One day after the body of Sequent Energy Management President Douglas N. Schantz was found in the Mississippi River, the New Orleans coroner confirmed last Wednesday that Schantz had drowned after likely hitting his head while falling from the dock. Family and friends warmly remembered the executive last week.

A search involving local and federal law enforcement and Texas EquuSearch, a mounted search and recovery team, was launched after Schantz, 54, disappeared March 5 at 2 a.m. CST after leaving the Razzoo Bar and Patio on Bourbon Street.

New Orleans coroner Frank Minyard said Wednesday’s autopsy found a lesion on his forehead as well as evidence that pointed to drowning, according to The Times-Picayune. Blood results to determine how many drinks Schantz had were expected to come back in a couple of weeks.

“Our hearts are heavy,” said John W. Somerhalder II, CEO of AGL Resources, parent company of Sequent Energy Management. “Doug was a dear friend to all who knew him and a beloved leader of Sequent employees. He will be deeply missed.”

On the “Have you seen Doug Schantz?” Facebook group, which was set up to help locate him following his disappearance, hundreds of people including family and friends mourned his loss after it was revealed that his body was found in the river last Tuesday morning by members of Texas EquuSearch using side scan sonar.

According to the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD), a camera captured Schantz in a restricted area near the Toulouse Wharf on a small ledge next to the Natchez riverboat at 2:40 a.m. CST, about 40 minutes after he left the Razzoo Bar and Patio. Police Chief Warren Riley said Schantz had been drinking and “appeared disoriented.”

Schantz was found with all his personal belongings, including his wallet, credit cards, identification and jewelry, the NOPD said in a statement.

He was in town with some coworkers to present a $25,000 donation to the Tulane Energy Institute at Tulane University during a reception Thursday.

Peter Tumminello, executive vice president at Sequent, is serving as acting president of the Houston-based business. Tumminello was named executive vice president of business development and support for Sequent Energy Management in February 2007.

Schantz, who was named president of Sequent in May 2003, led all aspects of Sequent’s operations, including natural gas asset management, supply and distribution, trading and producer services. He had 20 years of experience in the energy industry and natural gas markets and came to Sequent from Cinergy Marketing and Trading.

Sequent began operations in 2001 in Houston, quickly building a natural gas business providing customers with asset management and optimization, storage, transportation, producer and peaking services, and wholesale marketing. Currently Sequent buys and sells natural gas, with daily physical volumes of more than 2.7 Bcf, across more than 70 pipelines with more than 330 counterparties located across North America.

Schantz leaves behind a wife and three adult children.

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