For over a week, the family of 18-year-old Giovanni Pelletier searched desperately across Sarasota and Manatee counties, hoping to find him alive. Their fears were realized on Friday, August 8, 2025, when a relative discovered a body floating in a pond near Interstate 75 in Manatee County. Authorities believe it to be Giovanni, though the advanced state of decomposition requires DNA testing for confirmation.
Giovanni, from North Carolina, had traveled to Florida to visit his father’s family. On August 1, after joining cousins for a drive, he sent his mother a chilling text: “Mom, help.” His cousins later told investigators he began acting erratically, pulled out a knife, and walked away. That same day, a truck driver found his backpack and phone abandoned nearby.
An autopsy revealed no trauma or signs of foul play, though the cause of death awaits toxicology results. Investigators believe the body had been in the pond for days.
Giovanni’s mother, Bridgette, described the discovery as her “worst nightmare.” Friends and family continue to honor him online, remembering his adventurous spirit, loyalty, and deep devotion to loved ones.
