The 18-year-old’s mom says her son — who texted her “Mother assist” in his remaining phrases earlier than his disappearance — was discovered “after a determined search by our household alone,” whereas authorities have but to verify the identification of the physique.
The physique of the North Carolina teen — who vanished whereas on trip in Florida — has been discovered, based on his household.
On Friday, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Workplace in Florida confirmed {that a} physique was found in a retention pond off of Interstate 75 and State Route 70 — which is close to the world the place 18-year-old Giovanni Pelletier was final seen on August 1, based on Raleigh ABC affiliate, WTVD.

Teen Despatched Mother ‘Chilling’ Textual content, Then Vanished, Shortly After Cousins Picked Him Up
View Story
On Saturday morning, the teenager’s household instructed the outlet that the physique was Giovanni’s. Nonetheless, Manatee County Sheriff’s Workplace spokesman Randy Warren stated a decomposing physique that gave the impression to be male had been discovered, however acknowledged that deputies can not but verify the identification of the deceased, per WWSB. He added that they had been protecting the Pettetier household “knowledgeable of developments.”
Giovanni’s mom, Bridgette Pelletier, additionally issued an announcement on what’s believed to be her Fb account on Saturday, during which she additionally confirmed her son’s physique had been found.
“My son was not too long ago discovered after a determined search by OUR FAMILY ALONE, and we’re nonetheless dealing with an lively investigation into his loss of life,” she wrote. “I’m dwelling each father or mother’s worst nightmare, looking for the energy to present him the goodbye he deserves. We ask that you simply please respect our privateness right now as we attempt to nevigate this for his 4 youthful siblings.”
Brigette shared an analogous assertion on the GoFundMe that was began by her sister, Desiree, following Giovanni’s disappearance, and in addition requested for donations within the wake of her son’s loss of life.
“Any funds raised now will present essential assist to cowl funeral, medical, and authorized prices as we wrestle to honor his reminiscence by this unimaginable heartbreak,” she stated.
Giovanni’s Disappearance
Giovanni Pelletier had been staying in Englewood, Florida, together with his household, together with Bridgette and his 4 siblings, visiting a relative who was receiving chemotherapy. Whereas there, he hoped to satisfy up with relations from his father’s aspect, after rising up within the state earlier than he and his mom moved to North Carolina when he was 4.
After planning to just do that, three of his paternal cousins picked him up round 1:30 a.m. on August 1, with Bridgette’s fiancé seeing him off, Bridgette instructed Folks. It was the final time anybody on her aspect of the household would see him once more.
Whereas Bridgette was asleep, Giovanni allegedly started to frantically attain out to her — texting her “Mother assist,” calling her at 1:56 a.m., and trying a FaceTime a minute after that. He additionally reportedly texted his sister and her dad asking for assist. Bridgette, nevertheless, did not see any of this till hours later, when she wakened, noticing she additionally missed a name from one of many cousins … in addition to a voicemail from Giovanni’s paternal grandfather that one thing had occurred between the 4 males on the drive.
The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Workplace stated the cousins instructed authorities, “Giovanni all of the sudden started to behave erratically earlier than exiting the automobile and strolling away.” Per Bridgette, the cousin who tried to name her later instructed her that the group had smoked marijuana collectively, earlier than Giovanni started panicking, brought on a scene, and even pulled out a knife.

Suspected Drunk Driver Says It Was ‘Only a Homeless Particular person’ After Deadly Hit-And-Run: Police
View Story
“When that occurred, they stated they wrestled the knife from him, after which my son took off working,” Bridgette instructed Folks. “None of those children that had been with him have tried to name me and ask me if I discovered him, requested me if he is okay, requested me something.”
She additionally finds it suspicious that she was capable of finding his backpack and telephone deserted on the aspect of the street after monitoring the GPS, saying her son “eats, sleeps, showers, breathes his telephone.” She added that “the factor that tells me that one thing is incorrect is my son is aware of my quantity by coronary heart,” and he would “by no means run away and textual content me, ‘assist me,’ as a result of he is aware of that I might burn this world down to search out him and that I would not be afraid of something or anyone, and I am not.”
In a GoFundMe began by Brigette’s sister, she wrote that Giovanni has been “lacking below deeply troubling and suspicious circumstances,” calling the textual content her sister acquired “chilling.”
“Giovanni is wise, sort, and lively. He did not deserve this,” she continued. “Our household is devastated, terrified, and doing all the pieces in our energy to carry him house — however we’re receiving little or no assist from officers, and we’re being pressured to go looking on our personal.”

Kelly Clarkson’s Ex-Husband Brandon Blackstock Useless After 3-12 months Most cancers Battle
View Story
It seems that the household did simply that — as WBTV reported that Giovanni’s physique was found by a personal investigation group employed by the Pelletiers.
In response to the outlet, the retention pond the place the physique was discovered had beforehand been searched by authorities. WBTV additionally reported, citing authorities, {that a} toxicology report will take six months to finish, however no preliminary bodily proof was foul play was discovered.
Regardless of Giovanni’s household’s claims, as of Saturday, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Workplace and the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Workplace have but to verify the identification of the physique, based on WRAL.
The GoFundMe fundraiser for the Pelletier household has acquired over $21,000 in donations, exceeding its $15,000 objective.

Sami Sheen Claims She ‘Nearly Received Intercourse-Trafficked’ After Leaving a Restaurant With Pals
View Story