Douglas Schantz, 54, was reported missing by his wife after he missed a flight Friday morning with his daughter, according to New Orleans police spokesman Officer Janssen Valencia.
Schantz is the president of a Houston energy company, Sequent Energy Management. According to the company Web site, he has been president of the company since 2003.
"When you talk about, almost two days where he has been unaccounted for, then that is a great concern for us and his family," said Marlon Defillo, NOPD assistant superintendent.
Schantz was in New Orleans to give a donation to Tulane University. Police say he went out with colleagues on Thursday night.
He was last seen by five of his co-workers in the 500 block of Bourbon Street at the Razzoo nightclub around 2 a.m. Friday. They thought he had made his way back to his hotel room at the Royal Sonesta. Surveillance video apparently shows the man near the intersection of Bourbon and Toulouse Streets.
"Typically when you see someone come to the city and want to have a good time, they may be gone for a couple of hours. But when he has had obligations, when he has had engagements that he should have appeared before and failed to do so, and a person of his stature, who is a responsible person with a lot of responsibility, and did not respond-- that's a concern," Defillo said.
Late Saturday evening, Schantz's friends and family spoke at a news conference at the NOPD's 8th District headquarters on Royal Street.
"I've never seen my family so distraught," said Michael Schantz, the man's son. "I just want to find my dad."
Michael Schantz said his sister, who was supposed to accompany her father home on their airline flight, is particularly disturbed by his disappearance.
"She fears to come back to New Orleans after her father disappeared and she loves Tulane, she's two months from being done, and she's just devastated. "
Also at Saturday's press conference, co-worker Peter Tumminello said Schantz's disappearance does not fit his personality.
"We had a noon staff meeting with Doug and Doug is on time everywhere, responds to calls and emails quickly. When he didn't show up at that staff meeting, we knew something had to be wrong," Tumminello said.
Schantz was last seen wearing a navy blue blazer, white collar shirt and a colored tie, according to police.
Police say Schantz's belongings are still in his hotel room and there has been no activity on his cell phones, nor his bank accounts.
"What has happened over the last day and half is totally uncharacteristic of this individual," said Defillo, "not to have contacted his family, not to have contacted his company. He is the president of a major corporation in Houston, Texas. So, there are a number of people that he is dealing with on a regular basis, that he's failed to contact."
Schantz is a white male 200 pounds, 5”11’ tall, medium build, blue eyes, short straight dirty blonde hair.
Crimestoppers is offering a $5,000 reward for information in the case. Anyone with information on Schantz's whereabouts should contact the New Orleans Police Department at 911 or call 504-821-2222 or Detective Gwen Guggenheim at 658-5300.
