Dad of 5 Dustin Valencia Found Dead after Going Missing — Details

A seemingly peaceful kayaking trip on a notorious Georgia lake ended in tragedy, leaving a community grieving and searching for answers.

Dustin Valencia, a 40-year-old triathlete and father of five from Cumming, Georgia, was found dead in Lake Lanier on May 16, just days after he failed to return home. His disappearance and death have revived growing concerns about the lake's dark past, deepening the mystery surrounding one of Georgia's most infamous bodies of water.

The tragedy began unfolding on May 14, when Dustin failed to pick up his children from school. His wife immediately alerted the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office. Authorities tracked his last known whereabouts to Little Ridge Park, where his vehicle was discovered, along with his flip-flops and a bag typically used to store his inflatable kayak.

By May 16, search teams using sonar equipment located a body submerged about 51 feet beneath the surface of a cove in Lake Lanier. That afternoon, divers from the Forsyth County Fire Department retrieved the remains. Dustin's kayak and paddle were found drifting near the cove's edge earlier that day.

On May 19, the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office confirmed his identity. Though the case remains under investigation, early reports suggest he was likely kayaking for fitness, as he had been training for a triathlon. Friends confirmed it was not unusual for him to exercise on the water.

Investigators have not released a cause of death, but one official noted the absence of a life vest. "My understanding is that he was not wearing a life vest," the official 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."

Community support quickly followed. A MealTrain fundraiser was set up to help Dustin's wife and five children, and a GoFundMe campaign organized by Anthony James Antonicello has since raised $82,795 as of this writing toward a $90,000 goal. The funds aim to cover both short-term expenses and long-term care for the children.

To honor his memory, Dustin's father, Louie Valencia, announced a Celebration of Life service scheduled for May 24 at The Vine Community Church in Cumming, Georgia. Visitation will begin at 1:30 p.m., followed by a 3:00 p.m. service and reception. The family invited all who were touched by Dustin's life to attend.

While the loss of a loved one is always heartbreaking, the fact that it occurred at Lake Lanier has added an unsettling layer to the tragedy.

For decades, the lake has been surrounded by tales of supernatural activity and historical injustice. Created in the 1950s by flooding entire valley communities — including cemeteries — the lake has long been considered cursed by many locals.

Historians acknowledge that some unmarked graves and remnants of the former towns were left behind and now lie beneath the water's surface.

According to legend, the ghost of a woman in a flowing blue dress haunts the lake's shores, and swimmers have claimed that unseen arms reached out to pull them under.

Stories of angry spirits calling people back to their submerged graves have only intensified Lake Lanier's reputation. These eerie accounts have gained significant traction on social media, where they've attracted a devoted following of believers.

Despite these chilling associations, Lake Lanier remains a popular recreational site, drawing about 12 million visitors in the past year alone. The lake is also featured in the Netflix drama "Ozark," further cementing its status as a place where fiction and fear often collide.

However, the statistics behind the stories are sobering: since 1994, more than 200 people have died in swimming and boating incidents on the lake.

Dustin's death has sparked strong reactions from the public, many of whom connected it directly to the lake's grim legacy. One person wrote, "THAT Lake!! Praying for the family." Another added, "But why can't people just stop going to this particular lake. [sic]"

A more urgent comment warned, "When will people learn that Lake Lanier isn't a place for you to enjoy. It's a burial ground. They can advertise it as a family attraction. But the lake has a dark past. And people will continue to go missing."

Another voice echoed the concern, "Heard about so many bad things happening at that lake , smh praying for his family 🙏🙏[sic]."

Unfortunately, this case isn't isolated, as bodies of water remain a danger. As previously reported, authorities located the body of Tanner Prentiss, a 22-year-old University of California, Santa Barbara student, in Big Bear Lake during the morning of May 19.

He had vanished two days earlier during a visit with friends, prompting a search effort that culminated with deputies locating his body near Pine Knot Marina.

The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Office reported that Tanner was last seen on Village Drive around 12:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 17. He had been staying at a cabin with friends, enjoying a weekend getaway, but he never returned that night.

He was reported missing immediately. Afterward, deputies began searching the area. By Monday morning, around 10:20 a.m., his body was found in the lake.

Officials have indicated that they currently have no evidence of foul play. The cause of death has not been disclosed, and the investigation has been turned over to the county coroner's office.

Later on Monday, his grandmother, Marilyn Taylor, shared a sorrowful message on Facebook. She announced, with immense sadness, that Tanner had been located and was deceased.

She described him as "the funny guy, always smiling, tons of friends, charismatic, responsible and a really good person." She added that the family was having a hard time coping with this news.

Support has poured in for the Tanner family as they navigate the painful days ahead. A GoFundMe campaign launched by his roommate, Arjun Malaviya, had raised over $20,000 toward its $25,000 goal as of this writing.

In the campaign description, Arjun honored his late friend as "kind, compassionate, and deeply selfless," someone who "never hesitated to lift others up."

The fundraiser aims to help Tanner's family with memorial costs and other unexpected expenses. Arjun, who has partnered with the Santa Barbara Snow Club for this campaign, wrote, "While no amount of money can bring Tanner back, I hope this can help ease some of the financial burden."

This tragedy has left a deep void in the hearts of many who knew Tanner. However, his legacy lives on in the lives he touched and the memories shared by those closest to him. We extend our deepest condolences to the Valencia and Prentiss families.