California Woman Disappears While on Yoga Retreat in Guatemala

By BERT HOOVER First Posted: Nov 08, 2023 01:42 AM EST

A Southern California family is anxiously seeking the whereabouts of 29-year-old Nancy Ng, who disappeared while on a yoga retreat in Guatemala.

She was last seen on October 19, reportedly on a kayaking excursion with fellow retreat participants, per ABC 7.

The California woman's family has taken the initiative to hire professionals to assist in search-and-rescue operations in the vicinity of Lake Atitlán, Guatemala.

Regrettably, the leader of this effort has encountered difficulties in obtaining information from witnesses, some of whom have since returned to Southern California. This has raised concerns about the need for a criminal investigation into Ng's disappearance.

The case has also garnered attention from U.S. authorities, with the FBI and the State Department engaging with Guatemalan officials to aid in the investigation.

Ng's family is pleading with anyone who may have information on her whereabouts to come forward.

"I miss my Nancy very much, and I hope the government helps us find answers and bring her home," said Stephanie Li, Ng's mother.

Nancy Ng, who works for the Alhambra Unified School District, had previously participated in the same yoga retreat in Guatemala the previous year.

Details of the Disappearance and Ongoing Search

According to Guatemalan authorities, a woman who was with Nancy Ng during the kayaking excursion has stated that the California woman drowned while swimming.

The witness reported that the two women ventured further into the lake, and Ng expressed her desire to swim before the incident occurred.

However, questions have arisen concerning the delayed reporting of the incident to prosecutors, as it took 24 hours for the witness and the tour company to provide this information.

Search teams, including volunteer organizations, have dedicated extensive efforts to scour more than 95% of Lake Atitlán using aircraft, divers, and drones, Fox News reports.

Nonetheless, the investigation has faced significant obstacles due to the lack of precise information about the circumstances and location of Ng's disappearance.

Key witnesses have not come forward to provide witness reports, hindering the search efforts.

Chris Sharpe, co-owner of Black Wolf Helicopters, which is assisting in the search, noted the lack of cooperation from individuals who may have been with Ng on the day of her disappearance.

Meanwhile, local fire and rescue teams have reported that Ng was last seen about half a mile from the shore.

Her kayak was later recovered but without any trace of the California woman.

The Agonizing Ordeal of Nancy Ng's Family

Nancy Ng's family has endured a profound emotional ordeal since her disappearance, The Daily Mail noted.

Her sister, Nicky Ng, revealed that their father remains hopeful of receiving a ransom call because it would at least serve as evidence that Nancy is alive.

"It sounds terrible, but he keeps his phone next to him at night like he is hoping for a ransom call. Just something that will prove Nancy might still be alive, that she is out there and waiting for us to find her," Nicky stated.

Ng left her home in Monterey Park on October 14 to attend a week-long yoga retreat.

According to her sister, Nancy had found healing and peace during the previous year's retreat, which was held near a large body of water located within a volcanic crater.

She had been eagerly looking forward to this year's trip, with planned activities on the lake.

Jared Lopez, Nicky's partner, has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover the expenses of ongoing search and rescue missions.

In a recent update, the family expressed the growing fear that, with each passing day, the nightmare of not finding Nancy becomes more daunting.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: California woman disappears while on yoga retreat in Guatemala - From NBC News