New Search: Doug Schantz, New Orleans, March 5, 2010
Place holder for training of search teams, March 6, Saturday. (12:00 PM noon,
Saturday, March 6)
One of Texas EquuSearch's directors was contacted Saturday morning by a close friend of the
Schantz family for advice and assistance to located their loved one. TES
volunteers, including search coordinator Ken Defoor are on standby awaiting
permission to mobilize into New Orleans. Permission was granted after 12:00 AM
midnight Sunday night/Monday morning, March 8.
March 8, 2010, and early morning March 9
Texas EquuSearch (TES) of Dickinson coordinators mobilized at 12:00 PM noon from Houston; arrived
New Orleans (8:00PM, Monday) to scout area and plan the River sonar search and
to plan land search from temporary command center (2:00AM Tuesday). Silvetti
Marine of Lafayette supplied geophysical survey vessel R/V J. David and three (3)
marine crew which was launched from Lake Pontchartrain at 4:00AM Tuesday morning
and traveled through the locks and under railroad bridges to arrive in the
River. Many thanks to the qualified survey crew from Lafayette, La:
Kim Voorhies, Snr., Gerald Douthit and
Leigh Carrier.
Command center and search plans were modified and the land search cancelled after the loved one was
discovered on private video near a wharf on the River. Late Monday night a decision
was made that additional specialized underwater sonar gear was required due to
the low clearance and shallow water under the wharf which is now the primary
search area; this equipment was hand-carried from Houston to New Orleans by TES
veteran volunteers:
Jan and Alvin Tipps.
River water temperature is 41 - 44 deg.
The River height is 10 ft 4 in, down from 10 ft 6 in on Friday; strong up-steam
eddy currents prevail along the steamboat Natchez wharf; water depth along wharf
is about 14 ft.
March 9, 2010
03/10/10 — The funeral for Douglas Schantz will be held Saturday, March 13,
2010, at 1:30 p.m. — St. Peter’s Methodist Church, 20775 Kingsland Boulevard,
Katy, Texas 77450. Please continue to keep Douglas’ family and friends in your
prayers.
03/09/10 — We are very sad to report that what appears to be the body of Douglas
Schantz was recovered this morning (pending positive identification from the
coroner’s office). Mr. Schantz’ body was located and recovered by Tim Miller and
Ralph Baird of Texas EquuSearch, utilizing our side scan sonar. Steamboat First
Mate Steve Nicoulin was instrumental in planning and operations. Charles Lardner
and Robert Mitchell assisted. Please keep the Schantz family, along with all of
their friends and loved ones, in your prayers during their time of grief.
03/08/10 — Texas EquuSearch has a team traveling to New Orleans today to begin
our search for Douglas Schantz. We will be assisting the New Orleans Police
Department in their efforts. Updates will be posted as they become available.
Please keep Douglas, his family and friends in your prayers during this very
difficult time. Plans are to search the active River and to establish a local
command center to register and coordinate search volunteers.
03/06/10 — Douglas Schantz, age 54, was last seen on Friday, March 5, 2010, at
2:00 a.m. in the 500 block of Bourbon Street in New Orleans, LA. Douglas was
last seen wearing a navy blue blazer, white collar shirt with an unknown color
tie. Please call the New Orleans, LA Police Department at (504) 821-2222
if you have any information.
Texas EquuSearch (TES) of Dickinson coordinators mobilized at 12:00 PM noon from Houston; arrived
New Orleans (8:00PM, Monday) to scout area and plan the River sonar search and
to plan land search from temporary command center (2:00AM Tuesday). Silvetti
Marine of Lafayette supplied geophysical survey vessel R/V J. David and three (3)
marine crew which was launched from Lake Pontchartrain at 4:00AM Tuesday morning
and traveled through the locks and under railroad bridges to arrive in the
River. Many thanks to the qualified survey crew from Lafayette, La: 
