Eerie photo shows final moments before bagpiper is killed in Maui leading to missing son found dead in treehouse

A haunting photo was taken of the Hawaiian cove where a beloved bagpiper’s body was found just moments later, ultimately leading to the shocking discovery of his son’s remains. 

Henry Frantz, 74, died off the coast of Maui on March 10 while scuba diving before his missing 28-year-old son’s skeletal remains were discovered at his Atlanta home. 

A couple vacationing in the Maui’s Wailea Resort told WSB-TV2 that they were the first to notice Frantz unresponsive in the ocean after taking photos of the area. 

‘It was just a really tragic situation,’ Samantha Small told the outlet. She and Michael Small shared pictures of their holiday at the Wailea Resort on the fateful day they noticed Frantz in the water. 

‘He wasn’t moving, and I think that was alarming to me too,’ Samantha continued. 

Michael added that he ‘immediately saw [Frantz] in the water.’ 

He told the outlet that he rushed for help from a towel attendant, who radioed for help, and emergency services responded swiftly. 

‘The waves were so rough, and it was so windy,’ Michael added. 

‘It was just a really tragic situation,’ Samantha Small told the outlet. She and Michael Small shared pictures of their holiday at the Wailea Resort on the fateful day they noticed Frantz in the water

Michael added that he ‘immediately saw [Frantz] in the water,’ and said the conditions were ‘rough and so windy’.  Pictured: The cove where Frantz’ body was found, moments before the Smalls spotted and tried to rescue him

But the crews jumped into action despite the dangerous conditions and used a jet ski and a bodyboard to get Frantz out of the water.  

‘They immediately jumped on top of him, and they were giving him CPR,’ Samantha said, but the crews weren’t able to revive him. 

Maui Police said that while on the scuba trip, Frantz had told the group he was diving with that he felt exhausted before disappearing. 

The Smalls wanted Frantz’s family to know they did everything they could think of to help save him. 

‘I’m hoping that in doing this that we can give his family some sense of closure,’ Samantha said. 

The couple added that they were shocked that anyone had been allowed to go into the ocean that day due to the vicious conditions. 

Maui Police are investigating Frantz’s cause of death but suspect no foul play. 

The couple were left shocked as they tried to find Frantz’s identity on social media and instead came across a news story explaining that the bagpiper’s death led to the discovery of his son’s remains in a shocking twist that left their family baffled. 

Dekalb Medical Examiner confirmed that the remains found were of Frantz’s son, but no cause of death could be determined. They do not suspect foul play

The remains were of his son, Henry Doyle Colon Frantz (pictured), who disappeared four years ago at the age of 28 after leaving home, were found in a treehouse in his father’s backyard

Frantz’s family had gone to visit his home following his tragic death to settle his affairs but instead were greeted by the skeletal remains of his son

Frantz’s son, Henry Doyle Colon Frantz, had gone missing four years ago after leaving home. 

‘I mean, I can’t even imagine what that family is going through. That’s so awful,’ Samantha said. 

‘It sounds like it would be something you see on TV, right?’ Michael added. 

Henry Doyle Colon Frantz was discovered inside a treehouse in the bagpiper’s backyard in Decatur, northeast Atlanta, on March 16. 

Frantz’s family had gone to visit his home following his tragic death to settle his affairs but instead were greeted by the skeletal remains of his son. 

The bagpiper’s daughter, Rebecca Frantz Culpepper, said the remains were that of her missing brother. 

Dekalb Medical Examiner confirmed that the remains found were of Frantz’s son, but no cause of death could be determined. They do not suspect foul play. 

Culpepper said that her father maintained a ‘very active lifestyle’ and was seldom visited by his family as they lived in different states. 

Frantz (left) with his son Henry, wife Fran who died in 2018, and daughter Rebecca

Frantz was known as the ‘bagpiper of Decatur’ who played at weddings, funerals, birthday parties and public events 

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

His second wife, Fran, had died of natural causes in 2018 and Frantz had lived alone ever since. 

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, a lot of people and preachers think the pipes at a grave site… helps to let go and is a letting-go facilitator, he told Decaturish in 2015.

‘I know that I am performing something valuable in that instance.’

By day, he was a lawyer and amateur fossil hunter who grew up in Hong Kong, where his Pan Am airline pilot father was stationed and he learned the bagpipes.

‘There was all that pomp and circumstance in Hong Kong… I met up with someone who played in a pipe band and it sort of drew me to it,’ he recalled.

Frantz was one of the founders of the Atlanta Pipe Band in 1970, which has 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.

‘Beyond music, Henry’s curiosity led him to travel the world, explore fossils, and pursue scuba diving. He will be deeply missed but never forgotten.’