Dog the Bounty Hunter and his wife, Francie Frane, have been left heartbroken after the accidental death of their 13-year-old grandson.
It’s been reported that Frane’s son, Gregory Zecca, shot and killed his child, Anthony Zecca, on Saturday, July 19, in what’s been described as a “freak accident.”
Deputies from the Collier County Sheriff’s Office arrived at Gregory’s home in Naples, Florida, just after 8 p.m. on Saturday following reports of a shooting. They discovered one person dead, according to Page Six. The incident is still under investigation and no arrests have been made.
“We are grieving as a family over this incomprehensible tragic accident,” Dog’s rep told TMZ, “and would ask for continued prayers as we grieve the loss of our beloved grandson, Anthony.”
Dog, 72 – real name Duane Chapman – and Francie tied the knot in 2021, less than two years after his late wife Beth Chapman passed away at 51 from a battle with cancer.
“It’s 5:32 in Hawaii, this is the time she would wake up to go hike Koko Head mountain,” Dog wrote via social media June 26, 2019. “Only today, she hiked the stairway to heaven. We all love you, Beth. See you on the other side.”
Francie’s own late husband, Bob Frane, died from cancer in 2018 – a shared grief that helped bring her and the reality star together.
“We understood the pain that the other one was feeling and [in] those tough days and moments, we helped each other stand up,” Francie explained of their connection in a 2020 interview with Entertainment Tonight. “We could cry with each other and talk about what we were feeling.”
Dog also revealed they both still honor the death dates of their former spouses and “don’t feel guilty” about it, even though it is “ kind of strange” sometimes.
“We’re in love and I say all the time, ‘Beth, I’m glad you provided me with Francie because that wasn’t on my list,’” he shared.
Francie admitted at the time that they were “both still grieving” as they thought they were “going to spend the rest of our lives” with their late spouses.
“That’s not what happened and we were dealt a really hard hand,” she continued. “Both of us had a decision to make – are we going to rise up from the ashes and get back to life and what Beth and Bob would have wanted from us?”
While Dog and Francie previously resided in the Marco Island area in Florida, they are currently living in Georgia.
“We’ve been holding this one close to the chest… but the wait is over,” the pair wrote via Instagram in June. “We’re planting roots, walking in faith, and excited for what’s ahead. Thanks for coming on the ride with us.”
