Who is Nancy Ng? California woman disappears without a trace while attending yoga retreat in Guatemala
MONTEREY PARK, CALIFORNIA: In a perplexing turn of events, Nancy Ng, a 29-year-old woman from Monterey Park, California, has gone missing during a yoga retreat in the picturesque surroundings of Lake Atitlan, Guatemala, as per the New York Post.
Her family, gripped by anxiety, revealed their harrowing experience as they sought answers about her disappearance.
Nancy Ng vanished during a yoga retreat
Nancy embarked on her journey on October 14, 2023, anticipating a relaxing retreat amid the natural beauty of Lake Atitlan, which is nestled within a volcanic crater. However, a few days into her vacation, the retreat's organizer delivered the devastating news to her family that she had disappeared without a trace.
Nancy's sister Nicky Ng shared the torment they've endured since learning about her disappearance.
"The last two weeks have been a living hell because when we first got the news that she was missing, we just had so many questions," she told KTLA.
"What happened? Where is she now? Is there a chance she’s alive? We didn’t know anything," she added.
Mysteries shroud the timeline of Nancy's disappearance as the family is unsure of the precise moment she went missing. It was only on October 19 that she was officially reported missing.
Nicky fondly reminisced about her sister's connection to the yoga retreat, saying, "Last year, she woke up every morning just to spend some time there by herself without the group, and this year was going to be more exciting because they had planned activities on the lake."
Guatemalan government leading search efforts to find Nancy Ng
Since Nancy's disappearance, her family has engaged with various agencies, including the State Department, the FBI, and local search and rescue teams in Guatemala.
The Guatemalan government is leading the investigation with the FBI's assistance, and local rescue teams have been tirelessly scouring about 95% of the lake using air and land resources, along with divers and drones.
However, the search has been hampered by the lack of corroborative information regarding where and how Nancy vanished.
Chris Sharpe, co-owner of Black Wolf Helicopters, involved in the search efforts, lamented the challenges and said, "We don’t know where she went in, where she went missing because there’s no corroboration of that. We’ve got a rough idea, but it varies from one side of the lake to the other."
Adding to the complexity of the situation is reportedly the reluctance of individuals who may have been with Nancy on the day she disappeared to provide crucial information, further hindering the investigation's progress.
Despite the formidable obstacles, Nancy's family remains undeterred in their quest to ensure her safe return. Her brother Jonathan Ng expressed his commitment, stating, "My role here is just to make sure no stone is left unturned and make sure that we try everything we can possible."
Nancy Ng described as an adventurous soul who revels in yoga
Nancy has been described as an adventurous soul who revels in yoga, hiking, and traveling. Her family has set up a GoFundMe campaign to aid in their search efforts, where they depict her as having "a kind heart, a big smile, and can talk to anyone about anything (and often, everything). She’s a caring daughter, a loving sister, and a supportive friend."
With the search efforts privately funded, the family is racing against time to bring Nancy back home.
In their heartfelt plea to the public, they emphasize the urgency of their mission, stating, "Time is of the essence, and we are racing against the clock to bring Nancy home. It has been an ongoing nightmare, not knowing what happened to Nancy or if we will ever get her back. All my family wants is to bring our sister/daughter home. Please help us do so."
