Houston Energy Executive Missing in New Orleans

HOUSTON - Michael Schantz is hitting the streets of New Orleans to find his father.

Katy resident Doug Schantz, 54, disappeared Friday morning at approximately 2 a.m. after leaving a Bourbon Street bar. His credit cards and ATM card have not been used which is making New Orleans police suspect foul play.

"I’m just, you know, still in a little bit of shock. I just want to reach out, you know, to the city of New Orleans, the City of Houston, just please, help me find my father," said Michael Schantz.

Doug Schantz is the president of Sequent Energy Management in downtown Houston. He was visiting New Orleans with several employees to make a donation to his daughter’s university, Tulane.

But Schantz never showed up for the flight home.

“We want to find Doug. Doug is a dear friend to all of us. He's built the company from nothing to 150 people. He is a true leader, a true friend,” said Sequent Energy Management employee Peter Tumminello.

Co-workers and friends of the married father of three gathered in Katy on Sunday at the family’s upscale home to hope and pray for a safe return.

“The only way to describe the mood is concerned. We don't really have a lot of information at this point, so we don't want to speculate anything," said Benjamin Abramson, the company’s director of human resources.

Houston-area search group Texas EquuSearch will likely join in the hunt for Schantz on Monday morning in New Orleans.

“There's always hope that somebody's alive until we know different, you know. I talked to the family and said let's pray to God your phone rings and it's a ransom call,” said Texas EquuSearch founder Tim Miller.

Until then, Michael Schantz will hand out flyers in the historic French Quarter of New Orleans and hoping for a break in the case.

“He’s just a great man, loves the people he works with, loves his wife, and you know my mom, his wife is very upset, just heartbroken,” said Michael Schantz.

Greater New Orleans Crimestoppers is offering a $5,000 reward while Sequent Energy Management is matching that amount.