Duane 'Dog the Bounty Hunter' Chapman and Wife Francie Mourn Her Grandson's Death at 13

The 72-year-old former bail bondsman and his spouse are facing profound personal loss following a devastating incident that has shaken their family. The couple is asking for privacy and prayers as they grieve together.

Duane "Dog the Bounty Hunter" Chapman and his wife, Francie Frane, are dealing with a heartbreaking family tragedy. Francie's 13-year-old grandson, Anthony, was shot and killed in what has been described as an accidental shooting involving his father, Gregory Zecca. Gregory is Francie's son from a previous marriage.

TMZ reported that the incident took place Saturday night (July 19, 2025) at an apartment in Naples, Florida. Law enforcement responded to a call about the shooting around 8 p.m. ET. No arrests have been made, and authorities have categorized the case as an "isolated incident." Investigations remain ongoing.

The couple, through a representative, issued a statement to TMZ that read, "We are grieving as a family over this incomprehensible tragic accident and would ask for continued prayers as we grieve the loss of our beloved grandson, Anthony." They have asked for privacy during this period of mourning.

Gregory works with Duane on his bounty hunting team, where he joins his daughter, Lyssa. Following the incident, Gregory deactivated his Instagram account, which previously appeared under the handle @zeccagreg.

Just over a year ago, in June 2023, Francie shared a sweet photograph of Anthony on Instagram. In the image, Anthony is seen smiling next to her in front of a large wine display. She captioned the photo, "Birthday Dinner With One Of My Favorites Boys."

In the second image, shared in July 2023, Anthony poses cheerfully with both Francie and Duane. The caption read, "The Boy Is 11 Today & We're On Our Way To Bush Gardens For Birthday Fun!!!"

The family had also celebrated Anthony's faith publicly. In June 2024, the boy appeared in a segment of "Fearless Friday with Francie," where he shared two personal experiences that he said were moments of spiritual intervention.

Anthony recounted a time when Francie's ankle was believed to be broken but was later declared healed by doctors. He said that while waiting with Duane in the hospital, he felt a gust of wind pass through — a moment he believed was the Holy Spirit.

The same sensation occurred again while he was in the room next to Francie. Soon after, doctors shared that her condition had improved.

In another account, Anthony told Francie that a boy at school who previously identified as an atheist decided to become a Christian after hearing Anthony's stories about God. The boy told Anthony that God and Jesus had revealed themselves to him, and they later started a group chat where they regularly discussed Bible stories and verses.

A month later, in July 2024, Francie and Duane posted a lighthearted video featuring Anthony. The clip showed the three sitting in the backseat of a car, singing and laughing together.

The video was captioned, "Happy Monday!!!! We had the best weekend celebrating our grandson Anthony at the @usnavyblueangels event for his birthday!!!! Here's what being on the road looks like with Memaw and Grandpa."

The devastating loss of Anthony adds another painful chapter to the lives of Duane and Francie, both of whom have previously experienced deep personal loss.

Duane's late wife, Beth Chapman, died on June 26, 2019, at the age of 51 following a battle with cancer. On the morning of her passing, he shared a tribute on X, writing, "It's 5:32 in Hawaii, this is the time she would wake up to go hike Koko Head mountain. Only today, she hiked the stairway to heaven. We all love you, Beth. See you on the other side."

According to a representative for the family, Beth died at exactly 5:32 a.m. while surrounded by family, with Duane by her side, holding her hand.

Beth's passing came days after she was placed in a medically induced coma at Queen's Medical Center in Hawaii on June 22, 2019. At the time, Duane had asked the public to "please say your prayers for Beth right now," describing the situation as "quite serious."

Her cancer journey began with a stage II throat cancer diagnosis in September 2017, and though she underwent surgery to remove a tumor, her recovery remained difficult.

Beth spoke candidly about her battle in November 2017, "I knew I couldn't let it take me over. I had to keep moving, every day, moving forward." She expressed belief in the power of prayer, while Duane often referred to her as tough and strong throughout the ordeal.

Following Beth's death, Duane publicly grieved and initially said he would never marry again. However, his life took a turn when he met Francie. In September 2021, the two were married in Colorado.

Francie, who also lost her spouse, Bob, to cancer just six months before Beth passed, had undergone a similar grief. Their shared experiences of loss formed the foundation of their bond.

Francie and Duane have openly discussed how their connection began. Francie had never heard of "Dog the Bounty Hunter" until a friend suggested she and Duane meet, just two days after Beth's passing.

At the time, Francie dismissed the idea. Months later, Duane contacted her late husband's number for excavation work, not knowing Bob had died.

Francie returned the call and soon learned she was speaking to the television personality. The phone call revealed their shared grief, leading to further conversations and eventually, a relationship.

Their romance included mutual support and emotional healing. When Duane asked Francie out, she agreed on one condition: "Yeah, if you go to church." During an emotional church service, the two held hands, a moment that marked the beginning of their journey together.

Duane later said that there "couldn't have been a better pick that God picked" for him, and he "knew right away this was love." Francie shared that they were able to help each other "stand up" through their pain, adding, "We could cry with each other and talk about what we were feeling."

Leading up to their wedding, the couple planned a heartfelt ceremony that paid tribute to their late spouses. Francie confirmed they would honor Beth and Bob in their vows and throughout their life together.

Their celebration included personalized touches — from a bling-covered wedding dress to a multi-flavor cake. Francie and Duane each selected a cake tier of their choosing, despite not sharing the same taste. The reception, held at the same location, was planned as a lively event with dancing and close family and friends in attendance.

Together, Francie and Duane have continued to keep the memories of Beth and Bob alive, acknowledging their death anniversaries and embracing traditions from their past. During his interview with ET in September 2020, Duane remarked, "Beth, I'm glad you provided me with Francie because that wasn't on my list."

The tragic loss of Anthony has brought renewed sorrow to a family already familiar with grief. For Duane and Francie, who found strength in shared loss and built a life rooted in remembrance and resilience, this new heartbreak marks another difficult chapter.

As they mourn the death of their grandson, they continue to navigate life together, carrying the weight of past and present pain with the same unity that first brought them together.