MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. – A week-long search for 18-year-old Giovanni Pelletier came to a heartbreaking end after his body was discovered in a pond in Manatee County, Florida. The young man, who vanished under mysterious circumstances while on a family vacation, had been missing since August 1.
According to Giovanni’s mother, the trip had taken an unexpected turn when her son expressed interest in reconnecting with paternal relatives he had not seen in years. Arrangements were made for him to be picked up around 1:30 a.m. by some of those relatives. Within 30 minutes of leaving, Giovanni sent his mother a chilling text: “Mom help.”
At the time, his mother was asleep after spending the night studying for an upcoming pharmacy board exam. In addition to the text sent to her, Giovanni reportedly attempted to contact two other family members during that same early-morning window.
One of the cousins who had picked him up later told Giovanni’s mother that the group had smoked marijuana together and that Giovanni began to panic and curse at him. The cousin claimed that a confrontation broke out on the side of the road, during which Giovanni allegedly pulled out a knife. According to the cousin, they wrestled the knife away from him, and Giovanni then ran off into the night.
When Giovanni’s mother awoke the next morning, she saw the missed messages and immediately tried to call him back. After receiving no answer, she used a phone tracking application, which led her to a location along the side of the road. There, she found his backpack and phone — but no sign of her son.
Authorities launched an intensive search that lasted several days, involving ground crews, K-9 units, and divers. The case took a tragic turn when investigators located Giovanni’s body in a nearby pond. The circumstances surrounding how he ended up there remain under investigation.
Police have not confirmed whether foul play is suspected. An autopsy and toxicology report are pending, which they hope will provide more clarity on what happened in the hours following Giovanni’s disappearance.
In a statement posted to Facebook, Giovanni’s mother expressed her grief and requested privacy: “We ask that you please respect our privacy at this time.”
The investigation remains ongoing, with detectives continuing to interview witnesses and review evidence in an effort to piece together the final moments of Giovanni Pelletier’s life.
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