Guatemalan authorities have announced that a California woman, Nancy Ng, who vanished on a yoga retreat last month, drowned during a kayaking excursion in Lake Atitlán. However, Ng’s family is skeptical of the official account and believes that there may be more to the story. Prosecutors have stated that Ng was traveling with a U.S.-based tour group when the incident occurred on October 19. According to a witness, Ng expressed her desire to swim and subsequently drowned. Ng’s family has shared a video of her taken just hours before she disappeared, showing her sitting in her kayak on the lake, smiling, and waving at the camera.
Nicky Ng, Nancy’s sister, tearfully raised concerns about the delay in reporting the alleged drowning to authorities, questioning why it took the witness and tour group 24 hours to come forward. She also expressed frustration over the lack of cooperation from individuals within the group who witnessed the incident. Local officials have reported that Nancy was last seen about half a mile from the shore, and her kayak was later found.
Nancy, a resident of Monterey Park, had previously attended the same yoga retreat the year before. As a former student at Cal State LA, she currently works with special needs students in the Alhambra School District. Lake Atitlán, located in a volcanic crater, is a popular tourist destination.
The Ng family has enlisted the help of Chris Sharpe, co-owner of Black Wolf Helicopters, to lead the search efforts. Despite extensive search operations involving helicopters, drones, and boat crews, the difficult terrain and uncooperative witnesses have presented challenges.
Nicky Ng disclosed that her father continues to hold out hope for an alternative explanation for Nancy’s disappearance, expressing the desire for a ransom call that would indicate Nancy’s survival. The FBI is assisting the Guatemalan government in their investigation, providing additional resources.
The circumstances surrounding Nancy Ng’s disappearance on the yoga retreat in Guatemala remain shrouded in mystery. As the investigation continues, her family seeks answers and hopes for a breakthrough in the case.
