A body believed to be missing North Carolina teenager Giovanni Pelletier, 18, was found in a Florida retention pond near I-75 and State Road 70—days after he sent a chilling final text to his mother: 'Mom, help.'
The family later told media he had died, while the Manatee County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) said a medical examiner found no immediate signs of foul play; further testing and toxicology are pending.
What Police And The Family Confirm
MCSO said detectives 'preliminarily determined' the decomposed body discovered on Friday, 8 August, near the southbound off-ramp corresponds to Giovanni, though a positive ID awaits additional forensic work. The family confirmed his death the following day.
Officials have not announced evidence of foul play, and no one has been publicly identified as a suspect or person of interest. The investigation remains active.
Found Near Where He Was Last Seen
The pond is close to where Giovanni's belongings were earlier recovered. The area had been searched at the start of the effort. Still, a family searcher/private team ultimately spotted the body before deputies were notified, according to local and regional outlets.
Pelletier's mother expressed that she was living 'every parent's worst nightmare,' angrily pointing out that a private investigator had located her son in a swampy area that officials had previously stated they had thoroughly searched.
'My son was recently found after a desperate search by our family alone, and we are still facing an active investigation into his death,' Bridgette Pelletier wrote in a Facebook post.
'I am living every parent's worst nightmare, trying to find the strength to give him the goodbye he deserves,' she added.
The Last Messages: 'Mom, Help'
Giovanni travelled to Florida with his mother and siblings, and arranged for a late-night pickup by three paternal cousins to visit his grandfather.
Within about 30 minutes, he texted his mother 'Mom, help' and tried calling relatives.
Family accounts suggest a roadside altercation followed; one cousin claimed Giovanni panicked after smoking marijuana, produced a knife, and then fled—details his mother disputes as out of character.
Investigators have examined the white Chevy Malibu used that night; reporting varies on whether it was seized or voluntarily turned over, but authorities say the probe continues, and no suspects have been named. An autopsy found no visible trauma; toxicology could take months.
The Search for Answers
Law enforcement officials had looked through the swampy area close to the State Road 70 southbound off-ramp, where the teenager's body was found not long after his disappearance on 1 August. Nevertheless, a private investigative group employed by the family eventually located his remains.
The MCSO stated that detectives have 'preliminarily determined' the body belongs to the missing Pelletier, though additional tests are still necessary. Gulf Coast News has reported that an autopsy is planned for Sunday.
Unanswered Questions
Pelletier was staying with his mother and other family members in Englewood. On August 1, at approximately 1:30 a.m., three cousins picked him up to visit his father's relatives in Brevard County. The cousins reported to the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office that during the drive, the teenager began to behave erratically. They stopped at the side of the road, where he allegedly produced a knife.
It was at this moment that he sent his mother two text messages, one of which pleaded, 'Mom, help.' He also attempted to call and FaceTime her before contacting several other family members for assistance. The teenager's backpack and mobile phone were discovered by the roadside later that day, on 1 August.
New Details Emerge
In a recent Facebook post, Bridgette Pelletier shared her anguish and frustration.' THE POLICE DIDN'T FIND MY BABY. THE INVESTIGATORS DIDN'T FIND MY BABY. THE DOGS DIDN'T. THE HELICOPTERS DIDN'T,' she wrote, dispelling the rumour that authorities had located her son.
She continued with an emotional plea, stating, 'STOP. SPREADING. LIES. YOU. HAVE. NO. IDEA.'
She concluded by stating, 'WE FOUND MY BABY. AND I WILL NEVER EVER BE THE SAME.' Her words highlight a painful narrative of a family's solitary search for their missing child and the profound grief that follows such a discovery.
As the investigation into Giovanni Pelletier's death continues, the family's quest for answers remains at the forefront.
The circumstances surrounding his disappearance and the discovery of his body in an area authorities claimed to have searched have left many questions unanswered.
While the community waits for new developments, the focus remains on the ongoing inquiry and the search for justice for the teenager.
