Overview

• Dustin Valencia, 43, disappeared on May 14, 2025, after kayaking on Lake Lanier, a reservoir with a history of over 200 deaths since 1994.
• Valencia’s uninflated inflatable kayak and paddle were found on May 16, leading authorities to focus their search on a nearby cove.
• The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office has deployed drones, marine patrol units, dive teams, and sonar equipment in an ongoing search effort.
• Authorities do not suspect foul play and believe the case to be an accidental drowning; Valencia was not wearing a life vest at the time of his disappearance.
• The lake, built over submerged towns and cemeteries in the 1950s, has a reputation for strong currents, sudden drop-offs, and haunting legends.