the house, were found in a tree house in his father's backyard
Frantz's family came to his house in Decatur, Noordoost -Atlanta on March 16, to arrange his affairs, that was when they found his son's skeleton
How the younger man died and his body was dissolving for four years while his father lived there, their families have astonished.
Culpepper said that her father maintained a 'very active lifestyle' lifestyle and was rarely visited by his surviving family while living in different states.
His second wife, Fran, died of natural causes in 2018 and he even lived alone since then. He had five children, including Henry.
Frantz was known as the 'Bagpiper of Decatur' who played at weddings, funerals, birthday parties and public events.
'People have to let go and for some reason many people and preachers think that the pipes on a serious site … helps to let go and is a rental-go facilitator, he told Decaturish in 2015.
“I know that in that case I am executing something valuable.”
Frantz (left) with his son Henry, wife Fran Die died in 2018, and daughter Rebecca
Frantz was one of the founders of the Atlanta Pipe Band in 1970 and also played solo at weddings, funerals, birthday parties and public events
During the day he was a lawyer and amatuer fossil hunter who grew up in Hong Kong, where his pan am airline pilot Father was stationed and he learned the bagpipe.
“There was all that splendor in Hong Kong … I met someone who played in a pipe band and it pulled me a bit,” he remembered.
Frantz was one of the founders of the Atlanta Pipe Band in 1970, who played for presidents Carter and Bush, King Charles, Mikhail Gorbachev and the Dalai Lama.
“His dedication, kindness and high standards inspired generations of pipers,” the band wrote online to honor his death.
'In addition to music, Henry's curiosity led him to travel around the world, explore fossils and strive for diving. He will be missed deeply but will never forget. '
