In a tragic conclusion to a week-long search, the body of 18-year-old Giovanni Pelletier has been discovered in a retention pond near Interstate 75 in Florida, authorities confirmed on Friday.
The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office said detectives have preliminarily identified the body as Pelletier’s, pending further testing.
An autopsy is scheduled for Sunday, and the death investigation is ongoing.
Desperate Search by Family
Giovanni’s mother, Bridgette Pelletier, took to social media to express her grief, saying she is living “every parent’s worst nightmare.”
She emphasized that her family, not authorities, found her son’s body.
The family had launched a search for Giovanni after he sent a chilling final text message to his mother, begging for “help,” on August 1.
His backpack and cellphone were later found on the side of the road by a truck driver.
Circumstances of Disappearance
Giovanni had traveled to Florida to visit his estranged father’s family, including three cousins he had never met before.
However, things took a turn for the worse during the three-hour drive to their home in Mims, Florida.
According to the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, Giovanni began to act erratically before exiting the vehicle on I-75 near State Road 70.
His cousins told investigators that he sent disturbing messages to his mother, grandfather, and aunt before disappearing.
Family’s Grief and Search for Answers
The family had started a GoFundMe campaign to hire a private investigator to aid in the search for Giovanni.
Following the discovery of his body, the funds will now be used to cover funeral, medical, and legal costs as they “struggle to honor [Giovanni’s] memory through this unimaginable heartbreak.”