The father, who had been training for a triathlon, disappeared in a lake famous for a local legend that gives it a haunting reputation.
A Georgia man who vanished during a kayaking trip on Lake Lanier last week has been found dead, authorities confirmed. Dustin Valencia, 43, is survived by his wife, Jennifer Valencia, and their five children.
He was reported missing last Wednesday, May 14, after he failed to pick up his children from school, prompting concern from his wife. The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office said his vehicle was discovered near the lake, along with his flip-flops and a bag that typically held his inflatable kayak.
A search effort was launched, and by Friday, May 16, game wardens from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources used sonar technology to detect a body submerged in roughly 51 feet of water at the center of a cove. Divers from the Forsyth County Fire Departme
His kayak and paddle had been found earlier, drifting near the edge of the cove. Friends shared that Valencia had been training for a triathlon and was likely kayaking as part of his workout routine.
Officials noted that he was not wearing a life jacket at the time of the incident. One of the officials said, “Even strong swimmers can have a medical emergency or cramp. If that happens, and you’re not wearing a life jacket, you’re at serious risk.”
Still, an official cause of death has yet to be determined, and the incident remains under investigation by the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit.
Lake Lanier, where Valencia disappeared, is a man-made reservoir with depths reaching up to 160 feet and was constructed in the 1950s by the US Army Corps of Engineers. Beyond its recreational use, the lake is steeped in eerie local lore — most notably the tale of the Lady of the Lake, believed to be Susie Roberts, who died in a 1958 accident.
Dressed in white and often seen near the bridge where she perished, the ghostly figure is said to comb her hair by the water, fueling the lake’s haunted reputation.
Furthermore, between 1994 and 2018, Lake Lanier recorded 33 boating accidents, 145 drownings, and 57 boating-related fatalities. From 2015 to 2018 alone, there were 43 deaths, 128 boating incidents, and 214 cases involving boating under the influence
As one of the region’s largest lakes, such high numbers aren’t entirely unexpected, but they’ve helped fuel its eerie reputation. Still, despite the chilling stories, there’s no concrete evidence that Lake Lanier is truly haunted.
