After more than a week of searching, the family of 18-year-old Giovanni Pelletier from North Carolina faced heartbreaking news. On August 8, a relative helping in the search discovered a body in a retention pond near I-75 and State Road 70 in Manatee County. Authorities believe it is Giovanni, though DNA testing is needed for confirmation.

Giovanni vanished on August 1 while visiting family in Sarasota. That morning, he sent his mother a chilling text: “Mom, help.” His cousins later told investigators he began acting strangely during a car ride, prompting them to pull over. Giovanni walked away and was never seen again. His backpack and phone were found roadside hours later.

An autopsy revealed no signs of trauma, and investigators say there’s no evidence of foul play. Toxicology and DNA tests are pending to determine the cause of death. Detectives believe the body may have been in the pond for several days, close to where Giovanni’s belongings were found.

For Giovanni’s mother, Bridgette Pelletier, the discovery is devastating. “It’s the hardest moment of my life,” she shared, while thanking the community for their prayers and support. Friends and family remember Giovanni as adventurous, funny, and full of life.

Vigils have been held in his hometown and in Florida, as loved ones honor his memory and await final answers about what happened in his last moments.