Body found in ‘haunted' Georgia waters made famous by ‘Lady of the Lake' confirmed as missing dad of five
The body of a father of five who vanished last week while kayaking on a Georgia lake — long rumored to be haunted — has been discovered underwater, according to reports and authorities.
Dustin Valencia, 43, was reported missing Wednesday by his wife after he didn't show up to pick up his children from school — with cops then finding his car parked at Little Ridge Park on Lake Lanier, 11 Alive reported.
3 Dustin Valencia, 43, was reported missing Wednesday by his wife after he didn't show up to pick up his children from school.
Forsyth County Sheriff's Office
After an extensive search, a body, later determined to be Valencia, was found in a cove 51 feet below the surface of the lake on Friday, cops said.
Evidence suggested that the devoted father of five and a triathlete had gone kayaking on the lake, but his inflatable raft was nowhere to be seen, according to authorities.
A huge search was launched Thursday on land and water, with multiple units using drones and specialist marine search equipment.
3 The body was found in a cove 51 feet below the surface of the lake on Friday, cops said.
11 Alive
Friends and family also joined the search to find Valencia.
Lake Lanier, where Valencia disappeared, was built in the 1950s over submerged towns, forests and cemeteries — and has been a location for eerie scenes in the Netflix drama 'Ozark,' CNN reported.
Since 1994, over 200 people have died in the lake's waters — with locals long suggesting the lake is haunted.
3 Evidence suggested that Valencia had gone kayaking on the lake, but his inflatable raft was nowhere to be seen, authorities say.
11 Alive
One of the most-repeated legends is the 'Lady of the Lake,' supposedly the ghost of a woman whose car crashed into the lake who has since been spotted restlessly wandering at night in a blue dress.
The nature of Valencia's death remains under investigation, the Forsyth County Sheriff's office told the outlet.
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