GA GA - Lam Ngoc Dang, 19, Gainesville/ Lake Lanier, 7 Sept 2016

[Lilibet]

I’m curious about this missing poster. It says he was last seen at Two Mile Creek Park on Sept 7, 2016 “in a yellow kayak.” Two Mile Creek Park is where his car was found and presumably where he would have put his kayak in the water. But was he actually seen there in his kayak, or is the wording sort of a shortened form of what was assumed after his car and the kayak were found?

How did searchers know the kayak belonged to him? Was he known to own a kayak?

According to your timeline, he went to the Lake on both Tuesday Sept. 6 and Wednesday Sept. 7. He was supposed to come home the evening of Sept. 7 because he and his brother and friends would be making the trip to Savannah to see his other brother the next day (Thursday Sept 8). Depending on his class schedule, wouldn’t he be missing classes? It seems funny they wouldn’t wait until the weekend. Or do I have this wrong?
GA - GA - Lam Ngoc Dang, 19, Gainesville/ Lake Lanier, 7 Sept 2016

 

[Ccosta1]

I’m curious about this missing poster. It says he was last seen at Two Mile Creek Park on Sept 7, 2016 “in a yellow kayak.” Two Mile Creek Park is where his car was found and presumably where he would have put his kayak in the water. But was he actually seen there in his kayak, or is the wording sort of a shortened form of what was assumed after his car and the kayak were found?

How did searchers know the kayak belonged to him? Was he known to own a kayak?

According to your timeline, he went to the Lake on both Tuesday Sept. 6 and Wednesday Sept. 7. He was supposed to come home the evening of Sept. 7 because he and his brother and friends would be making the trip to Savannah to see his other brother the next day (Thursday Sept 8). Depending on his class schedule, wouldn’t he be missing classes? It seems funny they wouldn’t wait until the weekend. Or do I have this wrong?
GA - GA - Lam Ngoc Dang, 19, Gainesville/ Lake Lanier, 7 Sept 2016

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I dont think he was actually seen at the lake with the yellow kayak on that day. This was an assumption because he borrowed this same kayak from his younger brother a few days before to go kayaking.

It seems like he was skipping classes at this point.

 

[Lilibet]

I dont think he was actually seen at the lake with the yellow kayak on that day. This was an assumption because he borrowed this same kayak from his younger brother a few days before to go kayaking.

It seems like he was skipping classes at this point.

Thanks. I thought the poster might be kind of short hand and it’s good to know about the kayak.

Almost a month into the school year it does seem that he was skipping classes.

If he talked to someone the afternoon of Wednesday Sept 7, do you think he would have driven to the lake that same day or did he possibly go on Thursday instead. I just checked and it takes over an hour from Athens to where his car was parked. But that doesn’t explain why he would blow off the trip to Savannah, so maybe he wanted a peaceful sunset paddle on the lake Wednesday before heading home to his family Atlanta that evening. And he may have already been en route during the phone call. Just thinking out loud...

 

[Ccosta1]

Thanks. I thought the poster might be kind of short hand and it’s good to know about the kayak.

Almost a month into the school year it does seem that he was skipping classes.

If he talked to someone the afternoon of Wednesday Sept 7, do you think he would have driven to the lake that same day or did he possibly go on Thursday instead. I just checked and it takes over an hour from Athens to where his car was parked. But that doesn’t explain why he would blow off the trip to Savannah, so maybe he wanted a peaceful sunset paddle on the lake Wednesday before heading home to his family Atlanta that evening. And he may have already been en route during the phone call. Just thinking out loud...

I know what you mean. He texted someone the 7th just asking if an Android can track an iPhone... we have pictures of two tickets(used to show you payed for parking at lake Lanier) one was for Tuesday and one was for Wednesday. So he did not go Thursday.

 

[Ccosta1]

Thanks. I thought the poster might be kind of short hand and it’s good to know about the kayak.

Almost a month into the school year it does seem that he was skipping classes.

