For the family of Cody Daniel Gibbs, the man found dead in Lake Lanier Thursday morning, the day is one of comfort as well as tragedy.
On the same day Gibbs, 19, was found dead, his family announced the birth of his child, daughter Adelyn Noor.
“Her being born kind of happened for a reason because it pulled our focus from the sadness because we had a miracle,” said older brother Justin Tyler Gibbs
Gibbs had been missing since late Monday night after an illegal party in a remote area of the park was broken up by a deputy, about two hours after the park closed. The approximately 20 party goers, in their late teens and early 20s, scattered. Gibbs and two others ran into the lake to escape detection, police say.
Justin Gibbs said the account he got from multiple people, friends of his who were at the party, differs slightly from that of the police. He said witnesses told him four people, including his brother, ran into the water. Friends said his brother began to scream for help out in the lake but police wouldn’t allow anyone into the water.
By Tuesday morning, Cody Gibbs was the only one unaccounted for and law enforcement and rescue personnel began a search.
Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office, fire department and Georgia Department of Natural Resources officials spent Tuesday and Wednesday searching the lake near Two Mile Creek Park.
Thursday morning about 7:15, Sheriff’s office spokesman Doug Rainwater said, they found Gibbs’ body floating in a cove. He said the body was recovered from 20-foot deep water, “about 50 yards from where we were searching yesterday.”
Rainwater said the body will be taken to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Crime Lab for an autopsy, but detectives suspect Gibbs drowned.
Since the discovery, Gibbs’ family set up a GoFundMe page called “Help us say, ‘Goodbye’ to Cody” to cover funeral expenses, first found by Channel 2 Action News.
“Cody was only nineteen years old and had no life insurance,” the page reads. “Our family has suffered financially over the past year and any funds that may have been available for such an emergency had to go to everyday living expenses. Our friends and family would really love to say goodbye to him the right way and have a full service that he deserves.”
So far, the account has been shared hundreds of times on social media and has raised more than $3,000 from almost 50 donors. The highest single donation, at $500, was given by an anonymous donor with no comment.
“I love you brother and I miss you with all of my heart,” one donor’s post reads.
“I am praying for you and your family and you will never be forgotten,” said another. “Rest easy, sweet boy,”
Justin Gibbs said his brother was battling with addiction, but he had just gotten a job and was working to enroll in online classes. Cody Gibbs knew he had a problem, his brother said, and wanted to move his life in the right direction for his then unborn daughter.
“(We can tell her one day) ‘Your daddy loved you so much.’ “
— Staff reporter Mike Morris contributed to this article.
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