An 18-year-old from North Carolina, Giovanni Pelletier, has been found dead after being missing for a week while vacationing in Florida. Authorities reported that Pelletier disappeared under suspicious circumstances on August 1. His family described him as "smart, kind and full of life" on a GoFundMe page.

Pelletier was visiting Englewood, Florida, with his mother and her fiancé. He intended to reconnect with relatives from his biological father's side of the family. His aunt, Desiree Pelletier, stated that although he could not see his father, who is incarcerated, he had made plans to meet three cousins.

On the night of his disappearance, Pelletier's cousins picked him up around 1:30 a.m. on August 1 for a three-hour drive to their home in Mims, Florida. His mother was scheduled to pick him up the following day. However, within 25 minutes of leaving, Pelletier sent a text to his mother saying, "Help me." That was the last communication she received from him.

On August 8, a family member discovered Pelletier's body in a retention pond in Bradenton, Florida, near where his backpack and phone were found. The Manatee County Sheriff's Office confirmed the identification of the body through dental records after extensive forensic testing. The cause of death is currently undetermined, pending toxicology results, which may take several weeks.

Detectives are actively investigating the circumstances surrounding Pelletier's death but have stated there are no signs of foul play at this time. Desiree Pelletier expressed her family's devastation, stating that her sister, the teen's mother, is "broken" by the news. The family had been hoping for a different outcome and is now seeking legal assistance.

On the day of his disappearance, Pelletier's mother could not reach him and contacted authorities immediately. According to his cousins, they had been smoking marijuana when Pelletier began to panic and pulled out a knife. Desiree Pelletier remarked that this behavior "is not Gio" and does not reflect his character. The cousins told police that Pelletier acted erratically before exiting the vehicle on I-75 near SR-70.

The Brevard County Sheriff's Office reported that the cousins have been interviewed and are cooperating fully with the investigation. Authorities have also taken possession of the vehicle used by the group during their trip.