If he talked to someone the afternoon of Wednesday Sept 7, do you think he would have driven to the lake that same day or did he possibly go on Thursday instead. I just checked and it takes over an hour from Athens to where his car was parked. But that doesn’t explain why he would blow off the trip to Savannah, so maybe he wanted a peaceful sunset paddle on the lake Wednesday before heading home to his family Atlanta that evening. And he may have already been en route during the phone call. Just thinking out loud...

Because you have to pay for a ticket and punch out the day you are staying and put it on your dash

 

[Lilibet]

I know what you mean. He texted someone the 7th just asking if an Android can track an iPhone... we have pictures of two tickets(used to show you payed for parking at lake Lanier) one was for Tuesday and one was for Wednesday. So he did not go Thursday.

Because you have to pay for a ticket and punch out the day you are staying and put it on your dash

That proves he was there both days. Got it. So if he just went for a paddle on the lake for fun, he was probably planning to go to Atlanta to his family that evening, return the kayak and take off with his brother the next day for Savannah. Did anyone know he planned to go to Lake Lanier or was his car found by park people because it was parked too long?

I wonder who he didn’t want tracking him...assuming he was the one with the iPhone.

 

[Ccosta1]

That proves he was there both days. Got it. So if he just went for a paddle on the lake for fun, he was probably planning to go to Atlanta to his family that evening, return the kayak and take off with his brother the next day for Savannah. Did anyone know he planned to go to Lake Lanier or was his car found by park people because it was parked too long?

I wonder who he didn’t want tracking him...assuming he was the one with the iPhone.

I think his family knew because his brother let him use his kayak to go kayaking. But we are unsure why he took the long drive for two days straight.

 

[Ccosta1]

I wonder who he didn’t want tracking him...assuming he was the one with the iPhone.

I wonder this as well... it’s very strange that he would ask this question out of the blue.

 

[Lilibet]

I think his family knew because his brother let him use his kayak to go kayaking. But we are unsure why he took the long drive for two days straight.

I assume his brother knew he’d be going to Lake Lanier as opposed to another good kayaking spot?

Or did he stay overnight near the lake on Tuesday? When was the last time he was actually seen by anyone? I hope I’m not asking things you’ve already answered!

 

[Lilibet]

I wonder this as well... it’s very strange that he would ask this question out of the blue.

And why would he ask a friend when he probably could have googled the answer?! It took me a couple of seconds to find this link. I haven’t read the whole thing, but it tells how to track both kinds of phones without the person knowing. I’m not sure these apps were available in 2016, however. As I frequently say “Google is your friend.”

How to Track a Cell Phone Location Without Them Knowing

 

[Ccosta1]

And why would he ask a friend when he probably could have googled the answer?! It took me a couple of seconds to find this link. I haven’t read the whole thing, but it tells how to track both kinds of phones without the person knowing. I’m not sure these apps were available in 2016, however. As I frequently say “Google is your friend.”

How to Track a Cell Phone Location Without Them Knowing

Hehe yeah google is your friend. I’m not sure what to do now ... any suggestions?

 

[Ccosta1]

I assume his brother knew he’d be going to Lake Lanier as opposed to another good kayaking spot?

Or did he stay overnight near the lake on Tuesday? When was the last time he was actually seen by anyone? I hope I’m not asking things you’ve already answered!

Hey sorry ! I didn’t see this post. His brother told him two locations he could kayak. Lake Allatoona and Lake Lanier.

we are not sure if he stayed the night or not actually.. we never thought about that but also why would this be information we need?
We got into contact with his old roommates but we haven’t gotten a reply from both of them yet. They might have seen him later than the family did. The last time his family saw him was I think Labor Day weekend.the 3rd and 4th??

 

[Lilibet]

Hehe yeah google is your friend. I’m not sure what to do now ... any suggestions?

Go to bed! (Unless Of course you live on the west coast like I do.)

