When Dustin Valencia didn’t pick up his kids from school on May 14, 2025, his wife knew something was wrong. She contacted the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office near their Georgia home, and the search began for the 43-year-old father of five. With the help of the Find My iPhone app, investigators found his vehicle a short time later at Little Ridge Park on Lake Lanier. As an avid outdoorsman, it seemed fitting that Valencia had gone kayaking that afternoon. Sadly, he didn’t return from the trip alive.
According to a statement from the sheriff’s office posted online, a resident found Valencia’s kayak on May 14 and reported it to the sheriff’s office the following day.
“Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office, Forsyth County Fire, The Georgia Department Of Natural Resources and the Army Corps of Engineers conducted a search of the area today,” the sheriff’s office shared in a May 16 update on Facebook. “DNR located and Forsyth County Fire recovered a body this afternoon from the lake. No positive identification has been made and the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the incident.”
On May 19, the sheriff’s office announced it had positively identified the body as the missing father. Valencia’s death remains under investigation, but the lake where he died has been a subject of local lore for decades. CNN explained that Lake Lanier was formed by flooded communities, including a cemetery. Many believe that it led to a haunting. More than 200 people have died in the lake since 1994. Sadly, Valencia is the latest victim.
Anthony James Antonicello created a GoFundMe account for Valencia’s widow and five children.
“To ensure that future donations go even further for the family, we’ve set up this GoFundMe page, which offers lower fees and more flexibility for continued support. All funds raised here will go directly to the Valencia family to help with daily needs, bills, and long-term care for the kids in the weeks and months ahead,” Antonicello wrote. “Please continue to share, pray, and give if you are able. The Valencia family feels your love and strength, and they are deeply grateful for the community that surrounds them.”
The campaign has raised more than $78,000 thus far.
Valencia’s father, Louie Valencia, thanked loved ones for their prayers in a Facebook post and shared info on his son’s celebration of life on May 24.
“This will be a time for us to honor Dustin’s life, celebrate the impact he had on so many, and comfort one another with the hope we find in Christ,” he wrote.
