The bodies of five fathers who went missing during a kayak outing at Lake Lanier have been located underwater, according to police.
Dustin Valencia, aged 43, was reported missing by his wife after he failed to pick up their child from school on Wednesday, as noted by the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office. Authorities tracked his last known location on the lake, where his vehicle was discovered parked close by.
On Friday, a collaboration with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources led to the use of sonar technology to search the lake. Divers from the Forsyth County Fire Department recovered a body from around 51 feet of water in the bay’s center.
On Monday, the sheriff’s office confirmed that the body belonged to Valencia. Before that, his belongings had been found near Little Ridge Park, and his kayak was later spotted floating near the cove. A friend indicated that he might have been training for a triathlon and kayaking as a form of exercise.
Authorities reported that at the time of his drowning, Valencia was not wearing a life vest. An official mentioned that “even strong swimmers can face medical emergencies. If you’re not wearing a life jacket in such a situation, you’re at significant risk.”
As of now, no official cause of death has been released, and the case is still under investigation by the main crime unit of the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office.
The local community has expressed their support for the Valencia family, highlighting their gratitude for the ongoing love and strength from those around them.
Lake Lanier, where this incident occurred, is known for its popularity among water sports enthusiasts, and also has its own urban legends, including tales of a ghost in a blue dress said to haunt the area since her death in a car accident in the 1950s.
