Georgia bagpiper dies in scuba accident days before son’s remains found in backyard treehouse

Beloved Georgia bagpiper Henry Frantz Jr. died in Hawaii, days before his missing son’s skeleton was discovered.

A Georgia family made a disturbing discovery while settling the estate of 74-year-old Henry Frantz Jr., a beloved local bagpiper who died earlier this month. Frantz died in a scuba diving accident in Hawaii on March 10, and just six days later, his relatives discovered skeletal remains inside a treehouse in his backyard in Decatur, about 15 miles outside Atlanta.

The remains were confirmed to belong to Frantz’s son, Henry Doyle Colon Frantz, who went missing over four years ago at the age of 28. Speaking about her brother’s disappearance, Rebecca Frantz Culpepper said, “He left home one day, and he apparently came back.”

The DeKalb County Medical Examiner is investigating the cause of death, but officials reportedly told the family that foul play is not suspected. Frantz Jr., a father of four, had lived alone since the death of his second wife in 2018. His daughter told the Daily Mail that the family rarely visited due to living out of state.

Frantz was a founding member of the Atlanta Pipe Band and had played with the group for 55 years. In a tribute, the band praised his contributions as “immeasurable” and highlighted his adventurous spirit, noting his love of travel, fossil hunting, and scuba diving. The band has performed for global figures including Presidents Carter and George H.W. Bush, Prince Charles, Mikhail Gorbachev, and the Dalai Lama.

Known in his community as the “bagpiper of Decatur,” Frantz also worked as an attorney and frequently performed at weddings, funerals, and local events. Reflecting on the tragedy, Frantz’s friend Leonard E. Wood said, “All I know is he was a good kid… terrible tragedy. I can’t imagine.”