Hey sorry ! I didn’t see this post. His brother told him two locations he could kayak. Lake Allatoona and Lake Lanier.

we are not sure if he stayed the night or not actually.. we never thought about that but also why would this be information we need?
We got into contact with his old roommates but we haven’t gotten a reply from both of them yet. They might have seen him later than the family did. The last time his family saw him was I think Labor Day weekend.the 3rd and 4th??

BBM

Lake Allatoona is a longer drive than Lanier so it makes sense he chose LL. And being in the middle of the week, the danger of power boat wake I talked about earlier would be less than on weekends.

Regarding spending Tuesday night near the lake, I was just thinking out loud about what you said about Lam making the long drive two days in a row and wondering if he stayed over. You wouldn’t need that info.

I hope his old roommates have some insight, not only about when they last saw him but on what was going on with skipping classes.

 

[ChatteringBirds]

So he went kayaking 2 days in a row. Was this because he really enjoyed it and wanted to make the most of his time borrowing the kayak? Or because the first visit was to check out the lake and the 2nd to enact a plan? (Of course we can't answer these questions.)

Does his family think the text asking about cell phone tracking was definitely from him?

I'm wondering if he went for a swim in the lake and became separated from the kayak. Any clothing, towels in his bag or car? Is swimming something he might do?

 

[Lilibet]

So he went kayaking 2 days in a row. Was this because he really enjoyed it and wanted to make the most of his time borrowing the kayak? Or because the first visit was to check out the lake and the 2nd to enact a plan? (Of course we can't answer these questions.)

Does his family think the text asking about cell phone tracking was definitely from him?

I'm wondering if he went for a swim in the lake and became separated from the kayak. Any clothing, towels in his bag or car? Is swimming something he might do?

Perceptive questions @ChatteringBirds. That’s a good point about possibly using the first kayak trip to scope out the lake. That would be a good idea regardless of his intentions.

@Ccosta1 It’s a very good question about whether the text regarding cell phone tracking was actually from Lam. We’ve had cases here in which cell phone messages came ostensibly from a missing person, but were really from their abductor using their phone...either to delay a search, distract or throw people off the track.

Your swimming question reminds me that we don’t know what Lam was wearing when he disappeared.

 

[dixiegirl1035]

I am not quite sure. But his friend is a nurse and she said that in his email it says he went in for a physical so it wasn’t a intense doctors visit about mental health. But it is strange he altered the dates. At the moment me and his brother are trying to find a box that has lams old gps in it that showed where his locations were leading up to the disappearance.

Not sure if others than LE can send to ?Garmin to get the information out as to where he was driving while in the area, and where he spent the night in between the two days he had a parking ticket. I think where he slept his head that night could be key?

Hey sorry ! I didn’t see this post. His brother told him two locations he could kayak. Lake Allatoona and Lake Lanier.

we are not sure if he stayed the night or not actually.. we never thought about that but also why would this be information we need?
We got into contact with his old roommates but we haven’t gotten a reply from both of them yet. They might have seen him later than the family did. The last time his family saw him was I think Labor Day weekend.the 3rd and 4th??

So then when did the brother give the kayak to him, as it appeared that the brother did so knowing he was going to skip school? If he already had the kayak and was on his way back to certain parts of Atlanta, I would have suggested Lake Sinclair as on the drive back to Atlanta vs. coming across 53.

I am not quite sure. But his friend is a nurse and she said that in his email it says he went in for a physical so it wasn’t a intense doctors visit about mental health. But it is strange he altered the dates. At the moment me and his brother are trying to find a box that has lams old gps in it that showed where his locations were leading up to the disappearance.

Those were my thoughts as it was said that 1) Car was found at 2 mile 2) kayak found at 2 mile 3) bag in bush found at 2 mile. Can the brother note on the map where all at 2 mile were found?



