The Decatur, Georgia community is reeling after a double tragedy strikes one of its most cherished families. Henry Frantz Jr., a 74-year-old attorney and renowned bagpipe player known locally as the “Bagpiper of Decatur,” dies in a scuba diving accident in Maui, Hawaii, on March 10. Just days later, the skeletal remains of his long-missing son, 28-year-old Henry “Hank” Frantz, are discovered in the family’s backyard treehouse.
Frantz Jr. was a founding member of the Atlanta Pipe Band and a beloved fixture at community gatherings, weddings, and funerals for over five decades. His passion for Scottish music, scuba diving, and fossil hunting made him a memorable presence in both local and international circles. His unexpected death while diving off the coast of Maui has prompted investigations by Hawaiian authorities.
As family members begin settling affairs at Frantz’s Decatur home on March 16, his daughter makes a horrifying discovery: human remains inside a small wooden treehouse on the property. The DeKalb County Medical Examiner’s Office later confirms the remains are likely Hank Frantz, who was never formally reported missing but had not been seen by friends or family in four years.
Investigators note that there are no immediate signs of foul play or trauma. The level of decomposition suggests Hank may have died only a few months ago, not four years prior as originally feared. Authorities are currently awaiting DNA or dental record confirmation to officially identify the body, while the cause and manner of death remain under investigation.
Family and friends say Hank struggled with personal challenges but never expressed suicidal thoughts. No missing person report was filed when he disappeared, and it remains unclear whether he had been living off-grid, in hiding, or intermittently returning to the property. The revelation of his death so soon after his father’s passing has added an extra layer of heartbreak to the tragedy.
The Atlanta Pipe Band pays tribute to Frantz Jr. on social media, remembering him as a pioneer in the piping world and a man of deep curiosity and passion. The post reads, “Henry inspired generations of pipers, students, and musicians. His death leaves a void we cannot fill.”
The twin tragedies have left the Frantz family and the broader Decatur community stunned. Local tributes are planned to honor both father and son, and the treehouse where Hank was found is now sealed off as authorities finalize their investigation.
Sources:
https://www.foxnews.com/us/bagpiper-dies-doing-popular-vacation-attraction-days-before-missing-sons-remains-found-backyard-treehouse
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/georgia-henry-frantz-missing-remains-b2722753.html
https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2025/03/25/beloved-decatur-bagpiper-dies-scuba-accident-missing-sons-skeletal-remains-found-treehouse/
https://decaturish.com/2025/03/the-bagpiper-of-decatur-dies-in-scuba-accident-missing-sons-body-found-in-treehouse/
https://www.wwnytv.com/2025/03/26/death-bagpiper-leads-discovery-missing-sons-skeletal-remains-backyard-treehouse/
https://local12.com/news/nation-world/bagpipes-treehouse-remains-missing-skeleton-son-father-backyard-scuba-diving-accident-incident-bagpiper-dead-years-family-investigation-ongoing-foul-play-cause-of-death-elderly-man-identity-confirm-confirmation-killed-died
https://www.wjcl.com/article/atlanta-georgia-skeletal-remains-treehouse/64296079
https://www.kltv.com/2025/03/26/death-bagpiper-leads-discovery-missing-sons-skeletal-remains-backyard-treehouse/
https://www.whio.com/news/local/bagpiper-killed-while-scuba-diving-son-who-vanished-4-years-ago-found-dead-home/RBANZQVELNAEJOUOKMEBRIJK3E/
https://www.yahoo.com/news/atlanta-bagpiper-dies-scuba-diving-213710603.html
https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/dekalb-county/atlanta-bagpiper-killed-scuba-diving-accident-son-who-vanished-4-years-ago-found-dead-home/4DISQQ2ATNGG7OTYBQ7OWURWSU/
https://youtu.be/azT4CPESSo0
