MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. (WTVD) -- Authorities in Florida confirmed on Thursday that the body found in a retention pond was 18-year-old Giovanni Pelletier , who went missing while on vacation with his family.

According to medical examiners in Florida, the body had advanced decomposition and had to be identified using dental records and additional forensic testing.

According to the family, Giovanni Pelletier's body was found by his mother's best friend, who also lives in North Carolina.

Courtesy of family

He happened to be in Florida to support her, because her mother recently had a stroke, Morgan Hall, Pelletier's cousin, said.

Hall is serving as family representative and told ABC News that the mother's friend joined the search and was "devastated" when he made the discovery.

The

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