Couple of personal questions. Was he a good swimmer as MANY drownings at Lanier with folks who go to the parks that do not swim, and get into a dropoff situation with the bottom. As to upside down kayak, many folks do such with canoe/kayak to put things underneath, (not sure about inflatables though) especially if rain coming. The weather on the 6th had rain and wind, on the 7th no rain but again windy gusts (which makes kayaking in an inflatable more difficult than in still winds). Weather History for Gainesville, GA

Was his wallet found in the car/bag? (in other words, did he walk off with someone he met.. and nefarious?). Having the bag in a bush may just be that he didn't want to leave food bars and keys anywhere else.. What all was in the bag that it was kept in shade, and not too uncommon? MOO.

@Ccosta1, there is a Facebook site for boaters on Lake Lanier. It's so late to be posting there for assistance, but I do believe that one of the members is associated with "Missing in Georgia" so I'm going to reach out to him and will let you know what he says about this case etc. The Facebook site is Lake Lanier Boaters Group which has 26,500 members. I searched their group as they are VERY active in helping folks, they do post about missing folks, and help when they know, but I didn't see any mention of this case on their group at all. Many times folks in that group will share when they hear of a missing person on the Lake.. but I'm coming up empty on any mention.

I agree with the poster upthread, to put into NAMUS. I'm always disappointed when I hear that LE hasn't directed family to do such for such cases. It should be standard ops MOO.

My heart breaks for situations such as this where the family is in limbo without answers.

 

[Lilibet]

So glad you’re here, @dixiegirl1035. Great idea about the Boaters Group. Thanks so much.

The wallet and phone were in the car. The car keys were in the bag, but I’m not sure what else. We think the bag may have been in a bush near the car, not the kayak. We don’t know for sure do we @Ccosta1?

I looked at the weather link and your weather site was set for 2015, so for 2016 there was no rain either day. Max wind 8 mph. Gust speeds weren’t available. Not sure if that’s a lot for a kayak.

 

[dixiegirl1035]

So glad you’re here, @dixiegirl1035. Great idea about the Boaters Group. Thanks so much.

The wallet and phone were in the car. The car keys were in the bag, but I’m not sure what else. We think the bag may have been in a bush near the car, not the kayak. We don’t know for sure do we @Ccosta1?

I looked at the weather link and your weather site was set for 2015, so for 2016 there was no rain either day. Max wind 8 mph. Gust speeds weren’t available. Not sure if that’s a lot for a kayak.

For seven years, 4 days of the week, I was on the docks, and did overnights at the islands on Lake Lanier... way (7-10 years!) before this happened.

One of my acquaintances lives at the intersection of the entrance to the Two Mile Park entrance, 5 houses off the cross street, and I *partied* there during those time... in other words, VERY familiar with that area therefore asking where stuff was found. Yet not familiar with at this time that is being asked about.

With his car there, with his bag in bushes (we used to do also to put in shade and hide from sun vs. keeping in car), and his kayak also at the park.... I tragically think this is a perfect scenario for a drowning vs. nefarious. UNLESS, he did drugs or the GPS shows that he was staying with someone *sketchy* over that night that he obviously drove out, and then drove back in to pay. That park was *self pay* in the old days IIRC. There is not a little place where the park person collects monies like others around the lake.

I'm saddened to learn that there was not more coverage, not only in MSM but in group that I've been checking on. Nada.

Social media is so different these days. Just these 5 years, totally different yet even back then, the Lake Lanier Boaters FB group was VERY active for folks in need. The family probably had no idea to post to such, that is so key these days MOO.

ETA: I'm going to ask the person on the Lake Lanier Boaters FB page that is part of "Missing Persons in Georgia" if the park folks, or whoever does such, has considered putting in a "trail camera" for those who do self pay

 

[dixiegirl1035]

The person that used to highlight missing folks connected back with me and suggested in addition to NAMUS, that the family also connect with the Charley Project. Not sure if I can link, but google will result in coming up with such.

 

[Ccosta1]

I dont think he was actually seen at the lake with the yellow kayak on that day. This was an assumption because he borrowed this same kayak from his younger brother a few days before to go kayaking.

It seems like he was skipping classes at this point.

Okay so apparently he was actually seen with the kayak by staff members and a fisherman. And he was out there in the evening. And even asked how late they closed...