A man’s body was pulled out of a Georgia lake as they desperately searched for a five-year-old father who disappeared Wednesday.
Dustin Valencia, 43, reportedly ventured out on Lake Lanier on a kayak, leading to a massive search by his five-year-old father.
Two days later, the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office announced that the Fire Department and the Department of Natural Resources recovered a body from the lake, but had not yet formally identified.
Over 200 people have died in Lanier Lake in the past 20 years. The waters are known as one of the most dangerous lakes in the United States.
Valencia’s search and rescue mission began Wednesday night as his wife reported he had not disappeared when he picked up his children from school.
Valencia saw his car last undergoing repairs at 1pm. His wife became increasingly worried when he didn’t pick up the child two hours later and tracked her cell phone to an address by the lake.
She went to the address, but Valencia was nowhere to be found. Authorities then began searching the area to find the missing dad.
The Sheriff’s Department found that Valencia’s Black Honda Athens would be parked by the lake and found him going to kayak.
Dustin Valencia, 43, disappeared Wednesday after he took out a kayaking in Lake Lanier, Georgia
Valencia is described as a “devoted husband and father of five children”. His friends and family joined the massive search after not picking up their kids on Wednesday afternoon
Lake Lennier has the highest record in Georgia, with more than 200 deaths in the past 20 years
Later that day, his inflatable kayak and paddles were found and reported to the sheriff’s office.
Deputies told the local ABC branch that WALB-TVthe seats in the kayak were not exaggerated or installed.
The kayak was found floating in the lake and a man reported it to the sheriff’s office. Deputies added that Valencia did not wear a life-saving vest.
Authorities zoomed Lake Lanier on Wednesday night and Thursday morning, but found nothing.
The Sheriff’s Department followed up with a leader Friday morning and found the body of an unidentified person in 51 feet of water.
Valencia’s wife reported his cell phone to a location but disappeared after he was unable to find him
Community members have been established Dining train Provide food and financial support to the Valencia family. The description describes Valencia as a “devoted husband and five-year-old father”.
Dillon Taylor, a friend of Valencia, told Walb-TV during the search that the family would be “on the frontline” if the situation reversed.
Although the body recovered by the Sheriff’s Department has not been determined, it marks another tragedy in Lake Lanier.
Last May, a 73-year-old Matthew Mayo drowned while fishing on a bass boat.
Subsequent large-scale searches, including the local sheriff’s department, fire department and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, found the missing father
Authorities found a grim discovery on Friday by a body submerged in the water. They clarified that the body has not been confirmed yet
Shocking deaths became national news and prompted time Magazine speculates whether the lake is a “haunted house”.
In 2023, there are 13 deadly drownings, the highest compared to other Georgia Lakes. Ministry of Natural Resources.
The second highest drowning was in Lake Allatoona, with only three recorded instances.
More than 200 people have died on Lake Lanier in the past 20 years. It is known as one of the most dangerous lakes in the United States Islands.com With Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, Lake Erie and Lake Piru.
dailymail.com contacted the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office for the latest news on the Valencia case, but did not hear it immediately.
