In a tragic turn of events, the stepson of the well-known TV personality, Dog the Bounty Hunter, has been apprehended in Florida. He faces serious charges following the death of his 13-year-old son earlier this year.
On July 19, Gregory Zecca, the son of Dog’s wife Francie, was reportedly intoxicated while handling a firearm in the presence of his teenage son. This unfortunate incident led to the boy’s death, casting a shadow over their family.
Zecca, aged 39, now confronts severe legal consequences including charges of aggravated manslaughter of a child with a firearm, alongside accusations of weapon use under the influence. If convicted, he could potentially spend the remainder of his life behind bars, as stated by the Collier County Sheriff’s Office.
Commenting on the case, Sheriff Kevin Rambosk described the incident as a “heartbreaking and preventable tragedy.” He emphasized the thoroughness of the investigation carried out by detectives. They meticulously reviewed witness statements, conducted forensic testing, and utilized subpoenas and search warrants to uncover the details of this heartrending occurrence.
‘This was a heartbreaking and preventable tragedy,’ Sheriff Kevin Rambosk said.
He added that detectives ‘conducted an exhaustive and thorough investigation, examining every element of what happened through witness statements, forensic testing, subpoenas, search warrants and more.
‘I commend their hard work and professionalism in uncovering the facts in an incredibly difficult case,’ the sheriff said.
The investigation revealed that Gregory had been drinking at a local establishment for several hours, then bought additional alcohol and later continued to drink and get high on marijuana while watching a UFC fight on television with his son at a friend’s house, Naples Daily News reports.
There, officers claim Gregory ‘repeatedly handled a firearm in the child’s presence, practicing drawing it from his waistband and dry-firing,’ according to a warrant obtained by TMZ.
Gregory Zecca, 39, is facing charges of aggravated manslaughter of a child with a firearm and using a firearm while under the influence in connection with his son Anthony’s untimely death
Anthony is the son of Gregory Zecca, who is Dog the Bounty Hunter’s wife’s son from a previous marriage (the family are pictured in 2022)
‘The firearm had initially been rendered safe by removing the magazine and clearing a live round from the chamber,’ it said.
But at some point, police said, ‘the magazine was reinserted and a round chambered, and Gregory discharged a single shot, fatally striking the child.’
By the time sheriff’s deputies arrived on the scene at around 8pm, they noticed Gregory smelled of alcohol and saw marijuana in the vicinity.
Detectives then obtained two search warrants for his medical records and a blood draw. A toxicology expert then independently tested both samples and estimated Gregory’s blood alcohol level was approximately 0.116 during the shooting – nearly twice the legal limit to drive a car.
‘This case underscores that devastating tragedy that can result from mixing firearms, alcohol and drugs,’ Sheriff Rambosk said in his statement. ‘Our hearts are with everyone affected by this loss.’
Still, Dog the Bounty Hunter’s attorney Joseph Lesniak said the case ‘remains a devastating family tragedy.’
‘We believe Greg loved his son deeply and that this was a tragic accident – one that has left many lives permanently changes, especially Anthony’s and Greg’s.’
An attorney for Dog the Bounty Hunter said the family maintains that Gregory ‘loved his son deeply.’ They are pictured together in 2021
Gregory had taught his son how to use a rifle in 2021, when he was just nine years old, sharing photos of their outing on Instagram
Gregory had taught his son how to use a rifle in 2021, when he was just nine years old.
Little Anthony was only nine years old when the 38-year-old bounty hunter taught him how to use a rifle at Franktown Firearms Shooting Center in Franktown, Colorado, back in 2021.
‘Getting some range time in with our buddies @franktownfirearms,’ Gregory boasted in his Instagram account at the time.
More recently, Anthony spent time with his grandparents, and told a story about how he felt the Holy Spirit while visiting his ‘Meemaw’ in the hospital emergency room in 2023 after she injured her ankle.
Anthony and his stepfather, whose real name is Duane Chapman, sat on a bench in the waiting room when he suddenly felt a gush of cold wind blowing in from outside even though it was a warm, rainy day.
‘When we’re walking to her room I feel the wind again but from a different direction. When it first came, it hit me [on my chest]. But when it came again, it hit me from the back,’ he said.
‘And I’m wondering what is this? Because the doors didn’t open this time, so why am I getting hit by wind? [It was] the Holy Spirit. And I asked Meemaw and she said, “It was the Holy Spirit.”‘
Anthony spent time with his grandparents, and told a story about how he felt the Holy Spirit while visiting his ‘Meemaw’ in the hospital emergency room
Dog the Bounty Hunter, whose real name is Duane Chapman, and his wife, Francie, are pictured with Anthony
The Chapmans — who began dating in 2020 — first bonded over their shared grief about being widowed.
Duane suffered the loss of his fifth wife Beth Smith in 2019 to stage II throat cancer and Francie suffered the loss of her husband Bob Frane in 2018.
‘We understood the pain that the other one was feeling, and [in] those tough days and moments, we helped each other stand up,’ she told ET in 2020.
‘We could cry with each other and talk about what we were feeling. We were able to walk alongside each other through the pain and heartbreak, and it brought us together in this amazing way.’
