A Georgia father has gone missing under mysterious circumstances, reportedly while kayaking on a local lake.
On Wednesday, Dustin Valencia, 43, was reported missing by his wife when he didn’t arrive to pick up their children from school.
Authorities indicate that while Valencia was out on the water, there have been no sightings of his inflatable kayak.
A search effort began on Thursday, involving both land and water searches with drones and specialized marine equipment.
Lake Lanier, where Valencia disappeared, was created in the 1950s over a submerged town, forest, and cemetery, becoming infamous as the setting for eerie scenes in the Netflix show “Ozark.”
The lake has a troubling history, with over 200 reported deaths since 1994. Many locals believe the waters are haunted.
One widely circulated legend is that of “The Lady of the Lake,” said to be the ghost of a woman who drove into the lake and now appears in a blue dress at night.
A friend mentioned that Valencia, a triathlete, was in excellent shape. Cat Fritz, who last saw him during a training session on Tuesday morning, noted, “Our group gathered to pray for him overnight at church before we went out searching.”
“He has five children. I can’t even begin to comprehend what his family is enduring. They’re eager for everyone to help spread the word,” she added.
The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office has urged anyone who spots any inflatable kayaks floating to reach out to them.
